'Airbnb for boats' is the shorthand for peer-to-peer boat rental platforms — Boatsetter, Click&Boat, Samboat, GetMyBoat, Borrow A Boat, and BoatHire24. Same architecture as Airbnb for accommodation: private owners list their boats, renters book directly, the platform handles payments and screening. This page explains the model from an owner's angle: what you'll actually earn, how the platforms differ, where each is strongest.
How the Airbnb-for-boats model works
The owner lists their boat with photos, description, calendar and price. A renter searches the platform (often by location + dates), books a date, pays through the platform's checkout. The owner approves (or rejects) the booking. On the day, owner and renter meet at the marina for handover, run the charter, return the boat. Platform releases the payout to the owner net of commission. Same cycle, repeated 8–60 times a year per boat depending on listing quality.
Which 'Airbnb for boats' platform should you list on?
| Platform | Owner commission | Renter fee | Strongest market |
|---|---|---|---|
| BoatHire24 | 15% | 0% | Mediterranean Europe |
| Boatsetter | ~25–35% effective | 10–15% | US — Florida, California, Texas |
| Click&Boat | 15–22% | ~6% | France, EU Mediterranean |
| Samboat | 15–22% | ~6% | Same as Click&Boat (same parent) |
| GetMyBoat | 7–10% | 7–10% | US lakes, Australia, Caribbean |
| Borrow A Boat | ~15–20% | ~5–10% | UK |
Most successful owners list on 2 platforms with iCal calendar sync. Single-platform owners leave 25–40% of potential bookings on the table.
What you can realistically earn
Heavily depends on the boat, the market, and the listing quality. Indicative net (after platform commission, fuel pass-through, cleaning, insurance):
- Small motor boat (8 m, no licence required): $4,000–$12,000/season
- 10–12 m motor yacht: $20,000–$45,000/season
- 14–18 m yacht (crewed): $50,000–€120,000/season
- Sailing yacht 12–15 m: $12,000–$30,000/season
- Catamaran 40–45 ft: $35,000–$80,000/season
- Jet ski (per machine): $7,000–$16,000/season
'Season' means roughly May–October in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe; year-round in Florida, California, parts of Australia. Top quartile of owners (excellent listings + reviews + multi-platform) clear 30–50% more than these midpoints.
Insurance — the part that's not like Airbnb
Airbnb-for-homes bundles host insurance globally. Boat platforms can't — marine insurance is regional, regulated separately by each country, and pleasure-use policies explicitly exclude commercial charter. As an owner you need an annual charter insurance policy regardless of which platform you list on. Boatsetter bundles its own US-flagged policy via Geico Marine; Click&Boat and BoatHire24 connect you with an independent broker.
Get started
Become a host on BoatHire24 — free listing, flat 15% commission, calendar control. See also: comparison pages above.
Related: platform comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is "Airbnb for boats"?
Peer-to-peer boat rental platforms operating the same business model as Airbnb but in the marine vertical. Boatsetter, Click&Boat, Samboat, GetMyBoat, Borrow A Boat, and BoatHire24 are the major operators. Owners list their boats; renters book directly; the platform handles payments, screening, and dispute resolution.
Does Airbnb itself rent boats?
No. Airbnb does not operate boat rentals directly. The 'Airbnb for boats' phrase describes the marketplace model in the marine vertical, not Airbnb's actual product. Airbnb has experimented with boat-stay listings in some markets but doesn't run a boat rental marketplace.
Which platform pays out best to owners?
Depends on geography. In the Mediterranean, BoatHire24's flat 15% beats Click&Boat's 15–22% and Boatsetter's effective 25–35% after insurance. In US lake markets, GetMyBoat's 7–10% looks cheapest but cancellation rates erode that advantage. Most owners list on 2+ platforms with iCal sync.
Can I list on multiple Airbnb-for-boats platforms?
Yes. Almost all owners cross-list. iCal calendar sync prevents double-booking. Most platforms allow it explicitly. Cross-listing typically lifts bookings 25–40% in Year 1 versus single-platform because audience overlap is low.
Do I need insurance to list?
Yes. Pleasure-use boat policies in every major market exclude commercial charter activity. You need an annual charter-grade policy. Boatsetter US offers a bundled option; other platforms refer you to independent brokers (Pantaenius in the Med, BoatUS in the US, GJW Direct in the UK).
How much commission do these platforms charge?
Owner-side commission ranges from 7% (GetMyBoat) to 35% effective (Boatsetter after insurance load). Most platforms charge 15–22%. Renter-side service fees range from 0% (BoatHire24) to 15% (Boatsetter). Net to owner depends on both.
Is "Airbnb for boats" actually growing?
Yes — the global peer-to-peer boat rental market grew roughly 4× from 2019 to 2025 and continues to outpace traditional charter brokers. Pandemic-era growth was steep; post-pandemic, growth has stabilised around 15–25% annually.