Owning your own boat is the ideal for most of us. At the same time, a boat comes with a lot of responsibility. Sharing a boat—professionally managed and worry-free—is becoming increasingly popular.
This article was created in collaboration with SailTime Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, boat sharing is still relatively unknown. Most people either buy a boat or rent one. But in the United States, shared boats are quite common, says entrepreneur Bart Zwager. “Buying, renting, or sharing—those are standard options there. And I think it’s a great solution for many sailors in the Netherlands too.” The world’s largest organization for shared boats, SailTime, has been around since 2001 and operates about 150 shared boats in the US. We meet Zwager, who brought the concept to the Netherlands. Next sailing season, he will open his first location in Stavoren.
How did you discover SailTime?
“Before I bought a boat myself, I spent a lot of time looking into the possibility of sharing a boat with other sailors. In the end, it proved difficult to organize; the financing and division of use were complicated. Later, I discovered that sharing a boat is extremely successful and normal in the US. There, sharing is just as common as buying or renting. I wondered why we don’t do it the same way in the Netherlands. That’s how I found SailTime. Would I personally consider sharing a boat? Unfortunately, it’s not for me. I sail almost every weekend with my family, which isn’t possible with a shared boat.”
How does a shared sailboat work?
“It’s similar to a membership at, for example, a gym. You become a member of a specific location—initially, only Stavoren—and choose a type of sailboat. There is one owner and a maximum of six members per sailboat. With a membership, you have a guaranteed number of days of access to the boat each month. You reserve your time online, go out sailing, leave the boat clean and tidy, and that’s it. Essentially, it’s a subscription to pure sailing time.”
What’s the difference compared to renting?
“The most important difference is that only a limited number of sailors use the sailboat. That makes it truly feel like it’s your own boat. A second difference is the time you save outside of sailing. When renting, you have to search and book every time, spend a lot of time checking in and out, and there’s no flexibility in usage. The third difference is the quality of the boats: at SailTime, they are a maximum of five years old.
We also think it’s very important that participants in the program are skilled sailors. We go out on the water with all new members to ensure they have sufficient experience. For those new to sailing or in need of a refresher, SailTime has its own sailing school for cabin sailboats. This way, you learn to sail on the boat you’ll later be using.”
How does it work for a boat owner?
“The owner purchases a new boat through us and signs an agreement for its use and management. With two members, the owner incurs no costs for mooring, insurance, winterization, maintenance, or storage. With four members, they also receive a fixed monthly fee. The owner has double sailing time (seven days per month) and, of course, doesn’t pay membership fees. However, it is explicitly not an investment opportunity for the owner. Boat sharing is simply an affordable way to own a boat without having to worry about its management and maintenance.”
How does a subscription work?
For €550 per month, you can get a subscription to a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350, for example. This gives you at least 3.5 sailing days per month during the sailing season, from April to November. For €1050 per month, you get a minimum of 7 sailing days. If you see an available spot within 36 hours, you can book it free of charge. As a standard subscriber, you can use the boat for a maximum of one consecutive week.
Why are the boats no older than five years?
“We want people to truly feel the experience of, ‘Wow, what a boat!’ That’s why we exclusively work with new, modern boats that are perfectly equipped. We aim for absolute top quality and carefree sailing. Owners may eventually want to keep their boat in the program a little longer, but after five years, the boat must be removed. These are SailTime’s rules to ensure quality.”
The standard subscription offers 3.5 sailing days. Isn’t that too little?
“That was my initial thought as well. But in the US, 90% of participants choose this subscription. In practice, it turns out to be more than enough sailing time. At the HISWA te Water, the majority of people I asked whether they had sailed much this summer said: ‘Oh, far too little. I simply didn’t have the time.’ Or: ‘Yes, I wanted to sail more, but my wife also wanted to go to Italy.’ So those days are rarely a problem. Plus, you can book additional days free of charge if the boat isn’t being used.”
What if I want to go on vacation for a week?
“You could skip a month, saving your days for the next month, for example, for a week-long vacation. But that’s about the limit—you’re sharing the boat, after all. However, you can also sail with SailTime abroad. How about Florida or New York, for example?”
Home Port Stavoren
The first Dutch SailTime location will open at Marina Binnenhaven in Stavoren. From there, you can easily sail on the IJsselmeer, explore the Markermeer or Wadden Sea, or embark on an adventure through Friesland.
Why do you only work with Jeanneaus?
“Because of the great experiences with this brand in the US and the extensive knowledge to maintain the boats perfectly. Of course, it could have worked with a Hanse or Bavaria as well. But not with something like a Bestevaer; an expensive ocean-going yacht isn’t necessary in this region. Jeanneau also has a great range of boats in every size. What I didn’t expect is that no one has ever said: ‘Oh, but I would have preferred a Dehler or Hanse.’ A Jeanneau offers everything a sailor looks for. They’ve clearly put a lot of thought into handling and the on-water experience. It appeals to a wide audience.”
Take the Test
Do you like the idea of carefree sailing? Take this test to see if boat sharing suits you. If you recognize yourself in one of the profiles below, this approach definitely has benefits for you.
- You’re retired and still enjoy being on the water, but the boat’s maintenance and administration are becoming a hassle. You want a modern boat that’s easy to sail, preferably even on weekdays.
- You have a busy life with a job, family, and a partner who doesn’t necessarily want to spend all vacations on the boat. When you sail, it’s often solo, with friends, or with business contacts. Bart: “It’s a very traditional story, but one I hear often.”
- Your family has discovered sailing. So far, you’ve rented boats, but you’d love to go on more adventures.
- You recently started sailing, maybe even got your license, but you’re hesitant (or not ready) to commit to owning a boat.
This article was created in collaboration with SailTime Netherlands. If you have any questions, contact Bart Zwager directly (+31 85 124 8875, [email protected]).
