Captained Charter vs. Bareboat Rental: Which Should You Book?
The difference between booking a boat with a licensed captain and renting it to drive yourself — who operates the boat, what you need, and how to choose.
Updated 2026-10-14
Captained charter
A licensed captain operates the boat for the whole trip. You and your guests ride along, and nobody in your group needs boating experience or a boater education card.
Captains carrying paying passengers need U.S. Coast Guard credentials, and the type of license can limit how many passengers may come aboard. An OUPV ("six-pack") license, for example, allows up to six paying passengers, so the listing shows the passenger limit that applies.
Bareboat (self-captained) rental
You rent the boat and operate it yourself. Expect identity verification at checkout, and check the boater education rules for the state you are boating in — some states require proof of a boating safety course before you can operate a motorboat.
How to choose
A captain is usually the better fit when:
- nobody in your group has run a boat of that size before
- you are new to the area and want local knowledge of sandbars, channels and spots
- you want everyone, including the driver, to enjoy the day
Price
Captained bookings add the captain’s rate, which listings show alongside the boat price before you book.