Peak summer means one thing—and one thing only—to me: boats. I’ll take any boat, on any body of water I can find, when nearly every day in New England hovers around a sticky 87 degrees. And when my Insta feed is awash in dreamy Italian summer holiday content, taking to the seas—or, you know, the nearest lake—feels like the next best thing. After all, nothing beats a boat day.
Sometimes I even (begrudgingly) agree to join my chef-husband on a fishing trip aboard his modest lake cruiser—no bimini top, 100+ temps. Anything for a little sun and *hopefully* a few lakeshore breezes. But after a near-miss with a lightning storm cut our latest outing short, I started thinking there had to be better boat options out there. Turns out, I was right—thanks to stumbling across Boatsetter, the app often called the Airbnb of boats.
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The App That Changed My Summer Boat Days
With instant access to over 50,000 different kinds of boats across the U.S.—from pontoons and sailboats to catamarans and jet skis—they’ve quickly become the leading boat rental platform. And it couldn’t be easier to use. Fire up the app, choose whether you want a captained charter or to steer the ship yourself (you can upload your boating license info right in the app) and from there, it’s basically the most fun shopping game ever: decide whether you’re cruising, fishing, celebrating, or simply soaking in the view, then pick your dream vessel. For me, it’s always a toss-up between a classic picnic boat or a fully loaded Riva.
The best part? You can channel George and Amal gliding across the water in a classic wooden Venetian water taxi, or go full Jessica Alba on a Miami mega-yacht—starting at just $50 an hour. Just plug in your destination, set your time (two to eight hours), number of passengers (one to 14+), price range ($1-$1,000) and you’re good to go. Just like Airbnb, most come with an Instant Book option, so if you happen to peek outside and see it’s looking like the ultimate boat day, you can be door to dock in under an hour.
Courtesy of Jessica Alba / Boatsetter
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Worried about safety? Don’t be. Boatsetter pioneered the first-ever peer-to-peer boat rental insurance policy, and every captain in their network is thoroughly vetted—which always puts me at ease onboard. Every boat I’ve stepped onto has been stocked with the essentials: life jackets, safety gear, and plenty of water so you never risk going thirsty under the sun.
Most captains are also totally fine with BYOB and snacks (lobster rolls and rosé, anyone?). And if you ask nicely, many will even point you toward the best local caterers—perfect if you’re vacationing somewhere new and not sure where to grab provisions.
Courtesy of Kelli Acciardo
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And then come the water toys—arguably the highlight of the whole outing. Think noodles, inflatable mats, slides, even floating Sunchill hammocks. You could show up with nothing but a swimsuit and sunscreen and still be RTB (ready to boat). That’s how seamlessly Boatsetter has dialed it all in.
Why I’ll Keep Coming Back
I’ve rented boats in Connecticut, Nantucket and Miami and never once had an issue or a subpar time. In fact, I’ve stayed in touch with several of the captains and continue to book with them to this day. That kind of consistency is rare—and honestly, what keeps me coming back to Boatsetter again and again.
Every outing has felt tailored to the vibe of the day: sometimes that’s a low-key sunset cruise on a 29’ Hinckley with a glass of wine in hand, other times it’s a full-on party with friends, music and inflatable toys scattered across the water. The app makes it easy to match the mood to the perfect boat, whether I’m looking for a chic picnic setup or a fishing trip that doesn’t feel like torture (no offense, Luke).
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And while the variety is impressive, it’s the ease that wins me over every time. There’s literally no stress, no complicated logistics—just pick a boat, show up and step onboard. The captains handle the details and directions while the app handles the safety and insurance, and I get to handle what really matters: actually enjoying the day.
For me, Boatsetter has turned boating from a rare treat into something I can actually build into my summers. And that’s worth every penny.
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