Taking to the water on your own personal boat elevates a vacation from great to memorable as you uncover out-of-the-ordinary experiences away from everyday crowds—and you by no means have to charter a gleaming 150-foot superyacht to achieve this bliss. With the rise of more accessible peer-to-peer boat rental platforms, marine adventures in the most popular coastal destinations around the world are now at your fingertips, whether that’s a couple of hours on a kayak or a full-day skippered yacht experience. Below, we’ve rounded up the best boat rental services to take advantage of this summer—and some of our favorite listings from each.
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
France’s Click & Boat was founded by two passionate sailors in 2013. In the decade since, the platform has grown into one of the world’s largest boat rental services and now lists over 50,000 vessels in 164 countries. As a peer-to-peer platform, private owners are able to register their personal yachts that would otherwise be left tied up in port, and this makes its selection of bareboat RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) and dayboats particularly extensive. You can select by criteria such as destination, location, and build year of the boat, and there’s also a handy discount search button to pick up a last-minute deal. Many RIB and dayboat listings are self-drive, so you’ll need to have your boat license to cruise without a skipper. The platform is home to a growing fleet of e-boats in various destinations, too.
Rent this: X-Shore Eelix, South of France
This sleek, electric boat from Sweden’s X-Shore showcases the power of sustainable cruising and can reach top speeds of 30 knots. From its home port of Hyères on the Côte d’Azur, you’ll be able to reach the translucent waters of the Ile de Porquerolles on a day charter.
Rent this: Maestral 500, Croatia
Snorkeling equipment, a swim ladder, a shower, and a bimini top for sun cover are included in the day rate for this zippy 140 HP day boat. From its base in Dubrovnik, you’re within easy reach of secluded coastal anchorages in the nearby Elafiti Islands.
Best for no-license cruising: SamBoat
Different countries have different rules about boating without a license: For example, in France, you can only take out a motorboat without a license if it’s less than five meters (16 ½ feet) in length. In Croatia, on the other hand, skippering a motorboat of any size is not allowed at all. SamBoat, another French platform connecting owners to boaters that is now part of the Dream Yacht Charter Group, has over 50,000 listings in ports around the globe, including crewed sailing yacht charters in Malta and skippered catamaran experiences in the Greek Islands. The website also has a search tool to “rent without a license” that allows you to quickly find no-license-needed boats close to your location. Don’t expect too many fancy features on a license-free boat—there’s no toilet or fridge, for example, nor the opportunity to veer too far from the coast. The simple design does make for easy handling, however, even for beginners.
Rent this: Poseidon Bluwater 170, Greek Islands
Skip the crowds in Santorini onboard this smart motor boat that still feels new, having first hit the water in 2022. Equipped with a GPS plotter, ice cooler, and waterproof phone cases, a memorable half day (five hours) or full day (10 hours) in the Cyclades—perhaps around the underrated island of Tinos—beckons.
Rent this: Lagoon 55, South of France
This bateau sans permis (boat without a license) will not only turn heads cruising the French Riviera for its bright appearance but also for the photovoltaic panels on its solar awning that generate enough power for up to eight hours at sea.
“Any boat, Anywhere, Any time” is the philosophy that steers Borrow A Boat, a British charter portal founded in 2017. The platform has a detailed inventory of over 45,000 listings in 65 countries; each vessel has met strict eligibility criteria as well as stringent safety and insurance regulations in its cruising locations. This means the selection veers more toward the yacht end of the spectrum rather than small, simple day boats: Many listings itemize the additional costs per day for a skipper, chef, and water sports equipment for complete transparency. Popular cruising destinations include the Western and Eastern Mediterranean and the Caribbean, although the wide choice of catamarans positioned in Thailand indicates the growing popularity of boating holidays in the region, too.
Rent this: Hanse 388, Croatia
This classic sailing yacht with a ruby-red hull was built by a leader in performance sailing, Hanse Yachts. That doesn’t mean, however, that this isn’t the ideal vessel for relaxed cruising of the Croatian islands from its base in Split. It’s available either bareboat or with a skipper (for an additional cost).
Rent this: Lagoon 52F, Thailand
The shallow draught of a catamaran is tailor-made for cruising the shallow waters of Thailand— plus, the wide beam gives the two-hulled vessel more stability. With the capacity to sleep up to 10 guests in eight cabins, this classy cat is a catch for families.
In the boat rental business since 2012, Boatsetter understands exactly what its clientele wants, whether that’s a do-it-yourself adventure or a captained cruise for a day or a week. Over 50,000 boats are registered on the platform, in 700 (mainly North American) locations. We are particularly inspired by the party boat search: Results range from classic Riva runarounds in the Hamptons to skippered luxury wake surf boats in Lake Powell, Arizona. Most are available to be hired for a duration between two to eight hours. A handy “plan with friends” button on each listing invites you to share potential options with your boating buddies.
Rent this: Sea-Doo Switch, Texas
The personal watercraft experts at Sea-Doo have created this pontoon that functions like a Jet Ski. This new listing in Texas can fit up to 10 people; fun toys like towable tubes, kneeboards, and wakeboards can be booked as extras.
Rent this: Floating Saloon, Texas
With up to 10 friends, cruise Lake Austin on this fun floating bar. Note that it’s BYO booze and BYO music—you can play your favorite tunes through the onboard Bluetooth audio.
Along with houseboats, pontoons, fishing boats, and pleasure craft, San Francisco–based GetMyBoat has a thriving marketplace for “other water experiences.” Paddleboards, Jet Skis, and kayaks are top-level categories but within that, you’ll be able to choose from other water sports equipment including surfboards, windsurfs, and superhero-style flyboards and hoverboards. All up, the platform counts over 150,000 listings in 184 countries and 9,300 destinations, yet the website remains clear and user-friendly, allowing easy navigation through the different categories of rentals. A messaging function allows you to directly contact the listing’s owner with any queries you may have before you book, too.
Rent this: Glow in the Dark, Clear Kayaks, Alabama
Once you’ve watched the sunset on the Gulf Shores, an encore performance awaits. Under the night sky, these clear kayaks start to glow in bright shades of blue, pink, and yellow.
Rent this: Dolphin Jet Ski Tour, Florida
Although sightings aren’t guaranteed, the guides on this dolphin Jet Ski tour in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, know all the best places to find the graceful marine mammals while keeping a respectful distance on your two-seater WaveRunner.
