5 New Travel Startups Knocking Out Winter Blues With Boat Rentals

In the northern hemisphere, we’re in the middle of the doldrums of winter with less sunshine and lower temperatures that have many travelers itching for an escape.

And if a holiday on the water would satisfy that clamoring, these five startups have you covered.

The global yacht charter industry may be valued at more than $50 billion by 2020. And, Americans own some 22 million recreational boats, according to data from the U.S. coast guard. But boat owners only use their boats for a couple weeks per year on average while travelers look to be more active and have experiences that are personal and comfortable. This week’s startups show travelers how simple it’s become to rent a yacht for a vacation and find a licensed captain to handle all the details — services many of us could likely use this season.

Boatsetter connects consumers with boat owners and a network of 1,500 licensed captains. The average consumer’s trip cost $1500 on Boatsetter, more expensive than on competitor platforms but justified for the quality of boats and network of captains, the company told Skift.

>>SkiftTake: Boatsetter told Skift that the average private boat owner uses their boat only 14 days per year. The boat rental process is complex, said Pablo Vidal Arean, CMO & Partner at Boatsetter, but improvements to insurance products have helped to streamline the time it takes for a consumer to contact a boat owner and get on the water.

CoCharter shows travelers real-time availability of more than 3,000 boats worldwide.

>>SkiftTake: Showing real-time ability should be a given but consumers still appreciate knowing that they’re getting the most updated information.

Sailo is an online boat rental marketplace that connects people who want to rent boats to boat owners and licensed captains. Boat renters submit a request to book and receive a confirmation from an owner within 24 hours.

>>SkiftTake: Travelers want fast responses when planning trip activities so Sailo’s promise to hear from an owner within 24 hours is one allure to using the platform.

Sailogy connects consumers to yacht charter companies and private boat owners.

>>SkiftTake: Compared to competitors Sailogoy doesn’t have a large inventory but does have the geographic reach.

Boatbound is a peer-to-peer marketplace in the U.S.

>>SkiftTake: The U.S. boat rental market is certainly large enough but Boatbound should consider geographical expansion as it’s missing out on millions of other boats and boaters.

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