BOAT-COMPARATOR free checklist
Rent a boat with no nasty surprises: the checklist
Rental mishaps are almost always decided before departure: a misunderstood deposit, a rushed check-in inspection, an underestimated fuel bill. Run through these points — in order — and your day at sea will only hold good surprises.
1. Before you book
- Compare the same boat across several platforms: displayed prices and service fees differ.
- Check what the price includes: skipper, fuel, final cleaning, equipment (paddle, bimini, cooler…).
- License: required above 6 hp in France — otherwise plan for the skipper option.
- Read the cancellation terms, especially the “bad weather” case.
2. Deposit and insurance
- Deposit amount (commonly €500–5,000) and how it is taken: card pre-authorisation, debit, cheque.
- Damage excess: that is the sum you actually risk.
- What the operator’s insurance covers — and excludes (propeller, grounding, personal effects).
- Excess waiver on offer? Weigh its price against the excess itself.
3. Check-in inspection
- Dated photos or video of the hull, propeller and engines BEFORE leaving.
- Signed inventory: lifejackets (one per person, child sizes included), ground tackle, VHF, bailer.
- Fuel level and engine hours written on the contract.
- Any existing scratch: point it out and have it recorded.
4. Fuel
- Fuel policy: included, return-full, or billed on actual consumption?
- Realistic budget: €20–60 per hour under way for a motorboat.
- Locate the harbour fuel station and its opening hours — returning at 7 pm to a closed pump gets expensive.
5. Navigation area and rules
- The area your contract allows: often smaller than you imagine.
- The 300-metre band: 5 knots maximum near beaches.
- Latest return time to the pontoon and late penalties.
6. Weather
- Check the forecast the day before AND the same morning: wind, gusts, swell, storms.
- Spot possible shelters along your route in case the weather turns.
- Clarify with the operator what happens if the weather cancels the day (postponement, credit, refund).
7. Departure day
- ID, license if needed, means of payment for the deposit.
- Handover briefing: have anything unclear repeated (anchoring, VHF, kill switch).
- Operator’s phone number saved; VHF channel 16 for emergencies.
- Water, sunscreen, windbreaker — and an eye on the return time.