Boats as B&Bs

ChrisJefferies

ChrisJefferies

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Apr 2014
Messages
273
Location
Basingstoke
www.motorboatsmonthly.co.uk
Just wondering if anyone has tried renting their boat out on a static basis (as opposed to charter).
The biggest brand here seems to be Beds on Board, but staticboatholidays.com and Air BnB do much the same.
We're planning a feature on this and would be keen to hear of any experiences, positive or negative.
Send me a private message if you want to talk...
 
We rented an old 1070's(?) Carver for a few days through AirBnB.
It was in Suasalito which is on the opposite end of the Golden Gate Bridge to San Fransisco. To visit SF we just caught a ferry from near where the boat was moored.
It was moored in a community of liveaboards which the town is famous for and was a good experience marred only by the petrol fumes that we could smell if we closed all the doors!!!!
We had thought about doing the same with ours and wondered what the marinas view might be on doing this.
I think you would have to be careful who you rented to and decided for us it was not worth the potential hassle.
Possibly more viable if you have a big boat and stay on board all the time, or one like we rented that is unlikely to be leaving the marina any time soon.....or even ever!!!
 
I think it's a grey market Chris, in the sense that the ffl, (furnished floating let), would be seen as a trade and as such would come under the scruutiny of several bodies and I recon, from a legal and legislative PoV, it would be tricky for a static vessel to pass muster.
You'd have to have and FRA
You'd need nic equivalent for your electrics
Public liability insurance
Permission from the marina to run the business
Bespoke insurance
Risk assessment and instruction for safety on the water

While the are a few who are doing this, they are getting away with it because they are sitting under the radar, as it were. One choking, falling, drowning death in the sector and things will have to change.

I'd be careful recommending it as a lifestyle choice and that's before you even think about getting ffl operators to disclose income levels, I don't imagine that it's much reported on the annual return...oh and God forbid we are talking about a vessel in mortgage......tenants!!!

Just my opinion so no offence meant to anyone.

Far better to let your house out while you use your boat, but I would say that wouldn't I?!! :)
 
Last edited:
I can't think why anyone would want to rent their boat out as a B&B. From the simple things like access to the boat, opening and closing canopies to the workings of the toilets, shower, fresh water pumps, water heater, seacocks, battery switches, heating, battery charger, hatches, cookers & gas, etc etc... its just a complete minefield...

Interesting reading someone has had experience of hiring, if you are a boat owner you will be a lot more savvy when it comes to how things work so I can see fellow boat owners will have a lot more idea, but then he mention the boat he hired had petrol fumes.... Then if look into regulations as Nigel obviously knows a lot about, its surly a dead duck.
 
Firefly625 said:
I can't think why anyone would want to rent their boat out as a B&B. From the simple things like access to the boat, opening and closing canopies to the workings of the toilets, shower, fresh water pumps, water heater, seacocks, battery switches, heating, battery charger, hatches, cookers & gas, etc etc... its just a complete minefield...

Interesting reading someone has had experience of hiring, if you are a boat owner you will be a lot more savvy when it comes to how things work so I can see fellow boat owners will have a lot more idea, but then he mention the boat he hired had petrol fumes.... Then if look into regulations as Nigel obviously knows a lot about, its surly a dead duck.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, it's bad enough explaining the use of heads, and what not to try and flush, when on board with guests, and the frugal use of fresh water. No, it's a complete minefield.

However there is an old converted trawler just opposite our mooring on a hammerhead in Darthaven that is run as a b&b, so it is possible.
 
longjohnsilver said:
Absolutely, it's bad enough explaining the use of heads, and what not to try and flush, when on board with guests, and the frugal use of fresh water. No, it's a complete minefield.

However there is an old converted trawler just opposite our mooring on a hammerhead in Darthaven that is run as a b&b, so it is possible.
Click to expand...

Now if you buy an old trawler with the sole purpose to make it a user friendly b&b I can see that perhaps possible. Normal lighting, normal(ish) toilets, normal beds, big cabins, etc etc, and don't actually use it yourself as a boat, but just keep it as a b&b for others, then, if you can find a berth cheap enough....., Just maybe.
 
However there is an old converted trawler just opposite our mooring on a hammerhead in Darthaven that is run as a b&b, so it is possible.[/QUOTE]

In the early eighties there was one in Vilamoura which seemed to be quite sucessful.
 
Firefly625 said:
Now if you buy an old trawler with the sole purpose to make it a user friendly b&b I can see that perhaps possible. Normal lighting, normal(ish) toilets, normal beds, big cabins, etc etc, and don't actually use it yourself as a boat, but just keep it as a b&b for others, then, if you can find a berth cheap enough....., Just maybe.
Click to expand...

The one in Dartmouth charge something like £750 for a long weekend, so not cheap!
 
This is now becoming quite common in London and I get call outs from absent owners that have rented out their boats. It's a minefield as the tenants are often completely unfamiliar with boat systems and simple things like running out of fuel for the heating, even running out of water, not having a clue about restricted available power levels, flattening batteries as the charger packed up, bilge water up to the floor due to not keeping an open eye etc......etc.
I am currently fitting out a boat with an official residential mooring and as has been pointed out earlier in the thread if you are going to be able to sleep at night there are a large number of considerations re insurances, permissions, standard of on board systems etc. It has lead me to begin producing a detailed manual that will form part of the tenancy agreement detailing the responsibility to monitor the boat, I am making things as simple as possible with alarms and even a cut out for the heads when the holding tank is full and one for low potable water but I suspect I will have to be very careful in my choice of tenants.
 
We stayed on a barge in Nantes as a B&B and it was fine. It was connected to mains utilities and was very much like a floating room, except the view was at duck level and brilliant. The owner met us to give us the keys and provide a general set of instructions but it wasn't really necessary. This was very much fitted out to let, so designed for the purpose. If you can find it on the Interweb, stay there and go visit the Machines de L'isle, brilliant!
 
salar said:
We stayed on a barge in Nantes as a B&B and it was fine. It was connected to mains utilities and was very much like a floating room, except the view was at duck level and brilliant. The owner met us to give us the keys and provide a general set of instructions but it wasn't really necessary. This was very much fitted out to let, so designed for the purpose. If you can find it on the Interweb, stay there and go visit the Machines de L'isle, brilliant!
Click to expand...

Can you give more info? We're actually thinking of going to Nantes for a holiday soon.
 
How does all this work with Air B&B?

As I understand it you are renting private homes, and I don't think these people will have anything other than normal house insurance?

Would boats not operate like air B&B
 
Whitelighter said:
How does all this work with Air B&B?

As I understand it you are renting private homes, and I don't think these people will have anything other than normal house insurance?

Would boats not operate like air B&B
Click to expand...

If you rent any accommodation you are liable to run the business by the book.
Air BandB is an accident waiting to happen and while it works very well as a differential for my business I am getting tired and concerned with the amount of awful, absolutely awful, experiences from rape and porn shoots to ethereal property that only exists as a payment capture exercise.

Bottom line is that if you let a boat out as holiday accommodation you should comply with law and legislation of the land.
If someone can demonstrate to me how a marine vessel can obtain a clean fire risk assessment, dealing with fuel, shore supply, furnishings, NIC, PAT, other near by hazards and countless other aspects; I'd love to see it.

That's just one Legal requirement and you can be prosecuted for not having an up to date document. Its not just a case of buyer beware or at your own risk from either a ethical or legal point of view.

Now go look at the government requirements for landlords and legionella and tell me that you would be comfortable letting anyone rent your boat....standing water, air con, water heating systems. Oh and COSH. It just goes on and on.

Of course a houseboat would be far easier to manoeuvre into compliance and that is being done successfully and safely by many.
 
ChrisJefferies said:
Just wondering if anyone has tried renting their boat out on a static basis (as opposed to charter).
The biggest brand here seems to be Beds on Board, but staticboatholidays.com and Air BnB do much the same.
We're planning a feature on this and would be keen to hear of any experiences, positive or negative.
Send me a private message if you want to talk...
Click to expand...

Is it B and B or just a bed?
 
Air B&B or Beds On Board would seem to be a very interesting and clever way use the space whilst empty, which lets face it, unfortunately for most is a good 70% of the time, with an income stream that opens up the market to quite a few non boaty types with cash to spend! Its a no brainer, as the insurances for the clients is covered I know with B.O.B, and so long as the boats insurance company are aware that this is happening it is all covered.
As a charter boat owner this just makes sense in my opinion, and albeit not for all private owners it should definitely appeal to most if you can pay your mooring fees within a months accommodation rental fee's! Thats roughly speaking 30 out of 356, without leaving the marina at what I can see as no extra cost?
Sign me up please!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top