How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Boat? A Complete Price Guide

You want clear numbers before you book. You also want no stress. This guide gives straight price ranges, real trip examples, and the exact extras to expect. I’m a Boat4You charter professional. I help guests pick the right boat, avoid avoidable fees, and sail off with confidence across Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain, the Caribbean, and more.

Quick action: send your dates, group size, preferred boat types, and a budget range. Our team replies with a free shortlist within 24 hours.

Total Trip Cost Ranges by Boat Type and Season

Prices shift with season, size, age, brand, crew, and region. Use these ballpark weekly ranges for planning. EUR first, USD in brackets. USD values reflect a simple guide: €1 ≈ $1.08.

Catamarans — Weekly Charter Ranges

• Low season (Oct–Apr): €2,500–€6,000 ($2,700–$6,500)
• Shoulder (May–Jun, Sep): €4,500–€10,000 ($4,900–$10,800)
• Peak (late Jun–Aug): €7,500–€18,000+ ($8,100–$19,400+)

Smaller 38–42 ft sit near the low end. Newer 45–50 ft sit mid to high. Premium 50–60 ft and power cats sit highest.

Sailing Yachts (Monohulls) — Weekly Charter Ranges

• Low season: €1,200–€3,000 ($1,300–$3,200)
• Shoulder: €2,000–€4,500 ($2,200–$4,900)
• Peak: €3,500–€7,000+ ($3,800–$7,600+)

Boats around 35–42 ft sit near the low end. 45–50 ft run mid to high. Newer premium builds rise further.

Motor Yachts and RIBs — Day and Week Ranges

• RIB day hire: €400–€1,200 ($430–$1,300) plus fuel
• Day motor yacht (35–55 ft): €2,000–€8,000 ($2,200–$8,600) plus fuel and crew
• Week motor yacht (45–90 ft): €10,000–€80,000+ ($10,800–$86,000+) plus APA

Fuel burn drives totals for power boats. Speed and engine hours move numbers more than any other factor.

Gulets and Luxury Options — Crewed Snapshot

• Standard gulets: €12,000–€30,000 per week ($13,000–$32,000) plus APA
• Luxury gulets and mini-superyachts: €30,000–€150,000+ per week ($32,000–$162,000+) plus APA

APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. Details follow below.

What Drives the Price

Season, Location, Boat Size, Year, Brand

• Season: July and August bring the highest demand. June and September offer warm weather with softer rates. Spring and late autumn deliver stronger savings.
• Location: Croatia and Greece offer strong value. Italy and Spain, especially Amalfi and the Balearics, sit higher for marinas and services. The Caribbean varies by island and time of year.
• Boat size and year: Larger hulls and newer builds command premium rates. A recent refit two to five years older often delivers standout value.
• Brand and layout: Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Bali, Sunreef for cats. Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hanse, Dufour for monohulls. Sunseeker, Azimut, Princess, Ferretti for motor yachts. Layouts with more ensuite cabins lift demand.

Crew Options, Daily Rates, and Tipping

• Skipper: €180–€250 per day ($195–$270)
• Hostess/Steward(ess): €150–€220 per day ($162–$238)
• Chef: €200–€300 per day ($216–$324)

Rates cover work on board plus provisioning for crew. For crewed yachts with APA, crew meals draw from APA.
Tipping norms:

• Skippered bareboat: €200–€400 total tip for a week if service shines.
• Crewed yachts: 10–15% of the charter fee for excellent service, handed at disembarkation.

Fuel, Transit Log, Cleaning, Tourist Tax, Mooring and Marina Fees

Fuel (one week, guide ranges):

• Monohull sailing yacht: €150–€400 ($162–$432)
• Catamaran sailing: €300–€700 ($324–$756)
• Power cat and mid-size motor yacht: €1,000–€3,000 ($1,080–$3,240)
• Large fast motor yacht: €3,000–€6,000+ ($3,240–$6,480+)

Transit log and final cleaning: €150–€350 ($162–$378), paid once per charter in many fleets.

Tourist tax:

• Croatia guideline: ~€1.50 per person per day.
• Greece, Italy, Spain: local taxes or port fees vary by area and port authority.

Mooring and marina fees (per night for a 40–45 ft yacht):

• Croatia: €70–€180 ($76–$195). Cats often pay a multiplier near 1.6–1.8x monohull price.
• Greece: €20–€80 ($22–$86) for town quays and smaller ports. Private marinas sit higher.
• Italy: €100–€300 ($108–$324) in popular areas.
• Balearics (Spain): €120–€350+ ($130–$378+), premium weeks price higher.

A mix of marinas, moorings, and anchorages trims spend. Many guests opt for marinas when water, power, laundry, and shore dinners line up on the route.

Security Deposit vs Damage Waiver

• Refundable security deposit:
  • Monohull: ~€1,500–€3,500
  • Catamaran: ~€2,500–€5,000
  • Motor yacht: ~€3,000–€8,000
    Paid by card pre-auth or wire. Refunded after check-out if no loss or damage beyond normal wear.
• Damage waiver (non-refundable) plus reduced deposit:
  • Waiver: ~€200–€400 ($216–$432) for the week
  • Reduced deposit: ~€300–€800
    Suits guests who prefer a lower hold on cards and lower exposure for small incidents.

What the Base Price Includes

Equipment, Linens, Dinghy, Safety Gear

Expect hull, rig, sails, standard nav gear, GPS/plotter, autopilot, basic galley kit, cockpit cushions on many models, bed linens and towels for listed berths, a dinghy with oars or a small outboard, and a full safety kit per flag rules. Water toys vary by fleet. Snorkel sets often appear in warm-water fleets, but not always. Paddleboards and kayaks often sit as extras.

Comfort add-ons to ask about: inverter or generator hours, air conditioning policy in marinas vs at anchor, watermaker availability, sunshades, cockpit enclosures, extra towels, and beach towels.

What You Pay Extra and When — APA for Crewed Yachts

• Extras for bareboat/skippered charters: fuel, marinas or moorings, tourist taxes, transit log and final cleaning if not bundled, outboard fuel, early check-in, Wi-Fi packs, water toys, skipper/hostess/chef fees, and tips.
• APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) for crewed yachts:
  • 20–30% of the charter fee for sailing yachts and many power yachts
  • 30–40% for larger, faster motor yachts
    APA covers fuel, marinas, food and beverages, and local fees. The captain keeps a running account. Any balance returns at check-out. If spend runs higher, you top up.

Real Trip Examples

All examples use round numbers for planning. Your final quote shows exact line items for your chosen boat and base.

Seven-Day Catamaran in Croatia, Mid-Season

Assumptions: 45 ft sailing cat, Split area in June, 8 guests, a mix of marinas and anchorages, skipper on board.

Line-by-line estimate:

1. Base charter (week): €7,800
2. Skipper (7 days x €220): €1,540
3. Transit log + final cleaning: €250
4. Fuel: €450
5. Tourist tax (8 x 7 x €1.50): €84
6. Marinas and moorings (4 paid nights): €600
7. Outboard fuel + small incidentals: €60
8. Provisions (food and drinks, self-catered): €1,200–€1,600
9. Optional water toys (SUP x 2): €200
10. Tip for skipper (service-based): €200–€300

Estimated total: €12,184–€12,984 ($13,159–$14,022)
Per person (8): €1,523–€1,623 ($1,647–$1,753)

Action prompt: share dates and group size for a held shortlist of similar cats within 24–48 hours.

Seven-Day Monohull in Greece, Shoulder Season

Assumptions: 43 ft sailing yacht, Athens or Lavrio start in May, 6 guests, two marinas, the rest town quays or anchor, no skipper (bareboat) with valid license.

Line-by-line estimate:

1. Base charter (week): €3,200
2. Transit log + final cleaning: €220
3. Fuel: €220
4. Port fees and town quays (4 paid nights): €140
5. Tourist taxes and small local fees: €40
6. Provisions: €900–€1,200
7. Optional Wi-Fi pack: €60
8. Security deposit hold: €2,500 (refundable) or damage waiver €300 + €500 reduced deposit

Estimated spend (excluding refundable deposit): €4,780–€5,080 ($5,162–$5,486)
Per person (6): €797–€847 ($861–$915)

Note: add skipper €180–€220 per day if a pro on board suits the group better. Local knowledge of Meltemi patterns adds safety and comfort.

Luxury Motor Yacht Weekend in Italy

Assumptions: 60 ft fast motor yacht, Amalfi area, 2 days on board, 6 guests, crewed with APA.

Line-by-line estimate:

1. Base rate (2 days): €14,000
2. APA @ 35%: €4,900
3. VAT and local charges (illustrative): €2,100
4. Tip (service-based, 10–15% of base): €1,400–€2,100

Estimated total: €22,400–€23,100 ($24,192–$24,948)

APA coverage here: fuel for Capri runs, premium berths or buoy fields, high-quality snacks and beverages, crew meals.

Action prompt: request a weekend plan with berth options and a fuel forecast by route.

How to Reduce Total Cost Without Stress

Book Earlier, Flex Dates, Smart Marina Choices, One-Way vs Round Trip

• Earlier booking: secure top boats and early rates six to nine months ahead for peak.
• Flex dates: shift one week forward or back to step out of peak demand.
• Smart marina mix: anchor on calm nights, use marinas for water, power, laundry, and shore dinners.
• One-way vs round trip: one-ways save sailing time on longer routes, but repositioning fees increase cost. Our team advises when a one-way saves money overall.

Pick a Newer Refit vs Newest Model

A recent refit often delivers near-new comfort at a lower rate. Look for fresh sails, cockpit cushions, mattresses, heads, and serviced rigging. Cabin fans and sunshades add comfort in warmer months.

Share Costs Inside the Group

Example split: €12,000 total for a mid-season 45 ft cat with skipper and normal extras.

• 6 guests: €2,000 each
• 8 guests: €1,500 each
• 10 guests: €1,200 each on a larger layout

Share grocery costs through a simple kitty. Rotate galley teams to keep meals smooth and fast.

What to Prepare Before Booking

Crewed vs Bareboat

• Crewed: skipper only, skipper + hostess, or full crew with chef on larger yachts. Easiest setup for families and first-timers.
• Bareboat: a skipper in your group with a valid license and VHF where required. Ideal for sailors with recent miles who want full control.

Licenses, Sailing CV, VHF, Local Rules

• Croatia: accepted licenses include ICC or national licenses listing sailing area and vessel size. VHF certificate often required.
• Greece: license for skipper plus an experienced co-skipper. Greek port police review documents closely.
• Italy and Spain: license scope and VHF rules vary by region and distance from shore.
  Bring a sailing CV with logged miles, boat sizes, and wind ranges handled. Our team pre-checks documents with local bases to prevent surprises at check-in.

Insurance Options and Why They Help

• Skipper liability cover: third-party protection for the skipper of record.
• Travel insurance: trip interruption, medical, evacuation, and baggage.
• Deposit insurance or waiver: shields you from a large hold or charge after a minor mishap.
  We share policy options from trusted partners on request.

Our Process at Boat4You

Response Time, Shortlisting Three Options, Hold Periods

• Speed: a human reply lands within hours during office time.
• Shortlist: three matched options with pros and cons, deck plans, and a budget fit.
• Holds: where fleets allow temporary holds, we place them for 24–72 hours while you review.

Action prompt: send a short brief with dates, group size, preferred boats, and a budget band. A shortlist follows within 24 hours.

Secure Payment, Confirmations, and Support Contacts

• Payment: secure card or bank transfer, with staged deposits and a final balance date on your pro forma.
• Confirmation pack: booking voucher, base contact, embarkation pier or marina, check-in window, and a packing list.
• Support: you receive a direct Boat4You contact and a base manager number for fast help during the week.

Embarkation Day Checklist and Handover

At the marina:

1. Arrive on time: bring passports, license, and VHF proof if required.
2. Provision smart: water, snacks, easy breakfasts, fresh fruit, local wines and beer, and any special diet items.
3. Handover walk-through: rig, sails, engine, electrics, gas, heads, safety kit, and dinghy.
4. Paperwork: crew list, transit log, deposit or damage waiver.
5. Departure brief: route ideas, sheltered bays, fuel docks, and local no-go zones.
6. Test run: lines, furlers, windlass, instruments. Raise and lower the anchor once near the dock to confirm smooth run.

Packing pointers:

• Soft bags, not hard suitcases
• Non-slip deck shoes
• Reef-safe sunscreen and aftersun
• Microfiber towels and a light hoodie for night breezes
• Motion bands or tablets if anyone feels queasy
• Dry bags for phones and cameras

Provisioning and Onboard Cost Control

Provisioning plan for one week (sample for 6–8 guests):

• Breakfasts: yogurt, fruit, granola, eggs, bread, coffee, tea
• Lunches: salads, pasta, wraps, olives, cheese, cured meats
• Dinners: simple grill nights at anchor, two shore dinners in marinas
• Drinks: water 1.5–2 liters per person per day, soft drinks, local beer, two or three bottles of wine per dinner
• Snacks: nuts, chips, crackers, fresh cookies

Budget guide: €20–€30 per person per day for self-catered meals with a mix of shore dinners. Premium items lift totals. Plan a mid-week top-up at a marina market.

Cold chain tips: pre-chill beverages, pack freezer blocks, and keep the fridge organized by day. Open fridges as little as possible to preserve battery and temperature.

Marina Etiquette and What to Expect

• Arrival: hail on VHF per local channel list or call the marina office.
• Lines and fenders: place fenders both sides, bow and stern lines ready.
• Med-mooring: stern to quay, pick up lazy line, walk forward to the bow cleat, then set stern lines snug.
• Power and water: ask staff before plugging in, check amperage, coil cables safely.
• Noise and wake: respect quiet hours, reduce wake near moorings and swimmers.
• Trash and recycling: use dock bins and follow sorting signs.
• Fuel dock tips: tie mid-ships line first, then stern line. Confirm diesel vs petrol, follow fire rules, keep crew off phones during fueling.

Small habits avoid fees and protect deposits. Dock teams remember polite crews.

Field Notes from Our Team

Our team walks marinas each season. We inspect new hulls and refits. We test windlass switches, lifejackets, and dinghy outboards during base days. We speak with harbor masters about peak pressure weeks. We track when town quays fill and which buoys hold best in a night breeze. We log recurring snags to prevent repeats: weak house batteries, jammed furlers, tired anchor chains. You receive prevention tips before departure and fast help during the week.

Risk reducers we provide:

• Pre-check of your license with the base
• Written cost plan by line items
• Back-up boat options if your first choice books out
• WhatsApp contact for live support
• Fuel-saving routes and marina booking guidance where possible

FAQ

How much does fuel add for a week?
Sailing yachts run €150–€400. Cats sit around €300–€700. Power boats vary far more, from €1,000 to €6,000+ for fast runs. Slow down to save a lot on motor yachts.

Is the charter fee locked after deposit?
Yes. The base fee locks once you pay the deposit. Variable items such as fuel and marinas depend on actual use.

What if weather blocks departure?
Bases seek a safe plan first. Delays or route changes follow local safety rules. Refund and reschedule rules depend on your contract and travel insurance. Our team guides you through options fast.

How large is the deposit hold?
Monohulls: ~€1,500–€3,500. Cats: ~€2,500–€5,000. Motor yachts: ~€3,000–€8,000. Many fleets offer a damage waiver with a lower residual deposit.

Do I need a skipper?
If no valid license or no recent miles, take a skipper. Many licensed guests still book a skipper for local knowledge and stress-free docking.

How much do marinas cost per night?
Plan €70–€180 in Croatia for a 40–45 ft yacht, higher in Italy and the Balearics, lower on Greek town quays. Cats pay more due to beam and wider berth use.

Who feeds the crew?
For skippered bareboat, you provide meals and a cabin for crew. For fully crewed yachts, APA covers crew meals, and crew cabins sit in the layout already.

When does a deposit return?
After check-out, once the base confirms no damage beyond normal wear and all bills are clear. Release timing on card pre-auth depends on banks.

Strong Calls to Action

• After the intro: send your dates, group size, preferred boat types, and a budget range. A free shortlist follows within 24 hours.
• After the examples: request a held shortlist of two to three close matches for your week or weekend.
• Final step: share a short brief now. Our team replies fast, places holds where possible, and keeps the process simple from quote to check-in.