Let’s face it, life is better on water. Fortunately, an app that stimulates adventure makes it very easy for everyone to enjoy water experiences: boat setter. This lifestyle and entertainment oriented app allows people everywhere to book a boat on demand.
This peer-to-peer boat rental company has over 50,000 boat listings available in more than 700 locations around the world, making them easy to access no matter where you are. Through this app, those looking to cruise the waters without the hassle of boat ownership can find over 20,000 different makes and models available for charter in a variety of styles and sizes, from family-friendly sailboats to luxury yachts of every type.
No matter your level of experience on the water, Boatsetter makes it easy to discover and enjoy a variety of experiences by connecting qualified charterers directly with licensed boat owners and captains. In fact, the company has the largest database of certified US Coast Guard captains, making it possible for those with no prior boating experience to go out and enjoy the waters safely and confidently. Boatsetter also notes that it is the world’s only legally compliant and insured peer-to-peer boat rental.
I also love that it caters to “marine beginners,” offering a free beginner boating course on the water dedicated to teaching new boaters the basics of boat operation and safety.
The Boatsetter is a great choice for a variety of on-water experiences such as bachelors and bachelorette parties, sunset cruises, sand boarding, fishing charters or just rent a boat, boat or yacht to sail the blue seas and escape the daily grind. Whatever the volume of water near your location, Boatsetter brings friends and family together of all kinds – oceans, bays, inland lakes and rivers.
From my own yachting experience, I appreciate the captain’s keen local knowledge of the waterways we were crossing. I’ve learned that boat owners and captains available through the service can offer unique itineraries and make recommendations for local restaurants, sandbars, party bays, things to do and places to see to ensure meaningful nautical memories are made.
And the Boatsetter doesn’t only cater to those looking to rent a water experience. The company is fostering an entirely new industry within the sharing economy, helping thousands of boat owners become entrepreneurs in their own right. Whether it’s a bustling career or a basic one, Boatsetter seems to be a great way to a monetary end for shipowners and captains.
According to Boatsetter CEO and Co-founder Jaclyn Baumgarten, Boatsetter is the market leading application for on-water experiences and boat rentals. So far, she says, more than a million boat owners and boat owners have collectively turned to Boatsetter to discover the endless possibilities that the water has to offer. This apparently includes impressive income generation.
“The Boatsetter is ideal for boat owners who want to pay for boat ownership or become an entrepreneur on the water,” she said. “We are creating an entrepreneurial highway for thousands of boat owners, with some reporting that they generated over $100,000 in revenue in 2021 alone. Boat owner/operators with one or more boats listed comprise 70 percent of the entire Boatsetter platform.”
Amid these decidedly impressive stats, she reached out to Baumgarten to find out more about what drives her company’s success. Here is a little bit of that conversation.
MK: In a category that includes other boat rental apps, what sets the Boatsetter service apart from other options?
JB: For example, Boatsetter is the world’s only legally compliant and insured peer-to-peer boat rental platform, having partnered with GEICO and BoatUS to launch the first-ever peer-to-peer boat rental insurance policy in 2014. Boatsetter has the largest database of USCG-certified captains, making it possible even for those without prior boating experience to take advantage of an amazing range of water activities with utmost safety and confidence. On the owner/operator side, Boatsetter has a higher collective revenue retention than the leading home sharing platform, which means that boat owners are generating higher revenue year over year. Boatsetter also has the fastest return on asset purchase known as “ROAP” – the number of lease periods required to pay off assets in full – of any peer-to-peer market.
MK: What about market differentiation… What are the things people might not know or expect about Boatsetter, but should?
JB: Our Boating Academy, launched last summer, is a free boating course for beginners on the water, spreading the industry, inspiring and learning new waves of boating across generational lines. The academy is dedicated to teaching new boaters of any age the basics of boat operation. It is the largest free boating school in the country, and quickly became the “Khan Academy” of boating.
Boatsetter is also the largest US-based fishing market, offering a variety of fishing boat rentals and charter experiences at top destinations that facilitate everything from deep sea to shore to freshwater fishing.
Also of note are our multi-day reservations, ideal for renters who want to be out on the water for days on end. Local boat owners coordinate with charterers to drop the boat off in the morning and pick it up in the evening, before repeating a similar process on the following day(s) for the duration of the reservation.
Instant booking is very popular, allowing tenants to book with automatic landlord approval at the click of a button. Tenants using the Instant Book feature can get out on the water within 48 hours of completing their reservation.
MK: How will the service continue to overcome the difficulties posed by the pandemic to ensure the health, safety and confidence of guests regarding this?
JB: The Boatsetter provides a seamless way for people to reconnect at a time when our collective health and wellness depends on our personal safety. Now more than ever, people are looking for new experiences, time outdoors and ways to connect with friends and family. The Boatsetter is a safe, convenient, and fun way to do it – and stay close to home.
MK: Do you offer an additional utility service?
JB: Yes, with our Boatsetter Lux we offer White Glove Concierge to guide guests by planning a customized, exclusive and memorable charter trip to destinations around the world.
MK: What is your favorite personal aspect of the service?
JB: I love that Boatsetter breaks down barriers like money and access that often prevent people from experiencing life on the water. Likewise, because Boatsetter is a two-sided market, we are uniquely positioned to enable new and existing boat owners and operators – as well as entrepreneurs in the temporary work economy – to make money during an economic downturn. Mentoring and empowering other like-minded entrepreneurs is my personal passion. I am fortunate that, at Boatsetter, we are not only succeeding in our dream of making amazing experiences on the water available to everyone, but we are also creating entrepreneurs on the water.
MK: What service standards do you use?
JB: This is an important question. The Boatsetter Company prides itself on having a fleet of the highest quality in the industry. To maintain a network of reliable, safe and fun boating experiences, boat listings may be removed or permanently deactivated for non-meeting Owner criteria.
There are many reasons why the owner may be removed or deleted from the Boatsetter platform. These include, but are not limited to, unresponsive or slow to respond to customers; high cancellation rate; failure to comply with our terms or USCG regulations; And many complaints from customers for reasons such as poor customer service, inappropriate or unprofessional behaviour, lack of hygiene, non-functional equipment, or boat conditions that do not match the boat listing.
To help ensure our standards of service, Boatsetter has a world-class support team to assist throughout the booking process, for both owners and renters. Especially on the owner’s side, our team provides support with one-on-one training sessions, owner webinars, and training modules.
MK: Any interesting/unexpected/unknown/trivial facts about the service?
JB: One of the core values our employees hold close to our hearts is #MindYourWake, which means more than just recognizing our impact on our waterways. It also includes our planet in general, while maintaining the value of being aware of how we treat our environment and each other as team members and human beings. This year alone, our team will be participating in seven different waterway cleanup events across the country – so far they’ve collected over 1,000 pounds of trash!
Overall, the Boatsetter offers the ultimate authentic experience for anyone looking to get into the water without the hassle. Tenants can expect owners and captains to not only ensure a comfortable and safe trip, but also local knowledge of the waterways and the surrounding city. It’s a great way to ensure your water adventure not only meets expectations – but exceeds them.
~~~
Merilee Kern, MBA is a global brand analyst and strategist Which reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as notable industry change-makers, movers, shakers and innovators in all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts, thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations, and events. Merrill is the founder, Editor and Executive Producer of “The Luxe List” as well as host “Savvy living“ A lifestyle TV show broadcast in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta, and other major markets on CBS, FOX, and other major networks; In addition to “Savvy Ventures“A business TV show that airs locally on FOX Business TV and Bloomberg TV. As a prolific lifestyle, travel, dining, and entertainment industry, the voice of authority and taste maker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the market in search of new and innovative must-haves and perfect experiences at all price points From affordable prices to the extreme, her business reaches several million worldwide via broadcast television (her own shows and many other shows on which she appears) as well as countless print and online publications. www.TheLuxeList.com And the www.SavvyLiving.tv / Instagram www.Instagram.com/MerileeKern / Twitter www.twitter.com/MerileeKern / Facebook www.Facebook.com/MerileeKernOfficial / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.
*** Some or all of the accommodations, experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or arranged at no cost to you if this was an editorial review, but all opinions expressed are those of Merilee Kern is completely unaffected in any way.