Airbnb boat?

[Beki Turner]

Hello. My husband and I love the canals and have wanted to buy a boat for a while. We run a successful Airbnb flat above our garage and thought that offering Airbnb stays on a narrowboat could mean that we could realise our boat owning dream before retirement. The boat would be static for guests (although we would use her for holidays) I can insure and license a boat for Airbnb but I cannot find a marina that will allow it. Can anyone help? The boat would need to be within easy distance of Milton Keynes or South Northamptonshire so I could clean/maintain and meet guests. Thanks very much. 

[Alan de Enfield]

45 minutes ago, Beki Turner said:

Hello. My husband and I love the canals and have wanted to buy a boat for a while. We run a successful Airbnb flat above our garage and thought that offering Airbnb stays on a narrowboat could mean that we could realise our boat owning dream before retirement. The boat would be static for guests (although we would use her for holidays) I can insure and license a boat for Airbnb but I cannot find a marina that will allow it. Can anyone help? The boat would need to be within easy distance of Milton Keynes or South Northamptonshire so I could clean/maintain and meet guests. Thanks very much. 

If money is changing hands then you become a commercial operation.

 

As well as commercial insurance and licence, you will also need a different 'Boat Safety Scheme Certificate.'

 

The BSSC for commercial boats is very different to that for private boats, and (generally) a boat built for 'private use' will often not pass the more stringent 'commercial' testing.

 

The "Private BSSC" ensure the boat is not a risk to any other waterway users, people passing by etc.

The "Commercial BSSC" ensures the boat does the same, but, in addition, is safe for the occupants as well.

 

For example : One of the issues is that any thru' hull fittings (drains, exhaust etc) must be a minimum of 10" above the waterline, few private boats achieve that.

 

On the subject of running a business from within a marina few will allow it without some payment - in this case you are effectively sub-letting your mooring which is not (normally) allowed.

Edited April 28, 2019 by Alan de Enfield

[Jen-in-Wellies]

1 hour ago, Beki Turner said:

Hello. My husband and I love the canals and have wanted to buy a boat for a while. We run a successful Airbnb flat above our garage and thought that offering Airbnb stays on a narrowboat could mean that we could realise our boat owning dream before retirement. The boat would be static for guests (although we would use her for holidays) I can insure and license a boat for Airbnb but I cannot find a marina that will allow it. Can anyone help? The boat would need to be within easy distance of Milton Keynes or South Northamptonshire so I could clean/maintain and meet guests. Thanks very much. 

It can be done. See https://www.houseboathotels.com/

Not sure if these are even powered. or how they travel for blacking. As @Alan de Enfield said, it is a business, so boat licence, boat safety scheme requirements. insurance etc are all more stringent and expensive done properly. Doing it under the table leads to bad consequences if/when caught. How do you know marinas won't allow it? Have you talked to them directly? Some have hire boat bases on site, which provide them with steady income and turnover of diesel. A suitable commercial arrangement with a proper business plan might interest some.

Jen

[LadyG]

Another alternative is for you to do a hire share with a company who is in the hire business, but they do not own all the boats they hire out.

I wonder if @MtB will comment, he usually does. 

My advice is work harder, bank your money.

[RLWP]

Here you go, including new guidance from 2017:

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/getting-afloat/renting-a-boat-to-live-on

 

Richard

[ditchcrawler]

The OP seams to know about the licence and insurance requirements but is stuck with a mooring which may be the biggest stumbling block 

[Peter X]

When you say the boat would be "static for guests" do you mean they'd just stay moored up in the marina while hiring it? That sounds a bit odd to me, I'd have thought they'd want to take it out onto the canal and potter up and down for their holiday? Much more fun than sitting static in a marina.

[ronnietucker]

Scottish, but it must be do-able in England

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/18058047

[Tumshie]

18 minutes ago, Peter X said:

When you say the boat would be "static for guests" do you mean they'd just stay moored up in the marina while hiring it? That sounds a bit odd to me, I'd have thought they'd want to take it out onto the canal and potter up and down for their holiday? Much more fun than sitting static in a marina.

They do it on the Caley. People want to see the canal, they want to walk the area, they don't want to take a boat out for a trip themselves, or they only want one or two nights in passing. They like the idea of sleeping on a boat but it's still nothing more to them than a glorified B&B, a bit like for some a ferry is nothing more than a glorified car transporter but for others they build their whole holiday around the ferry trips they can take.

 

You think of canals and narrowboats in one light, the most obvious light to you and most of the people on this forum but not everybody does. 

 

It would also be very handy if you had some visitors - they could come out for trips on your boat but could stay on the B&B boat to give everybody more space, comfort, and privacy.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2019 by Tumshie

[Slim]

I can't think of anything less appealing than staying on someone else's narrowboat in an average marina with little to look out at other than the windows of other narrowboats.

Just saying.

 

Frank

[dor]

Easiest option would be to own a boat used by a hire company as mentioned above.  You own the boat, but the hire company manages everything else, and you book your own time with them when you want to use it.

[Beki Turner]

Hi all and thanks for the responses. I have done considerable research and I am aware of safety/license/insurance issues. We don't want the visitors to move the boat but simply use it as an alternative to B&B or a hotel. It sounds mad to want to stay on a boat in a marina; but some of them are very attractive and in places where people want to stay for work or leisure. A really attractive canal boat in a nice marina would do very well I'm sure. We are really keen to own our own boat too and not a share. I have seen some narrow boats advertised on Airbnb but most seem to be constantly on the move (and possibly doing it under the radar) I want to do it all above board. I just wondered if anyone knew how a suitable mooring could be achieved. I have approached 3 marinas near to me and in an ideal spot for Airbnb but had a resounding 'no' (and I am happy that I will be charged extra for a 'commercial' mooring) Any suggestions gratefully received. 

Edited April 28, 2019 by Beki Turner

[dor]

Quote

I just wondered if anyone knew how a suitable mooring could be achieved. I have approached 3 marinas near to me and in an ideal spot for Airbnb but had a resounding 'no'

I would be very surprised if any marina agreed to an Airbnb boat in the marina.   Whilst Airbnb might work for many people, it does have an appalling reputation for misbehaving renters upsetting other residents, and it only seems to be getting worse.  Still seems to me that the best thing to fit in with what you want is to look at ownership of a "hire boat".

[RLWP]

1 minute ago, dor said:

I would be very surprised if any marina agreed to an Airbnb boat in the marina.   Whilst Airbnb might work for many people, it does have an appalling reputation for misbehaving renters upsetting other residents, and it only seems to be getting worse.  Still seems to me that the best thing to fit in with what you want is to look at ownership of a "hire boat".

I'd agree with that. The risk of upsetting existing residents is too great, plus the confusion about who owns what and who provides what service to who must be offputting

 

Put it this way, if a gas bottle runs out, who are your renters likely to turn to first - you or the marina? A marina doesn't need that kind of hassle

 

Richard

[Beki Turner]

I currently run a successful let and I have found that guests are very keen to obey the rules set by the owner because if they don't they aren't allowed to continue using Airbnb - I certainly haven't had any issues and I would make it very clear that any communication is with me and not the marina. but yes - we  may have to look at a 'hire boat' or 'beds on boats'

[koukouvagia]

58 minutes ago, Slim said:

I can't think of anything less appealing than staying on someone else's narrowboat in an average marina with little to look out at other than the windows of other narrowboats.

Just saying.

 

Frank

I agree.  However, we once spent a few days in a marina that had a Canaltime fleet (remember them?).  A family had been expecting to have a holiday abroad but because of some mix up they found itself booked in for a week’s holiday afloat on one of the Canaltime boats.  They had not the slightest interest in canals or boats and certainly didn’t want to take the boat out.  They were reasonably happy to use the boat as a floating base from which to explore the surrounding countryside.

[David Mack]

A couple of years ago someone applied for planning permission for a static boat rental on the towpath at Hebden Bridge. They had a letter of support from CRT and I think the permission was granted. But I don't think it has progressed any further.

[Tumshie]

44 minutes ago, Slim said:

I can't think of anything less appealing than staying on someone else's narrowboat in an average marina with little to look out at other than the windows of other narrowboats.

Just saying.

 

Frank

But you are still thinking like a narrowboater - this kind of holiday probbly wouldn't appeal to you no, but it's not aimed at people like you. If someone was to book a holiday like this they wouldn't be doing it to sit in the boat, the boat would just be where they slept, washed, and cooked etc; they would use the boat as a base and then go out for the day, to use the marina facilities and to socialise, or into town, or visits places of interest, in the same way you would if you booked your self into a self catering cottage. But it would be something a bit fun and a bit different which is something AirB&Bers are always keen to find. 

 

A marina may or may not want them to run there business from their premises, they may need to talk to CRT about getting a mooring from them or even a private landowner; either way just because it's not the norm or inside the box for most members of this forum does not mean it can't be a possibility. 

 

 

31 minutes ago, RLWP said:

Put it this way, if a gas bottle runs out, who are your renters likely to turn to first - you or the marina? A marina doesn't need that kind of hassle

How is that even remotely an issue - hire boat companies manage this all the time. You decide what the inevitable wants and needs of your customers are going to be, you figure out the best way to fulfil them and then you tell them when "that" happens this is what you do or who you contact. If contacting the marina is not an option then you tell them not to contact the marina - job done. 

 

I'm sure someone will come back and say oh no not job done. 

 

 

 

[RLWP]

12 minutes ago, Tumshie said:

How is that even remotely an issue - hire boat companies manage this all the time. You decide what the inevitable wants and needs of your customers are going to be, you figure out the best way to fulfil them and then you tell them when "that" happens this is what you do or who you contact. If contacting the marina is not an option then you tell them not to contact the marina - job done. 

 

I'm sure someone will come back and say oh no not job done. 

 

 

 

Because if you have no gas, and there's a marina shop with gas, what would you do? Call someone else to sort it or go and get a bottle? Which leads straight into 'but it's included in my rent' 'but you are not renting through us' 'so what' etc. etc.

 

Imagine 'I'm thinking of renting out a chalet via ABNB in a Center Parcs'

 

All of which is immaterial, the OP is trying to run a business (ABNB) within a business (a marina). I can't see what is in it for the marina, I can see downsides for them

 

Richard  

Edited April 28, 2019 by RLWP

[eid]

4 minutes ago, RLWP said:

Because if you have no gas, and there's a marina shop with gas, what would you do? Call someone else to sort it or go and get a bottle? Which leads straight into 'but it's included in my rent' 'but you are not renting through us' 'so what' etc. etc.

 

Imagine 'I'm thinking of renting out a chalet via ABNB in a Center Parcs'

 

All of which is immaterial, the OP is trying to run a business (ABNB) within a business (a marina). I can't see what is in it for the marina, I can see downsides for them

 

Richard  

 

Money I should think?

[RLWP]

3 minutes ago, eid said:

 

Money I should think?

Where does it say that?

[eid]

Just now, RLWP said:

Where does it say that?

 

I have no idea. It's just an assumption I made because we're discussing business. Usually when two people come to a business arrangement, money is involved. If I wanted to hire out my boat within a marina, I would expect the marina to want be paid monies over and above the usual mooring fee. Otherwise, as you asked, what's in it for the marina?

HTH.

[Tumshie]

1 minute ago, RLWP said:

Because if you have no gas, and there's a marina shop with gas, what would you do? Call someone else to sort it or go and get a bottle? Which leads straight into 'but it's included in my rent' 'but you are not renting through us' 'so what' etc. etc.

I can't see how that isn't easily explained to the renter at the start of their stay - it's hardly rocket science. 

 

5 minutes ago, RLWP said:

Imagine 'I'm thinking of renting out a chalet via ABNB in a Center Parcs'

Centre Parks rent out the accommodation them selves not all marinas rent out accommodation, and if the do it will be as hire boats, which I assume you could keep at the marina the entirety of your holiday if you wanted to. 

 

8 minutes ago, RLWP said:

I can't see what is in it for the marina, I can see downsides for them

Surly that would be between the OP and any marina owners she talks to. 

 

 

I'm not saying that this is not a project without things that need to be well considered but it would just be nice to not rain all over every thing that's new and fresh. Sometime the traditional ways are the best, and yes they are long standing for a reason, but can we not drive all the new members away quite so fast. ?

 

 

[Beki Turner]

I'm very happy for it not to be a Marina but then I could run into potential issues with power/water etc. Perhaps I should try a post asking a private mooring owner if they want to let me their mooring? This is not intended to make me a living or pay for the boat BTW, in fact it will probably make me a small fortune out of a large one as my Father-in-law would say but it would help us to afford a decent boat that we could use too.

[RLWP]

29 minutes ago, Beki Turner said:

I'm very happy for it not to be a Marina but then I could run into potential issues with power/water etc. Perhaps I should try a post asking a private mooring owner if they want to let me their mooring? This is not intended to make me a living or pay for the boat BTW, in fact it will probably make me a small fortune out of a large one as my Father-in-law would say but it would help us to afford a decent boat that we could use too.

For an 'end of garden' mooring: 

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/631.pdf

 

Quote

P3. Your right to moor at the Mooring Site is personal to you. You cannot transfer your right to moor to any person in any circumstance

I suspect if you trawl through the conditions of taking a mooring in a marina it forbids operating a business from there

 

Richard