Can’t afford a boat but want to explore the water? Try the Airbnb of boats

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I’ve been addicted to life on the water since a young age. I grew up in Peterborough, Ont., in a home on the water, and learned to swim around the same time I learned to walk. As an adult, I moved around from beach to lake to ocean, finally settling in Squamish, B.C. — home to sailing, kiteboarding and other water sports and aquatic adventures.

A life goal of mine is to one day own a boat, but until the day I can afford one, I settle for getting out on the water as often as I can —whether that’s on an Explorer 300, or another person’s boat. Enter Getmyboat, the Airbnb of boat rentals and yacht charters. 

I decided to rent a Luxury Mahogany Yacht for myself and six friends, plus our kids, in Vancouver — the second busiest boating city in Canada, according to a 2025 report. Read on for my experience.

What to expect: Getmyboat booking process

The booking process is fairly straightforward. First, you’ll set up an account with basic details — no need to enter payment information until you’re ready to book. Next, you’ll browse through the boats available in your area during your preferred dates — I found a large variety of speed boats, yachts, pontoons, sailboats and boats available with additional water toys like Seadoos or slides. 

Each boat comes with a professional captain to shepherd you around the water, and each listing has verified reviews and photos from previous guests. I would read these closely and ensure you’re booking a boat with great reviews. Guests review categories like listing accuracy, vessel and equipment and value for money. For peace of mind, I considered boats with 10 or more great reviews and happily settled on the mahogany yacht because it had a kind of old-school wow-factor, plus lots of separate spaces for our group.

Next, you’ll send a booking inquiry to the captain and secure your payment. I initially had some issues trying to book, as some boats were unavailable during my preferred times, even if they appeared to be available. After some investigation, I determined that many captains have their boats listed for rent on multiple platforms and sometimes forget to update calendars across platforms. My suggestion is to reach out to multiple boats for your preferred date and time slot to avoid disappointment. Once I was able to connect with my captain and secure the booking, communication was seamless. The captains seem genuinely excited to help you plan your perfect day, so ask about whale watching, BBQing or swimming at a secret beach — whatever you desire.

The final step is meeting your captain on the dock for a safety briefing ahead of your trip and getting out on the water.

Getmyboat pricing

Prices range based on the type and size of boat, as well as how many guests are attending and the duration of your trip. It’s safe to budget $200-$400 per hour for a group of 12, which includes the use of the boat and an experienced captain. If you plan to book a 60-foot yacht like this one in Toronto, or this mega yacht complete with jacuzzi in Vancouver, expect to pay more.

Where is Getmyboat available?

Available in 9,400 locations worldwide and all across Canada in major destinations like Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and lake-country Quebec, plus more remote areas like Port Moody, Ville-Marie and Hamilton. 

My experience with Getmyboat

Overall, I had a great experience with Getmyboat. After the initial booking hiccup, we met our captain and had an amazing three hours cruising around Granville Island and out to Jerico Beach. We stopped to swim in the ocean and enjoyed jumping from the boat, and our kids loved putting a crab trap down, even though we didn’t catch anything. There was a lot of space — the kids loved playing down below while the parents soaked up the sun and views. Our captain was friendly, knowledgeable and kept to himself. I’m looking forward to booking another outing on the water.

If you’re looking for more boat rental options, try TripAdvisor, Boat Around, Le Boat or a local company in your area.

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ltaveroff@postmedia.com

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