Boat hire without license in World

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The reviews from our users on their rental

Chris
Chris
Travelled in July 2026 · 5 people · 1 days
Great service from Aldo, answered all my questions during booking quickly and accurately. Helping me with understanding parking m, meeting points etc clearly. Boat was great. Good condition, very clean. Lots of space. Aldi face me a good tour of the boat before allowing me to take it out with my family as a bare boat hire (with license). Thank you!
Liz
Liz
Travelled in July 2026 · 3 people · 1 days
Our day with Dino was amazing - he picked us up promptly at 9am, asked what we wanted to do and suggested a few additional places, which in combination made for a fantastic day - first stop Hvar, then Bay of Zdrilac at Pakleni Island for blue water swimming, then we had an amazing meal at Restaurant Stormorska (delicious food at a fabulous water front location), then more blue water swimming in the Bay of Necujam before heading back to Split. Dino was perfect host - easygoing, friendly and professional. Would 100% recommend.
Charlotte
Charlotte
Travelled in July 2026 · 2 people · 1 days
We had such a great day, Alessandro was extremely accommodating and the boat was perfect. Would absolutely recommended!
Oli
Oli
Travelled in July 2026 · 14 people · 1 days
We had an amazing trip with Bogoslav, the breakfast, bbq lunch and afternoon snack was included in the price. We had a stag do of 14, everyone had the best day, lots of time to enjoy cruising, time in coves to swim, use the SUPs and snorkelling gear included. Would highly recommend for any celebration!
Natalie
Natalie
Travelled in July 2026 · 10 people · 1 days
Martin's boat was exactly as advertised, and he was a great skipper for our group of 10. Communication before the rental was excellent. We had a nice afternoon sailing to a beach where we could swim and relax. I would highly recommend!
Jack
Jack
Travelled in July 2026 · 2 people · 1 days
Great rental experience. Very good communication from Stefania and what to expect regarding handling, port fees, and fuelling. Carlo explained how to handle the boat and met us to return us to Sorrento Port. Very reasonable price for a full day hire, even though we didn’t use the full day, great value. Thanks!
Matthew
Matthew
Travelled in July 2026 · 2 people · 1 days
Francesca was fantastic, joy to deal with. Pepe was fantastic in his instructions. Boat brilliant! Absolute must do!
Ludo
Ludo
Travelled in July 2026 · 2 people · 1 days
Booking process smooth. Staff super kind, friendly and helpful. Boat fit the description and performed as expected. Lovely day on the sea.

Is it possible to hire a boat without a licence?

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- Yes, for a motor boat hire with less than 6 horsepower.


- On some unfrequented canals and rivers, some canal boats are rented without a permit. For example, most canal boats on the Canal du Midi do not require a license.


- Sailing on sailboats does not require a licence, but significant experience as a captain is required. This will vary depending on the country you wish to sail in. In France, no license is required to hire a sailboat, but you will have to provide a nautical cv detailing all of your experience and what kind of boats you handled. In most other European countries, it is recommended to have an ICC with a valid license. This will avoid any problems with the port authorities.


Do you have limited nautical knowledge? No problem, you can become captain of your own ship for a few hours. At the beginning of your hire period, the owner will explain how to operate the boat. Unlicensed boats are generally very easy to operate in safe areas. Another option we present is to hire a boat with a guide. The owner will be on board, but will not touch the controls. As mentioned, most of these boats are manageable due to the calm waters and the amount of horsepower they possess.

River Navigation

The Canal du Midi is one of the privileged channels for a peaceful river cruise. The speed of a canal boat cannot exceed 12 km/hour, which makes it possible to navigate safely and pass through the locks easily. The calm waters provided by the Canal du Midi will make it an extraordinary experience, even if you are just a beginner.

With skipper

If you want a more powerful boat, we have another solution for you. Hire a boat with a skipper who can captain the boat for you, an ideal solution to discover the navigation area in complete safety with a guide. You will set the itinerary with the skipper and he will take control of navigating the vessel wherever you'd like to go.

Boat responsibly

The sea gives us unique moments. Enjoying it also means respecting it: protecting marine ecosystems, reducing our impact, and preserving the places we explore. Discover how SamBoat is working alongside Fondation de la Mer to protect marine biodiversity, preserve coastal ecosystems, and fight plastic pollution.

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