GetMyBoat.com – A Review of our Summer Boat Rental Experience

When the sun is shining, and it feels like summer is giving you a big hug – there is nothing better than being on the lake. But what if you don’t own a boat??

Our family remedies the situation by either a) building friendships with people who do own boats (hahaha) or b) renting a boat online.

This summer we partnered with GetMyBoat.com to better understand the process. This Get My Boat review covers the most commonly asked questions about renting with a service like this.

What was your experience like?

This was just about the easiest boat rental experience we’ve ever had!

There were a few things we needed to consider for this particular experience… your flexibility on these considerations might be different (or you might have different considerations) but GetMyBoat handled our situation well.

First, our date was set in stone… our adult son was visiting from out of town, and we only had one day that would work. Looking for availability by date was easy-peasy. If you have more flexibility, there are date adjustment filters in the app, as well.

Second, we didn’t want a captain. Dan (my hubs) has been captaining power and sailboats since he was a kid. We didn’t want the extra cost associated with a captain. Plus, we wanted our privacy. If you need one (or don’t!) there is a filter for that.

Just a note that if you are not familiar with the boating laws in your state, please check them out. For example, in Georgia you need a boater safety registration if you are 24yo or younger… but in Colorado then you need one regardless of age. I’m not an attorney, so please do your own research.

If you don’t want a captain, but you need a registration then plan ahead. In many places, the certification can be done online.

Third, decide on the lake you want to visit and find a rental nearby. GetMyBoat makes it very easy to select a lake. For example, it’s super easy to find boat rentals near Lake Lanier or Lake Allatoona (our favorite!)

Next, we wanted some fun toys! We have a SkySki, but we also wanted a wakeboard, kneeboard and a tube. Maybe you have toys like this but you’re renting in a vacation destination; then you’ll want to find a rental with toys, also.

There is not a filter for the “extras” that come with the boat, so read the descriptions carefully. The listings I perused included tubes and wakeboards for no extra charge – mostly. A few, though, required an add-on cost.

The other thing to consider if what size boat you need. Both the number of people you want on your day out… as well as the size of the motor you will need for the type of adventure you’ll be having.

For example, since we wanted to wakeboard and SkySki… a pontoon boat wasn’t going to cut it.

Also remember that if you are boating with, say, 7 people… then a boat that holds 8 people will usually be a little cramped. If you are looking for boat rentals for a party of 7, then you might find that a boat for 10 people gives you more room to manuever (though it will be more expensive.)

Finally, since we were on vacation without a towing vehicle, we needed to find a boat owner who was willing to deliver the boat for us. That is also not a filter so review the descriptions carefully. Expect to pay a surcharge for delivery, which seems fair. We paid $150 (via Venmo – at the dock) for our rental to be delivered to the lake. The other option for those not able to tow is to find a boat that’s already stored/docked at a marina.

If you ask me, $150 is a steal even if you have towing capabilities. We met the boat owner at the dock at the designated time and just hopped into the boat. At pick up time, he was there waiting. We unloaded our things and headed home – no need to pull it out of the water, deal with a boat inspection, drive another hour to deliver it back to the owners house, etc.

How reliable and secure is the GetMyBoat service?

GetMyBoat didn’t become the world’s largest boat rental and water experience marketplace without focusing on security and reliability.

You’ll pay for your experience with a credit card via the GetMyBoat app. This triggers a confirmation between you and the boat owner. However, the boat owner is not paid until your trip has been successfully completed. And, if necessary, a refund can be made directly to your credit card.

We didn’t have any issues with our experience. The booking process was seamless, the boat was exactly as described, it worked beautifully, etc. Because of that, I (thankfully) cannot tell you how the refund process happens. But I can share that I felt confident knowing that the payment was being handled by a mediator of sorts.

What are the costs involved when using GetMyBoat, and are they competitive?

We’ve rented boats several times, both near our home and while on vacation. EVEN considering the change in the economy lately and the time of year (peak boat season), our boat was right in line with what we’d expect to pay.

That’s not to say that we didn’t see some CrAzY expensive boat rental options – but they were BIGGER, FASTER, FANCIER than the others.

I’ll repeat that we paid $150 (outside the app) for a delivery fee. That seemed to be the norm for the boats we were looking at, and I think that price was more than fair. Especially for the ability to just “go home” after we were done boating. I felt like it paid for a hassle-free, non-captain experience.

How is the customer service and support?

As I mentioned, our experience was smooth as silk, so we didn’t need to reach out to the GetMyBoat customer service department.

I do, however, want to tell you about the boat-renter to boat-owner service and support. The app provides a very cool messaging service – both on desktop or on your phone. This allows you to contact the boat owner (or have the contact you) very easily… without giving them your direct contact info.

More important than that, though, is that all of your conversations are documented within the app – which can come in handy later if you need to dispute the charge or clarify an issue.

The process can begin even before you rent the boat.

When you find a boat you are interested in renting, you can reach out to the owner using the messaging app. Ask clarifying questions about delivery, equipment aboard the boat, etc… and if you decide to rent with that person, the communication trail is there.

What kind of boats can I rent or charter, and in what locations?

Now for the really fun part, right?

You can rent a power boat suitable for water sports, like we did. But there are also fishing boats (even fishing charters), houseboats, pontoon boats, sail boats, and yacht rentals. If you’re really into wakeboarding or want to try wake surfing, there are usually high-end water sports boats available like Mastercrafts and Malibus, for a price of course.

It doesn’t end there. This is a great place to go for kayaks, jet skis, paddleboards… you name it!

There are 150,000 rental options – all around the world. As I said above, my Atlanta friends will love the rental options on Lake Lanier or Allatoona.

But… maybe you’re on vacation in Colorado like I am… there are rentals here.

Some of the most popular locations (with a great number of offerings) include Miami, Marathon, Key Largo, Destin, and more.

What else should I look for?

As with any boat rental company, before your finalize your booking make sure you understand the cancellation and weather policies with the owner.

You’ll also want to ask about insurance, as each renter manages their own. You might also be required by the owner to sign documentation for check-in, check-out, and a waiver. Each operator works differently and will have different requirements depending on the size of their operation, insurance carrier, and the equipment being rented.

Finally, don’t forget to HAVE FUN! Nothing beats a day at the lake!