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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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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Lake Tahoe is a must see, and the best way to do that is on the water! Dylan was a fantastic captain of the double decker tiki party boat, very knowledgeable about the lake and surrounding areas, gre... See more
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The boat was gorgeous and looked brand new. The staff friendly and accommodating beyond my expectations-and I set those high. It was exactly how I wanted to spend the day with friends-relaxing, cruisi... 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
4.5
Excellent
2K reviews
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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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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
July 31, 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.
July 31, 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.
July 30, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Vern! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Great communication and hospitality
Great communication and hospitality! Down to earth human!!
July 30, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Joseph! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Pleased
Generally happy with the site. Was able to find local boats to rent at reasonable rates. Our experience with the boat and boat owner were excellent! Would have given five stars but there are processing fees that Boatsetter does not disclose until last minute. Would prefer to see an all-in price.
July 29, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thank you for this review and for providing this feedback, Andrew. The price that the renter sees on the boat listing page is the price set by the boat owner and those funds go directly to the owner. Boatsetter is the booking platform, and the platform fees (service fee and insurance fee) are displayed on the checkout screen, allowing renters to see the total price before finalizing the booking and submitting payment. We try to make the pricing breakdown as transparent as possible, and we're very sorry for any confusion or inconvenience. We're glad you had a good experience, and we hope to get you on the water again soon!
The crew is to help the captain with the boat but more importantly to help make your experience hassle free. With setup and breakdown.
Great experience and Captain Brady was a cool laid back guy. The crew was great and helped us with all our needs to make my 60th birthday great.
July 28, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Stacey! We're so glad we were able to help you celebrate your birthday!
Excellent experience Great birthday party fun with boat setters
Excellent experience with boat setters. We rented a pontoon boat from Garrett. We also hired a captain who was excellent. Our captain was Connor and he was fun. He kept us safe and he took pictures of our group for us.
July 25, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Jacqueline! We're so glad you had a good experience!
Great time
Great time. Boat as described ! Life jackets provided. Enjoyed the tube and lily pad.
July 28, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Tara! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
App easy to use
July 28, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Evelyn! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Do not use Boatsetter
Do not use Boatsetter ! They are a scam. After our trip they “mistakenly “ charged my account 3 different times & when inquired for a refund they refunded it incorrectly and proceeded to charge it again !!
July 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Boatsetter
Thank you for your feedback, Mya, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. I can confirm that you were only charged once for the fuel cost. The incorrect amount was mistakenly refunded, but we were able to cancel that refund in our system before it was processed and then proceeded to refund the correct amount. I can confirm that you will only see one charge for fuel with one partial refund on your bank statement. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at contact@boatsetter.com. We hope to get you on the water again soon.
I would not recommend. They do not stand behind their policies.
I would not recommend this company at all! We had a rental scheduled for July 15th in Mt. DORA Florida, the same day that tropical depression 93L crossed Florida, in that same area. Radar images for that day showed heavy rain, and lightning for several hours that would've created a dangerous situation for a boat on a lake. The owner of the boat could not be reached by Boatsetter and his phone would not take calls. In the end, Boatsetter refused to give us a refund although their website said that they refund for bad weather. We feel scammed!
July 15, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Boatsetter
Thank you for reaching out, Hallie. In the event of a weather cancellation, you’ll need to provide written confirmation of the owner agreeing to this cancellation for Boatsetter to process a full refund.
In the event of qualifying natural disasters or severe weather conditions, Boatsetter may override the Owner’s cancellation policy to ensure the safety of all persons. Valid severe weather conditions include government-declared weather emergencies or advisories that affect the location and duration of the booking.
Our department heads are currently reviewing this and we will follow up with you over email as soon as possible.
Terrible Customer Service
Boat was ok bc only one engine worked. I tried to come to an agreement w the captain, who worked through someone listing himself as the owner (who is not the owner). When I didn't get anywhere with that I contacted Boatsetter directly and they basically said "meh not my problem." To the best of my knowledge they did not even address that individuals are holding themselves out as owners when they are just middlemen. There is a huge lack of transparency here and the quality of the boats and professionalism is questionable.
April 10, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Boatsetter
Thank you for this feedback, Amanda, and we're very sorry about this experience. I can confirm that we have addressed this with the boat owner and our customer support team. We are always looking for ways to improve the renter experience, so we appreciate you taking the time to provide this feedback. We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Boatsetter was a very easy to use
Boatsetter was a very easy to use, even on the phone.
The boat we rented was just as promised.
July 2, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, David! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
Great Birthday Booking
Booked for my birthday and was very happy with boat overall. It was in great condition and well taken care of.
Smooth communication overall and easy to find where boat was docked. Crew and captain were helpful and brought us to a great swimming area. Would definitely book again!
July 2, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Daryl! We're so glad you had a good time and we hope to get you on the water again soon!
Boatsetter provided a great platform…
Boatsetter provided a great platform and service making it possible for us to rent a boat for the day .Everything was simple, straightforward, and easy to use. We appreciated that the sellers had ratings, and there were insurances in place to protect all involved. Overall awesome experience would definitely use again.
July 5, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Angela! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Owner was polite and very…
Owner was polite and very communicative. Pick up and drop off were seamless and cost was reasonable!
July 4, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Shaye! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
Lake Norman… Beautiful Pontoon Boat and communication and service excellent !
This was our first time on Lake Norman and our first time using Boatsetter. We will be using your search platform from now on ! So easy to search and find and communication w the owner and your company was great. Even w a little hiccup w the app and payment, communications thru email directly were a great backup and all went great :)
July 3, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Tracy! We're so glad you had a good experience!
Great boat and owner/manager
Great boat and boat owner! Really helpful to get us started and very nice people! Boat was very nice and it was wonderful to have a digital reader displaying the depth of the waters we were in. Highly recommend!
July 3, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Erika! We hope to get you on the water again soon!
Reply from Boatsetter
Thanks so much for this review, Gina! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community!
The boat was clean and in new…
The boat was clean and in new condition. Capt Ross was terrific!
I did get an email before my trip saying that a captain had cancelled which was confusing.
I started looking for an alternative right away because I booked this for a large group. I reached out and got an email that Capt Ross had accepted the job. I only wish there was a phone number I would have used to contact them.
June 28, 2025
Reply from Boatsetter
Thank you for this review and for providing this feedback, Ginger! We appreciate you being part of the Boatsetter community and we hope to get you on the water again soon!
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