Share Vs Rent to Own

What's the difference?

Why choose to buy, rent or share?

If you are considering renting a sailboat, buying your own yacht, or joining a shared yacht concept such as SailTime, it can be difficult to see which option really suits you.

Each option has its advantages. The important question is how often you want to sail, how much freedom you want, and how much time and money you want to spend on managing a boat. You can read an article in a Dutch sailing magazine about this topic. We summed up all the pros and contras in an easy format. This way you make a choice what suits your wishes and lifestyle best.

charter vs sharing a sailboat

If you normally rent a sailboat for a day, a weekend or a week, SailTime offers a completely different way to enjoy sailing. With traditional boat rental, you book a boat whenever you want to sail. The boat may be different every time, availability can be limited during busy periods, and you have to arrange a new rental for every trip.

With SailTime, you can sail with a membership and have access to one specific yacht. You know the boat, you know how it sails and you become familiar with its equipment. It starts to feel like your own boat.

Membership sailing vs. traditional sailboat charter?

Below is a handy overview that shows the main differences between sharing a sailboat and renting a sailboat:

Feature	Sharing	Sailing boat rental
Time needed for books	Just a minute through an app	Often long search and books
Availability	Always your favorite sailboat	Uncertain, depending on availability
Boat condition	New and perfectly equipped boats	Quality and age can vary
Your own belongings	Possibe, you can get your own stuff on board by default. SailTime offers extra services for that	Not possible, a different boat every time
Short trips	Very flexible and easy to plan. Including last-minute sailing and easy extending your stay, when sailing.	Often less flexible
Free extra sailing time	Possible with all availible time with a 36 hours time slot. Unlimited extension, when possible, for free.	Not possible
Number of users per boat	Limited group of members	Many different renters by boat
Experience of users	Only experienced sailors. If there is no experience, you will be trained first.	Anyone can rent, regardless of experience and training
Feeling of ownership	Feels like your own boat	You need to get to now the boat each time
Support	Lots of personal attention, advice, help and organized events	Less guidance, few extras
Costs	Fixed monthly subscription. In practise cheaper than with similar charter boats.	Pay for every rental period. When you go out sailing more than once a year, charter is more expensive.
Alternative to buy & charter	Yes, there are only a limited number of (known) users who have guaranteed experience. Lots of guidance and transparency.	Your boat is used by many people, which you have no insight into. Residual value lower and more likely to be damaged

Easy and quick to book

A One of the biggest advantages of SailTime is simplicity. Instead of searching for a suitable yacht every time you want to sail, you already know which boat is yours to use. You simply open the app, check the calendar and reserve your sailing time. Whether you plan a weekend months in advance or decide to go sailing tomorrow, the process is simple.

Always your own sailing yacht

When renting a sailboat, you can never be sure if your favorite type of boat is available. Especially in high season, the most popular boats are often fully booked early. With a memebership you always have access to your own sailboat. Just like it would be your own. This means that you never have to make concessions and can always sail on a boat that fully meets your needs.

Modern, professionally maintained boats

A common frustration when renting a sailboat is the varying quality. Some boats are outdated or poorly maintained. At SailTime, you only sail with new, perfectly equipped boats that are continuously professionally maintained. This way you can always count on safety, comfort and luxury on board.

Familiar feeling

A SailTime sailing yacht quickly feels like your own. Because you always sail on the same boat, you become familiar with the layout, the steering behavior and the equipment. In addition, you can leave some of your own items on board, making your sailing experience even more personal. That familiar feeling makes every trip just a little more special.

Flexible and spontaneous

Traditional boat charter often works best when you plan a longer sailing holiday in advance. SailTime is designed for a different kind of sailing. You can use your sailing time for a weekend, a few days, a midweek trip or even a spontaneous outing. If additional sailing time is available, you may also be able to book extra time at no additional cost, depending on your membership and the availability of your yacht.

A small and familiar group of sailors

A SailTime yacht is shared by a limited number of members. That means the boat is not constantly being handed over to a new group of renters. SailTime members are familiar with the yacht and are expected to use it responsibly. The result is a more consistent experience and a yacht that is looked after by people who have a relationship with the boat.

Cheaper than renting a sailboat?

That depends on how often you sail and which boats you compare. For someone who sails only once or twice a year, traditional rental may make more sense. But if you want to sail more regularly, a SailTime subscription can be an attractive alternative, particularly when compared with renting a modern, high-quality yacht.
Your monthly subscription includes your guaranteed sailing time as well as the costs normally associated with operating a yacht, such as the berth, insurance and maintenance.
And when you include the extra free days you can easily book, it it getting cheaper rapidly.

Better than buying & charter with a sailboat?

For those who are considering buying their own boat and putting it in charter, a SailTime boat is a much better alternative. Well-known users of the sailboat, all of whom can sail. Less chance of damage and people more cautiously handling the sailboat. Complete insight in the maintenace and you know all the members personally. You can also count on a higher residual value after the end of the contract term.

Discover the benefits

In short, SailTime offers flexibility, comfort, and commitment that you will not quickly find in traditional charter. Want to know more about the benefits of SailTime? Call +31 (0)85-124 88 75 and discover how easy and enjoyable it is to share your own sailboat.

Buying or sharing sailboat?

Owning a sailboat is a dream for many sailors. You have complete freedom, you decide when to sail, and the boat is entirely yours.
But ownership also comes with responsibilities.

The costs of owning a yacht

Buying a new yacht requires a substantial investment. Buying an older yacht may reduce the initial purchase price, but maintenance and replacement costs can increase as the boat gets older.
Think about sails, rigging, lines, electronics, batteries, engine maintenance, through-hull fittings and the underwater hull – as well as many smaller items that need attention over time.
Then there are the ongoing costs:

Marina berth
Insurance
Winter storage
Maintenance & Repairs
Cleaning
Equipment replacement
Preparing the boat for the sailing season & winter

And there is another important cost: your time. How much do you actually use your yacht? Many private yacht owners find that they sail far fewer days than they originally expected.

If you only use your yacht for a few weeks or days each year, a large part of your investment is sitting unused. For some sailors, that is perfectly acceptable. They enjoy owning a boat and are happy to invest time and money in it. For others, it makes more sense to have the sailing experience without carrying the full burden of ownership.

Who is buying a yacht right for?

Buying your own yacht can be the right choice if you:

want complete control over the boat;
sail frequently;
enjoy maintaining and improving your yacht;
want to personalise every detail;
value ownership as much as sailing.

But there is another option if you want the benefits of owning a new yacht without managing all the operational work: becoming a SailTime owner.

Why Buying in sailtime?

Buying a new sailing ship at SailTime means not only a package of financial benefits, but also owning the convenience and tranquility of a ship, without worrying about maintenance. SailTime is continuously keeping your ship in the optimal condition and ensuring that your valuable assets optimally retain their value.

Lower investment by returning VAT (also as a private individual)
NO operational costs such as berth, insurance, maintenance, winter storage etc.
Sail a brand new ship at a lower cost than a privately used ship
Certain revenue, because of the subscription structure
Always your ship ready for departure, when you get on board
Professional hunting management
Always complete and up-to-date insight into the state and maintenance of your ship
Preventive and planned maintenance to keep the value of your ship as high as possible
Always understand who is sailing with your ship.
Only subscribers who can actually sail and have experience.