Find and Book Boat Rentals with GetMyBoat

Jess Segraves, the Marketing Manager at GetMyBoat, helps travelers to experience the water and book boat rentals around the world.

We met Jess through our Travel Massive San Francisco chapter and were excited to share her new adventures with GetMyBoat with the rest of the community online.

GetMyBoat helps make it easier for people to find and book boat rentals and other experiences on the water. Originally, they began as a boat rental and charter marketplace but have expanded into bass fishing trips, kayaking tours, whale watching, scuba diving lessons, stand up paddleboard rentals, and more. They now have more than 63,000 experiences ranging from frugal to luxe in 171 countries around the world.

What inspired you to create GetMyBoat?

Our founders looked at the fact that boats are used only 10 days a year on average here in the U.S., and realized that there was a demand for boat owners and charter operators to share their love of the water by listing their boats for rent. On the demand side, many people are interested in boating and getting out on the water, but are less concerned about ownership in the post-recession era. GetMyBoat addresses this gap in the travel industry. For owners, GetMyBoat ensures that their boats get the use they need and allows boat owners to make some extra income to offset the cost of boat ownership. For renters, GetMyBoat enables people to enjoy water adventures without the hassle of ownership or the burden of expensive upkeep.

How did you build your startup?

We built GetMyBoat with travelers and boat owners in mind, which is what drives product, customer support, operations – really our entire business. We have also focused on providing the maximum value for our users by enabling them to book experiences all over the world as well as handling payment processing and ID verification. Our team also recognized insurance as a hurdle for boat owners, so we set to creating a unique insurance product with our partner Falvey Yacht Insurance. Our pay-by-day insurance product ensures that all parties are protected.

How is your startup changing the future of the industry or helping to make travel better?

GetMyBoat enables people to experience the water and take part in the outdoors, whether it’s by relaxing aboard a pontoon or going snorkeling for the first time. Travelers are seeking adventures and experiences without the burden of ownership. We also empower travelers to DIY their trips by creating a truly custom experience. None of our boat rentals or tours are cookie-cutter, which appeals to travelers who seek unique experiences. Prior to GetMyBoat, there was no price transparency or a central location to find these types of boat rentals. With our platform, people can book from our mobile apps anywhere in the world. Our mentality is travel more, plan less.

Do you have any tips for new entrepreneurs who want to create a successful startup?

Take customer feedback seriously to improve your product and create the best possible experience for them. Never lose sight of the problem you’re trying to solve for people.

Travel Start-Up is a monthly series that profiles unique online travel start-ups in the Travel Massive community around the world. You can connect with Jess and GetMyBoat on Travel Massive, Facebook, and Twitter.