Captain Morgan grew up boating in Newport, Mystic and Martha’s Vineyard, with a background in sailboats. However, while riding in motor ships, Morgan decided he wanted to pursue his captain’s license, which he received in 2018. A year later, he decided to share his love of being on water and his passion for boat knowledge and safety with others. .
To do this, Wethersfield-based Morgan Fiszel, who goes by the name Captain Morgan, lists his services on GetMyBoat, a service best described as “the Airbnb of boat rentals”. On the platform, Morgan offers hourly rates for charter rides in his powerboat as well as hands-on bulk boat training. This is one of over 50 site rentals in Connecticut.
The equals The rental service is growing in all kinds of industries. These sorts of Airbnb-esque experiences have been popping up all over Connecticut, like the service that has local owners rent their backyard pools. GetMyBoat extends this peer-to-peer rental phenomenon to the Connecticut boat scene.
GetMyBoat marketing director Val Strief said the company has seen many rentals added in Connecticut, particularly in the Stamford, Bridgeport and New Haven areas. In Stamford, GetMyBoat users can rent a six-passenger sailboat for $195 per hour or motor yacht for $475 an hour. Further north, users can get a New Haven charter offering a 35-foot sailboat to sail around the Thimble Islands for $200 an hour and a motor sailer from New London for $2,000 for the whole day. Streif said more and more boats are always being added to the platform, especially as the pandemic has caused a strong increase in boat sales nationwide.
Captain Morgan said the rig is a good tool for those who want to try out different types of boats and fun gear.
“Most people who want to be on the water don’t want to do the same thing all the time. Today they might want to sail, tomorrow they might be looking for water sports, the next day they might be looking for a fishing or sailing charter,” he said. “A lot of [the listings] will include things like a floating groundsheet, which is great if you’re going to stop for a while to get a good float. Many captains will offer an ice cooler, which is super nice for you to bring your own drinks, but they will have the cooler with ice ready. They often provide catering services, sometimes captains work with local restaurants and they can offer dining suggestions, or people bring their own food.
Captain Morgan lists his boat on a number of services, but said around 10% of his boat revenue comes directly from GetMyBoat charter rentals. Captains can set and choose their hourly prices and passenger limit, just like Airbnb hosts. He said he also likes how there is a two-way rating system so he can gauge the quality of customers and they can rate him back.
The only downside, he said, is that GetMyBoat doesn’t require every captain to have a US Coast Guard-certified captain’s license like the one he pursued in 2018, which he says is important. for the safety of the boat. However, Streif says that by not requiring a USCG license, GetMyBoat can strike a balance between inviting newcomers to explore the platform while complying with all state and local laws.
Boat owners can also list their boats without a captain, meaning customers with the correct boating credentials can drive the charter themselves. However, GetMyBoat does not currently offer rental insurance for owners or customers and encourages renters to check directly with boat owners for coverage.
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