What to Bring on a Boat Rental (and What to Check)
When you rent a boat, bring photo ID, your boat licence if the boat requires one, a payment card and money for fuel, plus a phone in a waterproof case, a warm and windproof layer, food and water. Ask the owner in advance whether life jackets for everyone, fenders, mooring lines and a chart are on board, and bring a sleeping bag or bedding if you stay overnight.
This guide is for renting a private boat by the day, weekend or a few days. Only heading out for a few hours? Then the short list for a day trip is enough. Chartering a yacht for a week in the Mediterranean? See what to bring on a yacht charter.
Documents and money: what the renter must bring
These are the things that can stop the rental before it starts, so pack them first.
- Photo ID. A passport, national ID card or driving licence, so the owner can see that you are the person who booked.
- Boat licence, if the boat requires one. In Norway, anyone born after 1 January 1980 needs a boat licence (båtførerbevis) to drive a boat over 8 m or with an engine over 25 hp. Read our guide to the Norwegian boat licence. Carry the card or a copy the owner accepts.
- Payment card. For the fuel you use, harbour fees and anything else not included in the price.
- Fuel money. On most rentals you pay for the fuel you burn or return the boat with a full tank. A fast motorboat or RIB uses much more fuel than a small boat, so ask the owner for a realistic figure.
- The owner's phone number and the booking details, saved on your phone and written on paper.
On Ship O'Hoi, each owner states in the listing what licence and experience they require for their boat. If you don't have a licence, pick a boat where the owner comes along as skipper.
Clothes: dress for the water, not the pier
It is always colder and windier on the water than on land, even in July. Bring layers you can add and remove.
- A windproof and waterproof jacket, also on sunny days.
- A warm mid-layer: fleece or wool sweater.
- Shoes with non-marking, non-slip soles. Avoid heels and flip-flops.
- Sun hat, sunglasses with a strap and sunscreen (SPF 30+).
- A dry change of clothes in a waterproof bag.
- Swimwear and a towel.
Safety gear: check life jackets before anything else
Everyone on board needs a life jacket or buoyancy aid that fits. Many owners include them, but not always in every size. Ask before the trip whether there are enough for your group and whether children's sizes are included. If not, bring your own for the children, matched to their weight.
Also bring:
- Your phone in a waterproof case, fully charged, plus a power bank. 112 works as the emergency number in all the Nordic countries.
- A chart app downloaded for offline use. Ask whether the boat has a chartplotter or paper chart too.
- Seasickness tablets if anyone in the group is prone to it.
- A small first aid kit of your own, in addition to the boat's.
- A head torch if there is any chance you return after dark.
What the owner usually provides and what you should ask
Every boat is different. This table shows what is typically on board a rental boat and what you should confirm with the owner before you go.
| Item | Why you need it | Usually provided by owner? |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Owner checks who is renting | No, bring it |
| Boat licence | Required for some boats | No, bring it if needed |
| Payment card, fuel money | Fuel and harbour fees | No, bring it |
| Life jackets | One per person, right size | Ask (especially child sizes) |
| Fenders and mooring lines | Protect the boat when docking | Usually yes, check |
| Anchor and anchor line | Stopping in a bay | Usually yes, check |
| Chart or chartplotter | Finding your way, shallows | Ask |
| Fuel | The boat's range | Ask (full tank or pay per use) |
| Bedding and towels | Overnight on a cabin boat | Ask |
| Food and water | Long days on the water | No, bring it |
| Phone in waterproof case | Emergency calls, navigation | No, bring it |
Staying overnight on a cabin boat: extra things to bring
If you rent a boat with a cabin for a weekend or a few days, add these to the list:
- A sleeping bag or duvet, pillowcases and sheets, unless the owner confirms bedding is included.
- Towels and toiletries.
- Food for all meals, and more drinking water than you think. Ask whether the boat has a working stove, a cool box or fridge, and a water tank you can drink from.
- Harbour fees for guest harbours. Most take card or an app, but a little cash can help at small jetties.
- A charging cable that fits the boat's 12 V or USB outlets. Ask whether there is shore power and a cable for it.
- Warm clothes for the evening and night.
Ask the owner how the toilet works, how to empty the holding tank if there is one, and where you may and may not go overnight.
What to check before you rent
Ask these questions before you confirm the booking. The answers belong in writing, in the booking conversation.
- What exactly is included in the price: fuel, life jackets, bedding, cleaning?
- What is the deposit, and what happens if something gets damaged?
- Which licence or experience does the owner require?
- Are there areas the boat must not go, or a maximum distance from the home harbour?
- What happens if the weather is too bad to go out?
- Where is the nearest fuel station, and when and where do you return the boat?
Browse all boats for rent, or narrow it down to boats for rent in Stockholm or Helsinki, and read the listing carefully: many of these answers are already there.
What to check at handover
Plan 20 to 30 minutes for the handover, and do not leave before you understand the boat.
- Walk around the boat with the owner and photograph existing scratches and damage.
- Photograph the fuel gauge and, if it has one, the engine hour meter.
- Have the owner start the engine and show you how the kill cord (engine cut-off lanyard) works. Wear it when you drive.
- Count the life jackets and check the sizes.
- Find the fire extinguisher, bilge pump, anchor and first aid kit.
- Test the navigation lights if you may be out at dusk.
- Ask how to moor and anchor this particular boat, and how the toilet works.
- Agree on the return time, place, fuel level and how clean the boat should be.
On a sailboat, also go through how to hoist, reef and lower the sails.
FAQ
Do I need to bring my own life jacket when I rent a boat?
Not always. Many owners include life jackets, but ask how many and which sizes before the trip. For children, bringing your own well-fitting life jacket is often the safest choice.
Should I bring cash when renting a boat?
A little cash can be useful at small guest harbours, but most costs can be paid by card or app. Ask the owner how fuel is paid for.
What should I bring if I sleep on board?
A sleeping bag or bedding (unless included), towels, toiletries, warm night clothes, food for all meals and extra drinking water. Check with the owner what is already on board.
Can I bring my dog on a rental boat?
Only if the owner allows it. Ask before booking, and bring a dog life jacket if the dog comes along.
What if the boat is missing something on the day?
Point it out at handover and agree on a solution before you leave. Do not set off without enough life jackets for everyone on board.
