The sharing economy has taken to the water, giving more people more access to the coast.
Boat sharing has been gaining in popularity in recent years, and is following in the footsteps of companies like ZipCar and Rent the Runway; it takes expensive items and rents them at a more reasonable rate.
“They still want the experiences that come along with owning those things; whether it be a vacation home or a very fancy car…To share an asset like that allows them to gain those experiences but without having that big expense and that big commitment,” said Douglyss Giuliana, employee of SailTime Boston.
SailTime Boston helps boat owners share their boat with sailing enthusiasts and novices.
The saying goes that the best days of a boat owner’s life are the buy and sell date; but with boat sharing companies like SailTime, all of the bills and headaches are gone.
“I think that this type of model is really bringing a lot more people into boating,” said Giuliana.
Unlike belonging to a boating club, the boats have owners who can use the extra cash for upkeep and still use their boat. Giuliana says since 2012, their membership has increased by 25 percent. In Boston, membership has doubled in that same time period.
The cost of membership for SailTime varies based on how often you want to use it.
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