At 36 years old, Guillaume Belot, a native of the Vendée region, quickly got on a boat, whether for friendly regattas or for family outings. Owner of a 1979 Flirt, he quickly realized that chartering was the most convenient and obvious solution for a yachtsman emigrating to Paris to mix pleasure and professional imperatives.
Today, he is the marketing director of Click & Boat, a platform that puts boat owners and renters in touch with each other, and he is used to collecting the opinions of both parties. And he knows, thus, how to teach us the good and not so good gestures which are the basis of a successful rental, according to the feedbacks of the users of the platform he represents.
So, Guillaume, what does it mean to properly prepare a rental?
" The first piece of advice I give to first-time renters is to make sure they still know the basics. Often the first rental is 5, 10 or 20 years after getting the license and in the meantime things have changed, habits and rules have changed. It's not that a boater who has been licensed for a long time will be less competent, but he or she will sometimes need a little reminder to get the reflexes back on track. "
" It is also necessary to know, as truly as possible, the area in which we will navigate " he adds. " This is the utility of mapping, but not only. Knowing an area also means taking an interest in it, considering the places to visit or to see necessarily, such as the habits of exit times, the constraints of door to door for example. "
The initial dialogue, a guarantee of success for the future
The Click & Boat platform allows renters and owners to exchange messages throughout the rental process. Guillaume insists on the usefulness of its use: " It is in the interest of both parties to ensure that the boat will meet the expectations of the renter as well as those of the owner. For example, make sure that you are not going to consider a long distance trip on a RIB. It is necessary to assume that the owner is an expert of his navigation area, he remains on the spot and knows how to provide profitable advice. He will be reassured by a renter who asks questions and is interested rather than a person who will only come to consume this boat made available "he says.
Humility and interest, therefore, to ensure that everything will be fine. To express your doubts to the renter as well: " Describe to the owner his or her crew, the number of children and adults, seasickness or the presence of elderly people. Anything that may have an impact on the way the trip will be conducted should be explained to the owner. He or she has most often been personally confronted with these conditions and will be able to tell you with certainty whether or not the boat will be suitable. "
The weather is not up to the owner
An important point of vigilance is to take the weather forecast, in the long term to know the local climate, then in the shorter term as the rental date approaches. Guillaume explains: " The weather, as everyone knows, is a major safety factor when sailing. Too many renters think that owners will provide them with weather information. But it is their responsibility to check the weather throughout the rental period. In this regard, we offer an insurance policy that allows both the renter and the owner to cancel an outing, at no cost to either party, if the weather conditions do not allow for a safe outing. This is not a reason for the renter not to be interested in the weather, but it is a guarantee of serenity for the owner "completes the manager.
Handling or outing with a skipper, the options are possible
" If the tenant has any doubts, the human relationship and the benevolence of the owners is often enough to remove the natural worries and fears "develops Guillaume. He adds " It is possible to rent with a skipper, to be sure to have only pleasure. This is the ultimate option and is especially suitable for sailing boats or long term rentals. For day or weekend trips, which are the majority in number, do not hesitate to ask the owner for a handover of his boat. "It's a sign of recognition of the owner's skills and an effective way to take control of the boat in a more serene manner. " Our owners are friendly and will often take great pleasure in explaining their boat and its specificities "ends Guillaume.
Do not neglect the inventory of fixtures
At the beginning and at the end of the rental period, the inventory of fixtures is a key moment in the rental process. How can we make the most of them?
" Pro rental companies have all the documentation and contracts. The check-in/check-out and inventory papers are often pre-filled and everything is clear and precise. We offer private individuals to complete the contract process with a transparent application as soon as the boat has been booked. Both the renter and the owner are on an equal footing, they know the details of the boat in advance and can focus on the crucial points of the inventory. "
What are these points of vigilance that should not be missed?
" On a boat, the first thing to check is the presence of all safety equipment. Flares, vests and bails, everything must be in order and on board. Besides, advice to owners, take everything out of the lockers before the arrival of the tenants, it is painful for them to wait for long minutes until you find the distress rockets at the bottom of a storage ".
Safety equipment is vital, of course, but everything else must be taken care of as well. " Don't forget the standing rigging, sails, all the rope and the engine. Remember to look at the bilge pumps and electronic equipment, GPS, radar and depth sounder. "
All this takes time, of course. That's why it's best to plan for the duration of this assessment in your navigation program. " On a RIB, an inventory of fixtures will be done in half an hour. On a large sailboat, it can take 2 to 3 hours, which are not included in the rental price, but which can delay the sea trip by half a tide! "You might as well have anticipated this time frame so that you don't feel like you've spent the weekend doing paperwork!
Why not go and see the boat before the rental?
" Most renters live or vacation near the rental location "Guillaume explains. " If they have the possibility, we encourage them to come and see the boat before the charter, in winter for example, to get to know the friendly owner on the one hand and, on the other hand, to see what the boat looks like and to project themselves in what it will be essential to take or not. It is often about the human relationship. And it is with this human relationship that both parties build the trust necessary for a rental. "
The platform in case of a dispute
And in the event that a dispute arises, what to do?
" Few real disputes, the owners are becoming more and more professional in their practices and we make sure not to leave on the site those owners who wanted to get back boats newer than they were at the beginning " develops Guillaume. " In all cases ", he assures " if there is a dispute, our teams can help both parties to communicate better and bring a solution to this dispute. In reality, most of the time, it's more a matter of misunderstanding than a real dispute "he reassures us.
Thinking of provisioning!
Guillaume, a last advice to our readers?
" Think about the fun in your rental. Think about what you are going to eat and drink when you are on the water. It's a great way to make your time on the water a reality. "
Before adding " And do you pleasure It's a leisure activity ! "
