Last week ten friends and I embarked on a 4 hour cruise on a glorious afternoon. We cruised the harbor while enjoying delicious food from KnifeFork+Spoon, served by the lovely Yves. Then our marvelo... See more
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Review summary
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Reviews shaping this summary
Amazing experience on the Seabiscuit. Our captain (Ernie) was so personable and our Steward (Sam) was amazing. They treated my family to an amazing adventure and just made our whole day special...es... See more
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We love Kaitlyn . She was a fabulous kind and very helpful host and organizer for our teen daughters group of friends and very good at making us as adults feel truly relaxed. Excellent hard worker and... See more
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Johanna and Quentin were so accommodating with the time but also with last minutes requests. It feels really different to see owners who genuinely cares about your experience and not just for money. W... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Boatsetter is the leading marketplace for boat rentals and unique on-water experiences, connecting explorers with a wide variety of privately owned boats and USCG-certified Captains. From sunset cruises in Miami and whale watching boat tours in San Diego to island hopping in the Caribbean, exploring Mexico's pristine coastlines, or sailing along Spain's Mediterranean shores – we make accessing unforgettable boating experiences seamless and secure.
The leading boat rental marketplace
Written by the company
- Credited with pioneering the first-ever peer-to-peer boat rental insurance policy, Boatsetter has made recreational boating a seamless, safe, and fun experience.
Contact info
United States
- contact@boatsetter.com
- www.boatsetter.com
4.6
Excellent
2k reviews
Asks customers to review
This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 24 hours
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The boat that we rented was perfect for…
The boat that we rented was perfect for our family weekend. The boat owner and person who delivered and picked up the boat were extremely communicative throughout the process. Everything went great!!
31 August 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Greg! We're so glad you had a good experience!
My Tahoe trip
Normally I would have drive my own boat out to our vacation destination, but Tahoe was a bit too far. Finding a boat that met our needs was very simple, and being able to have the boat come with a driver who is familiar with the lake and has all the needed equipment made the experience perfect.
30 August 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Scott! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
This company's pricing is unclear and…
This company's pricing is unclear and changes several times along the booking process. Feels like a bait and switch. Boater was great. Company not so much.
16 August 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Boatsetter
Thank you for this feedback, Todd. We try to make the pricing breakdown as transparent as possible and we're sorry for any confusion. The price shown on the boat listing page is the boat price that the owner sets for their boat. The full pricing breakdown (including the insurance fee, and service fee) is then shown on the checkout screen so the renter can see what the full cost will be before they submit payment.
Fabulous Boat & Captain
Last week ten friends and I embarked on a 4 hour cruise on a glorious afternoon. We cruised the harbor while enjoying delicious food from KnifeFork+Spoon, served by the lovely Yves. Then our marvelous Captain Tim suggested we leave the harbor in search of porpoises. We found dozens and it was such a thrill to watch them racing over the sea. Highly recommend this experience. Great captain, dock crew, and beautiful boat!!
28 August 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Peggie! We're so glad you had a good experience and we hope to get you on the water again soon!
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Dan! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
It was very easy to find a boat and…
It was very easy to find a boat and make a reservation. No headache or hassle. Just a few clicks and basic info. Definitely will use again.
30 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Christopher! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Anton! We're so glad you had a good experience!
Straightforward process for renting a…
Straightforward process for renting a boat from a reputable owner. The whole experience was quite simple, send a request to the owner and if they approve you book it and make arrangements to meet. In my case the owner was willing to meet us at the launch. We loaded the Yamaha 190 jet boat, hopped in, and he backed us down the ramp. (Of course there was the checklist and instructions on how to operate the craft). That took about 15 minutes and we were out on the lake for 8 hours. Everyone had a great time and we met the owner(Ibrahim, Lake Conroe) at the ramp and drove the boat up on the trailer and he pulled us right up to our vehicle to unload our things. The entire experience was very smooth and well worth the cost, considering that buying and maintaining that type of boat is not cheap. I will be renting again next summer.
30 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Ryan! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community and we hope to get you on the water again soon!
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Lawrence! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Everything was awesomely!
Everything was awesomely!! So helpful great experience will be returning
1 August 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Corey! We're so glad you had a good experience!
Everything went smoothly.
27 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Brian! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
Great rental experience!
Rental went off without a hitch. Boat was great! Owner went over all operations (although I’m already experienced boater). Will definitely use Boatsetter again.
28 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Jack! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Joe! We're so glad you had a good experience!
Rental process was completely as…
Rental process was completely as described. Easy and timely.
31 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Emily! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Company cancelled our reservation last…
Company cancelled our reservation last minute. no explanation.
Update Company says they reach out to customers who have been cancelled and help to rebook. Never reached out to me. More baloney. And what decent company has a review site but nowhere can you write reviews about cancelltions.
4 August 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Boatsetter
Hi Sheryl, thank you for this feedback and I want to extend my sincerest apologies for this last-minute cancellation. I understand the frustration that these situations can cause, and I'm so sorry this happened.
When a last-minute cancellation occurs, we always reach out to the renter to offer assistance with finding another boat (pending availability). You will receive a text message shortly from our rebooking team and they will be able to assist you with finding a replacement boat. If we are able to find you another boat, we will apply a 10% discount, which waives our commission. Unfortunately, this is the only amount that we can waive because those are the only portion of the funds that go to us (the rest go directly to the owner).
In many cases, these cancellations happen due to unforeseen circumstances on the owner's end. Boatsetter holds owners accountable for cancellations through penalties, which can impact their profile and visibility on the platform. While we don't currently have a feature for renters to leave reviews on canceled bookings, I want to assure you that our owner engagement team actively assesses these situations. Owners who exhibit a pattern of cancellations are internally evaluated, and if necessary, they may be removed from our platform.
I apologize again for the inconvenience, and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at contact@boatsetter.com. We hope to get you on the water again soon!
great company
31 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Steve! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Niravya! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Purchased the insurance but the deductable is 5000.00…
We had a some damage to the boat during our rental. We paid the 55, insurance cost, but later found out that deduction is 5000.00 or damage was way under thank goodness but I work for Airbnb and anything under 5000.00, in damage is covered by the renters insurance the pay for. The deductable is ridiculously high. No one contact my verbally to explain what the process was just hit me with a 1000.00 deduction to my bank account and sent me a email explaining they were taking the money to cover damage
The owner worked us 250.00 for damage but also it could be a bit more or less. That's far from 1000.00 so this money sites in limbo until everything is resolved?? Kinda shady I feel
I only gave them a few starts because the owner was great and the process of renting was easy
31 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thank you for providing this feedback, Andres. I'm happy to provide more information about how the damage claims process works.
As a renter, you are responsible for returning the vessel in the same condition it was found in at check-in, aside from fair wear and tear. If damage occurs to the vessel during your booking, the owner will submit a claim within 48 hours to the Boatsetter Claims Team with a description of the incident as well as any relevant photos/videos.
An email will then be sent to the email address on your Boatsetter account. This email will include the owner’s name from the booking where the damage occurred, details of the damage, and the amount of the security deposit that was captured. We encourage you to reply to this email with any additional information regarding this claim and to confirm that the email was received.
We will continue to hold your deposit during the claim investigation. Please note that at this time, your deposit has not been charged and we are simply holding the funds in escrow while the claim is investigated.
The Boatsetter Claims Team will be on standby for an invoice, estimate, or receipt from the owner for the repairs/replacement of lost or damaged items, or the insurance settlement letter from the coverage provider. Once these documents have been received, an email will be sent to you explaining the repair or replacement costs. The details of the claim, along with the repair costs, will be reviewed by the Boatsetter Claims Team for verification. This information is typically verified within two business days. Within this time frame, you will have the opportunity to reply with any questions or concerns regarding the charges against you.
Once the receipts/invoices for the repairs have been verified, repair costs will be paid out from your deposit. If the amount is less than the amount of the security deposit, the difference will be refunded to you. Renters using Buoy's Peer-to-Peer Insurance Policy are liable for up to $5,000 in repair costs, which go towards covering the deductible. Once you have been charged, the Boatsetter Claims Team will move forward with paying out the owner, and the claim will be closed.
Claims can result in third-party arbitration when a resolution cannot be reached. FairClaims is a third-party arbitration service we provide to owners and renters. When a claim is sent to FairClaims, an arbitrator will decide how the claim is resolved. If you would like more information on the claims process, please reach out to the Boatsetter Claims Team via email at claims@boatsetter.com.
Easy to book and felt safe with…
Easy to book and felt safe with boatsetter as a mediator.
31 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Darlene! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
Last Minute Boat Reservation
I reached out to Cori on Monday evening for a boat rental on Wednesday on Wednesday. After figuring out some logistics, Cori was able to accommodate our request. Cori was an awesome captain. We had great two hours out on the water with her. I would highly recommend, booking through her. If we are in the area again, I will be looking to make another reservation.
30 July 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Vern! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
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