Get My Boat App

bfernald0

bfernald0

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2020
411
Marina del Rey, California
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2001
Engines
8.2L Mercruiser ECT Horizons
I was just curious as to whether anyone has tried this app from the boat owner side. I was recently in Cabo and booked 4 hours on a SeaRay 320 (a lot of SeaRays down there for charter). I found the process to be very straightforward and easy. When I got home, I started looking into it. They sell it as a means for boat owners to make some money back what is otherwise a hole in the water into which you throw copious amounts of money.

In searching locally, it seems like there are quite a few owners that use the app to charter their boats for local cruises.

Anyone tried it?
 
Just checked it out and saw a boat nearby that won’t be available for a while while the owner gets his captain license. I guess you need it to rent out the boat?
 
superwa said:
Just checked it out and saw a boat nearby that won’t be available for a while while the owner gets his captain license. I guess you need it to rent out the boat?
Click to expand...

I don't know. You'd certainly need different insurance, but the site has a link to a program specifically for private charters.
 
OK, let me get this clear. You gonna let a total stranger use you boat? ARE YOU NUTS! If you need to do that, get out of boating, you can’t afford it! Or down size. As I said in earlier thread about this, when his guest falls overboard and drowns, they gonna sue the boat owner and you be living in a box. Ya happens.
 
Hey, I don’t mean be insulting, I just kinda direct person, but it’s like a really bad idea. Like really bad, like when Emilia Earhart thought she could fly around the world shortly after planes were invented bad.
 
Or like the time Cousin Frankie and me chartered a sail boat on a big lake and neither knew a dam thing about sailing and the wind blew us across the lake and we hitch hiked back and the owner asked where was the boat and we told him on a beach across the lake as we got in car and left. Ya that kinda bad.
 
Looks like a bunch of guys in Chicago do it. Some are legit Captains and provide sightseeing, etc. charters. Some, not so much and skirt the rules. Not for me as I don't need landlubbers puking all over my boat.
 
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I do it, and like it. I DO NOT rent the boat out, but DO take guests, and I'm in charge of the boat. Whether you need a captain's license depends on your state. I'm in MN, and you can do it without a license if you have 6 or fewer guests, not counting you or a first mate. Over 6, to be legal you must have a license. I got mine, and it wasn't hard. You should check on your insurance. I have State Farm, and they cover the charter as long as it's not a full time thing. If we do under 20 per year, it's no problem. I pay a little extra... like $100 per year or less to have excess coverage.

We like GMB. I've talked to the founder several times, and he's a good guy. We got payment within a few days every time, and this will be our third year doing it. We are selective about dates, groups and rates, so we are only as busy as we want to be. Last year, we did 10 or 12 charters and made over $7k, which we used to cover costs and our dock fees. A typical charter pays us $600 to $1000 before tips, depending on day of week and how long they want to go out. It has always been fun, and we are getting paid to do what we'd have been doing anyway.

The best part about the app is that we don't do any real marketing. We post our boat and info, and the requests come in to us. They handle all the money, so I never have to ask guests for a CC or cash. GMB keeps that info, and if there is a problem they will bill the guest for whatever is necessary to fix any issues. That's what they say, anyway... we haven't had any problems in about 25 total charters.

I've also got a few friends who do it regularly. One guy has a 40 Dancer, and he was thinking of selling. The first weekend I told him about GetMyBoat, he told me he made $5k. Not sure if he was exaggerating, but he still has the boat, and uses GMB to offset his costs.

I know this sounds like a commercial. But, my only affiliation to them is that we own a boat, and use GMB. But, if you are interested, I can introduce you to the top guy there to answer any questions you have.
 
My research into the site (and captaining in general) is based specifically in South Florida under the jurisdiction of the USCG- First, if your going to "captain" a boat that you own (or have any ownership interest in) you MUST have a captains license (OUPV or Master), any crew (yourself, mate) must be part of a random drug testing program and the boat (if over 26') MUST be documented with a coastwise endorsement PERIOD - Even if you are a master, you can NOT have any more than 6 people on your boat whether it is 30' or 300' - The only exception is if the boat has a COI (certificate of inspection) and you hold a Masters License of appropriate Tonnage (then the COI will state max capacity) - No Sea Ray or similar boat will ever qualify for a COI.....

You CAN make your uninspected boat available for a true Charter for up to 12 people - A charter is defined as one person takes full responsibility for the boat (the charterer) and is responsible for hiring a crew (and it CAN NOT be you, or anyone with any ownership interest in the boat). I am signed up as a Captain on the site for this purpose, a few people have reached out for trips, but they have either canceled due to weather, or the dates haven't worked for me.

I am thinking about listing the 21'cc I recently bought as a "captain optional" rental - you meet the people, go over the boat, and then go over it again when they get back - any claims go through Get My Boats Insurance company, likewise they insure your liability as well - you must still have "regular" insurance on your boat too - Get My Boats "cut" relies on the type of boat and area of operation. Its difficult to work out the logistics with the Dry stack though - parking is tight at most locations and they are not really interested in letting you run a business out of theirs.....as this becomes more prevalent, they will likely as for a cut
 
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