There’s a running joke among boat owners that riffs on the steep costs associated with such a high maintenance toy: BOAT, they say, stands for “bring out another thousand.” For those who yearn for the boating lifestyle but can’t stomach the expense or commitment, there are a number of Airbnb-style platforms that offer yacht-sharing as a cheaper alternative to ownership. Here’s the scoop on three different sites, with examples of where you'll be able to sail and how much it'll cost you.
Boatbound
Launched in June 2013, the San Francisco-based company boasts 13 million registered boat owners. Users can browse the site for their dream vessel using filters such as size, price, and number of people, plus amenities like WiFi and air conditioning. The company has boats available in most major U.S. cities including San Francisco, Seattle and Boston.
Cruzin
Cruzin brands itself as a boater-to-boater rental marketplace, with a database of boats that ranges from yachts to paddleboards. The company, which is headquartered in San Francisco, has rentals available in the U.S, Europe, and Canada.
Yachtico
For rentals and charters in Europe and beyond, look no further than Yachtico, a Berlin-based start-up with a collection of 15,000 ships. The fleet ranges from houseboats to full-blown yachts in locations like Greece, Spain, and Turkey, plus the Caribbean and Thailand.