Motor Yacht Charter

What different types of motor boat rentals are there?

Boat rental on motor yachts is very common with day trips as those vessels are quite fast and get you around many places quickly. A popular type of boat for day charter is the RIB – rigid inflatable boat. Also many longer charter vacations take place on a motor yacht – in fact around 10 % of all bareboat charter yachts are motor boats.
 
Motor yachts come in all sizes. Bareboat charter is usually done on charter yachts under 17 m because leisure skippers are more easily capable of navigating them without help. If the hired yacht is bigger, the boat hire is likely to be a skippered or a crewed charter. But off course you can also hire a skipper and a crew with a smaller yacht or do a bareboat charter on a larger yacht. It just depends on your preference and your experience.

Superyacht charter, or luxury charter, takes place on yachts larger than 20 m and usually comes with a crew.

Another kind of yacht rental that is getting more and more popular is the houseboat charter. It typically takes place in a lake district or on rivers and canals. You can do round or one way trips and weekly boat rental or day charter.

If you are passionate about fishing, you can rent a sport fishing boat. Those special kinds of motor yachts are normally equipped with towers, outriggers, fish lockers, life wells for bait and much other gear anglers might need for deep water fishing.

How much does it cost to rent a powerboat for a day?

For having a day charter trip on your own responsibility with a 6 metre RIB you need to spend around 400 - 600 Euro in the Mediterranean. The fuel you have to pay extra. If that is too expensive, there are some rental companies offering small powerboats for a daily fee of less than 300 Euro. Those boats can still take up to 4 persons and have outboard engines with up to 15 HP. This makes them available even for leisure skippers that do not have a boating license. Sometimes you can even hire those small boats per hour or for half a day.

A 10 metre motor boat that can accommodate up to 10 persons will cost you around 700 to 1500 Euro per day. If you need a skipper, he will charge you around 150 Euro daily. The biggest motor yachts that you can charter without skipper have around 17 metre length. Those yachts have daily rates of 1500 - 3000 Euro.

Luxury boats larger than 20 metre always come with a captain and often have additional crew members. Those charters provide much more services and amenities like catering, comfortable lounges, multiple decks, fly-bridges, outside bars, Jacuzzis, water toys and entertainment on board. Charter prices for such crewed yachts start around 3000 Euro per day. The bigger the yacht, the higher the price. There is almost not limit to the top. More about this exclusive experience on our luxury yacht charter page.
 

Which are the best destinations for motor boat rental?

Which are the popular speedboat rental places in Florida, USA?

Florida has hundreds of miles of well protected inland waterways, backwaters and lakes - ideal for power-boating. Leaving from Miami you can shuttle within a few hours to the Florida Keys. The two major port cities with modern marinas are Miami and Fort Lauderdale. From this harbours you can book prestigious motor yacht brands like Pershing, Azimut, Princess and Mangusta. The available vessels range from 35 to 130 feet length over all.

Which are the best Greek Islands to go with a motor yacht?

The Greek Islands are the world's favourite boating destination. No question that anyone can reach them easiest with a motor boat. You can rent a powerboat in Athens or Lavrion and within 20 minutes you will arrive on Poros or Aegina. In a 1 - 2 hours ride you can reach the Cyclades Islands like Kea or Seriphos. In one week you will be able to visit Mykonos, Paros, Hydra, Santorini or Ios. Another option is to fly to one of the Aegean Islands and hire a boat from the local port. Be aware that the rental rates can be much higher on the islands the booking a boat from the mainland coast long in advance. A very comfortable variation is definitely to charter a crewed motor yacht. In such an arrangement you and your travel companions can fully relax and enjoy the fantastic excursion into the Greek Archipelago. Beautiful destinations are also in the Ionian Islands. Charter a motor yacht from Lefkas or Corfu and explore the famous wreck beach on Zakynthos and other stunning bays and islands of the Ionian Sea.

Which are the highlights of a motor boat rental in Croatia?

The Dalmatian Coast is world-famous for its crystal clear water and amazing white pebble beaches. Between Pula in the North and Dubrovnik in the South there is a coastline of more than 5000 kilometers and hundreds of islands and islets to explore. This is the paradise for power boaters! Unlike in Greece, in Croatia there is a dense and well developed network of marinas existing along the coast. The islands are only few sea miles away from the mainland shore. The major highlights at the Croatian Coast are the beautiful harbour towns that are rich in history in culture. Pula is famous with its Roman Arena that over thrones the port side. With a speed boat, holiday makers can quickly reach the Kvarner Bay from the Istrian Peninsula with its lovely islands Cres, Krk and Losinj. Further down south there are numerous marinas around the vibrating city Zadar. This stretch of coast lays opposite of the Archipelago Kornati Islands. Other port towns like Biograd, Sukosan and Vodice also host multiple boat rental companies. Near Sibenik you can visit during a boat ride the stunning Krka Waterfalls fjord. Further down south, Trogir and Split are the bases for getaways to the unique Dalmatian Islands Brac, Hvar and Korcula. Last not least, Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adria", is the ultimate destination on a motor yacht cruise through the Croatian Islands. 

What are the pros and cons of motor boat hire?

One big advantage motor boats have is that they are quite fast. If you like to feel the breeze in your hair on a wind still day, a speedy motor boat trip is something you will enjoy. If you are an adrenaline junky, you will get super-high once you feel the acceleration and beating rhythm of the deck you are standing on. Opposite to a cruising sailing boat that can make only 6 - 10 nautical miles per hour, a glider with an powerful engine can fly with 30 knots and more over the sea. This means you can reach remote destinations and ports in a relatively short time. If you like to sleep long on your vacation - no problem - within one hour you shuttle to hidden bays and beaches. After having lunch onboard, it is time for your babe to have a dip in the water. You will opt for some rounds with the water skies or prove your wakeboard skills. Finally, after a watching the sunset with a sundowner in your hand, you still can be back in the safe marina before the night falls down. Another pro is that you do not need to learn any sailing skills! You can manoeuvre the boat more or less like a floating car. The steering wheel size is anyway similar to a car. Instead of having the gas pedal at the foot you control the throttle with the hand. Indeed many power boaters avoid to learn how to lay a mooring rope properly.

The disadvantage of hiring a motor boat is that this form of transportation on the water is not eco-friendly and sustainable at all. Even you are an environmental ignorant you will lately notice in the moment when you are refilling the fuel tank of the boat that this experience is costly. While sailboats can spend a whole week with 100 litre of diesel, a big motor yacht can burn that in less than one hour. Furthermore, the engines can be very noisy, stressing the guest on board and even worse, the marine wildlife. During busy high season months, sensitive animals like dolphins, wales and many birds disappear from coastal waters cause they cannot stand the negative emissions from engines. Besides, on wavy days, the continuous bumping of a speeding boat can be very tiring and it creates anything else than a relaxed ambience.
  

What occasions are ideal for motor yacht rentals?

There are numerous reasons to hire a motor boat. This could be a corporate event with colleagues, the wedding day of your daughter, a honeymoon escape with your wife, a boating vacation week with your best mates or a romantic getaway with your latest flame. Fishing charters are very popular in the US, the Caribbean, the Canary Islands and 100 other countries. Another amazing opportunity is a private diving expedition supported by a rented boat. Inviting investors or key customers on a motor yacht for closing a prosperous deal provides definitely a great kickoff for a successful business relation. Last not least, you could surprise your parents with a voucher for a memorable private river cruise on their 50th wedding day!
 

What about safety on a motor yacht charter?

In order to be safe on your boating holiday there are some regulations you need to follow. Before you start your escape you will be introduced to the location of the safety equipment (fire extinguisher, escape hatches, hoses etc.) and be given a basic introductory speech about safety at sea and emergency procedures. Part of your proof of experience is to show that you know what to do in emergencies. So depending on how experienced you are, you may know a lot of that information already. In this case, repetition is a good thing, though, and it pays off to listen.
 

How does motor yacht charter work? Selecting the right boat for you.

Before you go on a boating holiday, think about what your priorities are. Do you need a lot of space for stowing water sports equipment and toys? Meet with your crew members and discuss your individual needs and preferences. If it is important for you to have a lot of deck space, you may want to try out a power catamaran, as they have an extended outside area. Power catamarans are very popular on the BVI's but are absent in other places yet.

Depending on the navigation area, the weather can be different. A boat in Northern countries should have a sprayhood and coverable cockpit. In Florida, the Caribbean, or the Mediterranean an open version with a bimini is just fine. Other important factors are the cabin arrangements among your travel mates. You should also clarify in advance if you steer the vessel yoursel or if you hire a captain.

For our customers that expect a lot of comfort and service, we recommend a crewed yacht charter. Such luxury yachts offer all sorts of different designs and outlays and the bigger they are, the more features they will have like Jacuzzis, water-toys, beach-clubs, gyms and even helidecks.
 
With our YachtFinder you can compare boat rental prices and book easily and safe online! Special deals, such as early bird discounts and last-minute offers you can find in our specials page.