Yachts and sailing holidays have long been associated with the rich and famous, but all that could be about to change thanks to a company called Borrow a Boat who are trying to make these super holidays more affordable to the average person.
Established by British entrepreneur Matt Ovenden in 2017, Borrow a Boat has recently launched in Canada. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the launch that could make your next vacation more exciting and exhilarating than you thought possible.
What is Borrow a Boat?
It does what it says on the tin. Borrow a Boat is a peer-to-peer website that links those looking to hire out boats to those looking to hire them. In the most basic terms, Borrowaboat is the Airbnb of the nautical world.
Head over to their website or download their app and you’ll be able to use their search facility to find the perfect boat, in the perfect location for your perfect holiday. Currently there are over 35,000 boats available for hire on the site in 65 different countries.
How Expensive is Borrow a Boat?
It is as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. If you were to book a seven day trip travelling around the Croatian coast you could hire a boat with a captain for as little as $841. Or, if money is no object you could hire the 279 foot O’Ptasia for a cool $1,079,275.
The website really does cater for all budgets, but the lower end of the scale doesn’t drop off a cliff in terms of quality. For $841 you would be able to rent out the stylish and comfortable Cicoco Sun Fast 26 for seven days with a qualified and experienced captain.
Compare that to the price you would pay for travel and accommodation if you booked separately and it’s a real bargain.
Does Borrow a Boat Have a Sustainable Future?
You might be wondering how a company like this could be financially viable if you can hire a yacht for a week for as little as $841. How then, does the company make money and, pardon the pun, manage to stay afloat?
Well the first thing to note is that boat hire has traditionally been a bloated economy. In years gone by if you wanted to hire a boat in Belize for a week you would have to go through a number of intermediaries, all of which would be taking their cut, to hire the boat you wanted.
In addition to that, because of the complicated processes involved in hiring a boat, many companies had a monopoly on the service in particular areas. Borrow a Boat not only opens up the market and allows more, smaller and independent companies to offer their rental services but it cuts out a number of intermediaries.
As a result of those two factors, Borrow a Boat can afford to offer boat hire at much lower prices than previous market standards whilst still making a profit. Their expansion into 65 countries and future plans of further expansion bode well for customers as well as the more influential the company becomes, the cheaper their services will be.
Is a Boating Vacation for You?
What does all this mean for you though? Well, the launch of Borrow a Boat in Canada means that you can now enjoy the same vacations as the rich and famous – on a budget. If you’ve never been on a boating vacation you could be forgiven for thinking that all it involves is sun bathing on deck.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Boating vacations are all about using your captain’s local knowledge to find hidden gems, remote islands and stunning islets to spend an afternoon exploring.
In countries like Greece and Croatia, a boat can help to take off the beaten path to the quaint, gorgeous places that the tourists steer clear of. In Belize a boat can cut your costs dramatically, ask your captain to take you to the Great Blue Hole and save $200 on a trip out from the mainland.
Essentially if you like to be your own boss, take your vacation at your own pace and explore the unexplored path then a boating vacation is for you. Now that you know you can hire a boat for less than the cost of a package vacation, there’s no reason to not try it!
Have you used Borrow a Boat before? Or have you spent a week exploring remote islands on a boating vacation? Let us know about your experiences in the comments section below.
