Boats and Yachts: Helpful Tips for Renting and Chartering
Author: Thorsten Rienth
An increasing number of water enthusiasts are renting boats or chartering yachts. With the growing supply, the requirements for safety and insurance cover are also rising.
The world looks very different on the water. Instead of city buzz, you feel the wind blowing in your face. The sky reaches the horizon and, should the weather permit, the blue is endless. In Germany and many European waters, recreational boats with an engine power of up to 15 hp (11.03 kW) or a length of up to 15 meters do not even require a boating license. Consequently, a proper mass market has developed around the rental of boats or chartering of yachts. For carefree vacation enjoyment and lasting memories, amateur skippers should bear a few points in mind.
How to recognize legitimate providers
“As is the case everywhere, one or two ‘black sheep’ can be found among the legitimate providers of boat rentals on the internet,” says Jo Becker, DEKRAmaritim boat building expert. The good news: “If you follow a few rules, you can significantly minimize risks.” For example, falling victim to fraud. “Only rent through reputable, established companies or well-known online platforms,” advises Becker. “You can identify them by the address and contact details provided, for example, and preferably also a telephone number that you can contact if you have any queries.” Online reviews also serve as a good research tool. The response to inquiries about relevant documents such as boat registration, proof of insurance or maintenance or the boat registration often separates the wheat from the chaff: “A reputable provider will allow transparent access here.”
A common scam: the customer pays the full price in advance, but the boat doesn't even exist. “Reputable providers usually ask for a deposit and the rest on site or at handover,” says Becker. “If you want to dispel any doubts, check the rental company's website for a photo of the boat with the correct hull number.” When handing over the boat the same rules apply as when handing over a rental car: document any damage and draw up a report.“ This will protect against unjustified security deposit deductions.”
Key factor: a functional lifejacket
Safety is another important keyword on board, the most important being the lifejacket. It goes without saying that you should check that it is in a serviceable condition. The relevant standard is formulated in DIN EN 395. “If you want to be on the safe side or are regularly out on the water, it's best to take your own lifejacket with you.”
In Germany, charter boats are required to equip every person on board with a lifejacket. “Although there is no general obligation to wear the vests, they should be worn as a basic measure,” Becker clarifies. In other countries, wearing them is also often a requirement. “Some insurance companies also take an adverse view if a lifejacket is not worn in the event of an accident.”
Relaxed sail with the right insurance cover
Speaking of insurance: Generally, charter boats are covered by liability and hull insurance. The deductible is usually left as a deposit. If you want to protect yourself against the loss of the deposit, take out deposit insurance. According to Becker, skipper liability insurance is also recommended. “It covers damage caused by a tenant or skipper, for example in the event of a collision with another boat or the port infrastructure caused by them.”
If you want to be prepared for possible future conflicts, find out about special skipper or yacht legal protection insurance. Becker: “These protect against high costs in the event of disputes, for example after accidents or problems with the authorities.” It is worth taking a closer look, as contractual disputes arising from the charter contract are not always covered. Always important with insurance: Check which one may already be included in the rental price.
DEKRAmaritim: multifaceted expertise
In his day-to-day business at DEKRAmaritim, Becker applies his expertise less to travel planning advice and more to the end customer and B2B areas. His team of experienced experts carries out well-founded, independent and neutral investigations and appraisals of motorboats and sailing yachts. “We draw up accident and damage reports or are active in accident management to minimize damage,” explains Becker. The experts also advise on boat purchases or restorations and can supervise repair work or new builds on request.
“The smell of old boat sheds is like perfume to my nose”
Mr. Becker, at 69, you are still very much part of DEKRA's professional life - where does your passion come from?
When I was 12 or 13 years old, a school friend and I made an old dinghy ready for sailing in a boat shed on the Alster in Hamburg. It was a small wooden boat that could sail. It was in good condition, but the paintwork was chipped. There was a lot of sanding and painting to do. We did a test run on the Alster. From there we went out onto the Elbe. These days in the boat shed and the trips with the small boat got me hooked. The smell of old boat sheds is still like perfume to my nose today.
As a Hamburg native, you probably also have your own boat, don't you?
Thankfully, yes, a 98-year-old, classic wooden boat that was built in 1927 at the Schlichting shipyard in Travemünde. The older the boat, the more care it needs. My wife and I normally spend a lot of time on the water every summer. During the winter, I do the boat maintenance. Last year, we “skipped” a season and also worked on the boat over the summer. The entire underwater hull, i.e. everything below the waterline, needed an overhaul.
Modern boats or yachts must have a lot of electronics on board?
That's right. In the past, skippers used to determine their position and course using nautical charts, a compass, a log and a lot of experience. Today, a GPS system takes over this task. With modern ship electronics, a whole new field of work has been added for us. This is because electronics are very susceptible to damage in the salty sea climate and can be expensive to fix. Just a few weeks ago, we were on board a yacht to assess the damage caused by a thunderstorm during a transfer voyage. Lightning struck nearby and all the electronics were dead. The insurance company asked us two important questions for further claims processing: Was the system failure really caused by the storm, or was there previous damage and possibly maintenance backlogs or installation errors?