Frequently Asked Questions

What changes have you made to your cancellation policy due to COVID-19?

As of May 31, 2022, circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic are no longer covered under this policy. For reservations made before May 31, 2022, certain COVID-19 related circumstances will continue to be covered. The CDC currently recommends a 5 day quarantine for any individual who tests positive for COVID-19. Please contact us if you have a reservation made before May 31, 2022 and need to cancel due to a positive PCR test within 5 days of your departure date. Any other cancellation for COVID-19 related issues will be considered non-refundable. You can find our full Cancellation Policy here.

About Anchor: What it is and how it works

A better way to enjoy boating and yachting, anywhere and everywhere.

A community anchored by safety

In 2016, Anchor was born out of a tragedy–CEO and Founder Zach Hatraf started Anchor after his best friend, Jeremy Coplin, was killed in an alcohol related boating accident. The idea was sparked a few years after his friend's death on a boating trip at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Today, thousands of Boat Owners, Captains, and Guests have created free Anchor accounts to share their love of the water and boating lifestyle with a focus on safety and security for all.

Boat & yacht rentals, with a twist

From pontoon rentals on the lake to multi-day yacht charters in the Mediterranean, boat owners are happy to share their boats and yachts with renters from all over the world. Whether celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just a fun day on the water, there are countless ways to rent or charter the perfect boat or yacht. Anchor makes renting a boat (and boat ownership) easy, safe and affordable.

For Owners, Anchor is breaking the status quo of boat and yacht ownership. We’ve all heard the saying–BOAT stands for “break out another thousand”. Traditional boat ownership is expensive and frustrating, and for years the options to monetize your boat have been extremely limited. Anchor provides a way for boat owners to share their boat with the help and support of a professional team and world class technology.

Captains & Crew are able to use Anchor’s platform to connect with owners and high-paying gigs. The friendly and knowledgeable Captains and Crew make renting a boat safe and accessible to everyone–making our waterways safer and more enjoyable. With Anchor’s database of nearly 7500 Captains, owners and renters can exhale, sit back and enjoy their experiences with Anchor.

Services you can trust

We want your experience with Anchor to be easy and enjoyable. Here’s how we’re working to make you feel secure and protected:

• Verified personal profiles for renters and listings for owners.
• A team of trained charter professionals to help you plan your charter.
• A trusted platform for collecting and transferring payments
• Vetted and trained Captains & Crew.

We’re always making improvements to our platform–making it safer and easier for you to rent or charter the perfect boat.

Starting your search

Anchor is proud to offer thousands of boats across the globe–each vessel you see on our site is real, responsive, and ready for rentals and charters. Starting your search is easy. You can easily narrow your search using your departure date and filters to find available listings with the amenities you want. Read the listings for more detail and pinpoint them on the map to check if they’d be a good fit for your trip.

How to search

1. When searching for a place to stay, click or tap Filters to view all available filters. Filters can help narrow search options. For example, the price range.
2. Scroll through the listings or use the map to find listings in a specific location.
3. Click or tap a listing to open it. Read the description, check the available amenities, review the boat’s rules, and see the pickup location before requesting.

You can request availability for your date for one or multiple boats without the obligation of paying. Once your request is approved, or multiple requests are approved, you can choose to pay and confirm your booking. Got a question about a place you have in mind? Add a message to your request and our team will respond within 1-2 hours.

Using the Map

The map is a quick way to review the listings in relation to areas of interest. You can zoom in or move around the map to find additional listings that don’t appear at first.

Using filters to search

Feel free to browse all of our boats and yachts–or you can narrow things down by using our filters. Filters are a great way to find the exact boat and yacht you’re looking for.

Start with the basics For the best search experience, you always want to start your search with the basics:

• Departure city
• Departure date

Popular filters

At the top of each location page, you'll find our advanced filters, such as:

• Price: Use the sliding scale to find a boat in your price range
• Guests: Narrow your search to only see boats that can accommodate your group size.
• Boat Length: Bigger isn’t always better, but sometimes size does matter.
• Boat Category: From Pontoon boats to Catamarans and Super Yachts, you can pick your favorite category of boat to charter.

Pricing

Keep in mind that many boats are unique, and different attributes may affect the hourly or daily rate. Anchor always displays the full price before you book so you know what is included and what is not. Remember, you can request availability for any boat and ask questions before you pay and confirm.

Deliveries

Some boats are willing to come pick you up. There are many things to consider when requesting a delivery to your home dock, rental property or any dock other than the designated pickup location:

1. Expect additional fuel and/or additional time. Or you can choose to use charter time (and fuel) when requesting a delivery. The charter begins when the boat leaves the dock. Some boats allow free delivery within a certain mileage, while others don’t offer delivery at all.
2. Vessels require minimum depth levels of water. In regions that are more shallow, a vessel’s “draft” can preclude it from picking up in certain areas. If your area is too shallow, the Captain and Owner will not permit a delivery.
3. Requesting a delivery does not mean a delivery is guaranteed. When you request a delivery or pickup, our team, along with the Owner and Captain, must approve the delivery and any additional billing that is required to accommodate the delivery.
4. Renters are responsible for any damage to the property or vessel if a delivery is requested, as well as any lost or additional time due to complications.
5. Last-minute delivery requests are likely to be rejected. Please allow at least 72 hours prior to departure for our team, the Owner and the Captain to ensure delivery can be done safely.

For these reasons, many owners do not allow pickups / deliveries. We recommend using the map to find a boat that is nearby–meeting the boat at it’s intended pickup location is the best experience for all.

Number of passengers / guests

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is “how many passengers are allowed on the boat?” Each listing is unique and displays the max number of guests allowed on the boat during a charter.

Max # of passengers can vary based on the boat and based on the departure location. Some bodies of water are regulated by state laws–while others are governed by federal laws.

Some boats require an additional per person charge for larger groups. This is typically to cover additional amenities and provisions included in the experience such as food and beverage. In some cases additional Crew is also required to serve those additional guests–all required fees will be included in the additional per person charge to avoid confusion.

It is also important to note that overnight stays typically accommodate fewer guests due to the sleeping capacity. If you are requesting a multi-day or overnight stay, be sure to understand the guest capacity before booking. A general rule of thumb is to multiply the number of bedrooms by two, but we always recommend speaking to a charter expert before booking a multi-day or overnight experience.

Due to state and federal laws, and your own safety, additional guests beyond the max guest count displayed on the listing will not be permitted to board. Additional guests will be turned away and the boat will not be permitted to leave the dock until the correct number of passengers are on board. No refunds or credits will be awarded due to delays caused by an incorrect passenger count.

Where do we meet the boat?

Every boat is unique and they all have different pickup locations. The boat will pick you up from a preset homeport marina, dock or boat ramp. Please see the Deliveries section above if you want to request an alternative pickup location.

Each listing displays a map which illustrates a general area for pickup. To keep the Anchor community safe & secure, we do not provide the exact address of the pickup location prior to booking. As soon as you confirm and pay for your booking, the exact pickup address will be displayed in your itinerary.

Cancellation policy

You could either be doing some research before you book, or perhaps you’re looking to cancel a booking right now. Here is how the cancellation policy works.

Cancel before you book

You can find cancellation details on the listing page, and during the booking process—before you pay. Canceling a charter request (not a booking) before you confirm and pay is free. There are no penalties to cancel a charter request, even if it is approved by the owner.

Cancel after you book

Your policy and cancellation options can always be found in your My Charters menu. Just click or tap the trip to show more details and you'll find your Cancellation policy. The times and dates we display for cancellation policies are based on the local time zone of the listing.

Cancellation deadlines for receiving refunds are measured from the departure time for the booking in its local time zone.

The Cancellation Policy is also displayed on each listing page, and during the checkout process when you go to confirm and pay. You can review the full Cancellation Policy here.

If you want to know what your refund will be, start canceling your booking and we’ll show you a detailed breakdown. Depending on the date you booked, when you cancel, and the cancellation policy that applies to your reservation, you may get a full or partial refund if you cancel after you confirm and pay. The booking fee is non-refundable when you cancel any charter after you confirm and pay.

Remember that the amount refunded will never be more than the amount you have actually paid at the time you cancel.

Owner Cancellations

Things happen and boats break down–it’s the harsh reality of this business. If for any reason an Owner cancels your trip prior to boarding, Anchor will work to find you an alternative boat with similar amenities or you will be refunded the full amount of the charter, including the booking fee.

Our policy is to carry your payment as a credit for an alternative boat. If we cannot source a boat for your exact departure date, within 1 hour of your original departure time, and one that offers similar amenities, then we will refund your payment in full. We will even waive the alternative boat’s booking fee if it costs more so you aren’t required to pay more. If you choose to upgrade beyond the credited amount, you will be required to pay the difference.

One of the greatest advantages to booking with Anchor is that we have a wide selection of boats to choose from and we can usually find you a comparable boat in the event of an Owner cancellation.

Extenuating circumstances

Did an emergency or natural disaster disrupt your reservation? You may be eligible for a refund due to extenuating circumstances. View the full Cancellation Policy to learn more about extenuating circumstances.

Inclement weather before departure

Inclement weather is defined as any severe or harsh weather condition that makes it unsafe or impractical to travel, commute, or work outdoors. For boating, this can mean thunderstorms or high winds. Only the Captain or Owner can cancel for inclement weather, and cancellations for inclement weather are made 1 hour prior to your scheduled departure. If inclement weather prevents you from departing on time, you will be given the option to change your departure time, change your departure date, or be issued a full refund, including the booking fee.

Inclement weather during a charter

Storms and high winds can spin up in the middle of a charter–sometimes without warning. These can range anywhere from light drizzles to heavy wind gusts and even thunderstorms. If inclement weather causes a rental to lose time and end early, you may be issued a pro-rated refund for the time lost. You will still have to pay the cleaning fee and any other non-variable fees such as provisions and add-ons.

Forecasted weather

Forecasts are often inaccurate. If you choose to cancel a charter due to a forecast, or more than 1 hour prior to departure, you will not be issued a refund and the normal Cancellation Policy will apply. Only the Captain or Owner can cancel a charter for weather-related reasons.

Captains & crew

At the heart of every experience is a fun, friendly and knowledgeable Captain–and behind every great Captain is a great Crew.

Captains

Across the globe, the term “Captain” has a wide range of definitions. Across Anchor, the term “Captain” can have several different definitions as well. On a navigable waterway, a Captain is licensed by the United States Coast Guard. On a non-navigable waterway, a Captain is not required to be licensed. Captains are approved operators of the vessel you are selecting–meaning the owner of the vessel has approved these specific operators to run their boat. Some vessels require a Captain, while others allow you to take the helm.

Crew

Some boats include a Crew–these are the folks that assist the Captain and assist the guests. There are several different types of Crew, some of them include:

• Mate: More of the outdoorsy type–they handle the lines and water toys.
• Stew: Cleaning, serving drinks and entertaining guests with an award-winning smile.
• Chef: Creating magically delicious cuisine in tight spaces is their forte.
• Bartender: Crackin’ bottles and slicing limes, they’ll whip you up a drink in no time.

Is the Captain/Crew included in the price?

On each listing, the Captain and number of Crew will be displayed on the listing–and their services are included in the price. You can also request to add additional Crew, such as a bartender or stew for an additional cost.

Is the Captain/Crew included in the passenger count?

No. The Captain and any Crew are counted separately. For example, if a listing displays a maximum guest count of 13, that means 13 plus Captain/Crew. Captain and Crew are not considered passengers.

Captain authority

According to federal law, the Captain is in charge of the safety of their passengers at all times. If for any reason the Captain terminates the trip due to guest behavior, they have the right to do so without warning. This is covered in the Terms of Service.

If the Captain ends the charter early for cause, such as guests continually disobeying the rules of the boat, no refund will be given and you will forfeit your full deposit. It is important to abide by the Captain’s rules at all times for safety reasons.

Contacting your captain

After you confirm and pay, your Captain information will show in the "Select Your Captain" section in your charter details page.

It is Anchor’s strict policy that we do not allow communication with the Captain outside the Anchor platform until your non-refundable all payments and paperwork are completed prior to speaking to the Captain. Once you have paid the deposit, we allow unlimited communication to occur.

Time Extensions

In most cases, time can be added to a charter for an additional hourly fee. Time extensions are allowed as long as there aren’t any other conflicting boat rules or upcoming bookings which may prevent the boat from adding on additional time. Additional fees include the Boat Rental, Captain, Crew, Fuel, and any other time-based fee required by the Owner. You will not have to pay an additional cleaning fee or any other flat fee costs. You can request an accurate additional hour cost from your Captain.

Identity Verification

Our aim is for guests, owners, and Captains on Anchor to be able to trust each other.

We use one of the most advanced identity verification systems in the world (Stripe) to help ensure all guests, Owners and Captains are genuine–although no identification process is perfect and we cannot guarantee someone’s identity. This is why we have procedures in place to attempt to verify the identity of all our users.

We require Owners, Captains and booking guests to be verified. When you book a boat or become an Owner or Captain in our program, we may need to verify your personal information, such as your legal name, address, phone number, and other contact details. We may also ask for a photo of your government ID and a selfie. Some privacy laws do apply in certain parts of the world so this policy may not apply to your region.

Why we verify identity

Verifying the identity of guests, owners, and Captains helps us to:

• Scan for fraudulent behavior
• Do background checks where permitted under applicable laws
• Understand if a bad actor has taken control of an account
• Investigate safety and security issues such as assault, robbery or fraudulent activity
• Keep our community safe

How verification works

As part of the identity verification process, we may ask you to provide us with:

• Legal name, address and/or other personal information: In some cases, these are sufficient for us to verify your identity.
• Photo of your government ID: This could be a driver’s license, passport, or identity card.
• Selfie: We may need to ask you for a photograph along with your government ID. If you can’t provide a selfie that matches your government ID, contact us and we may be able to provide an alternative verification method.

Note: If you’re hosting as a business, you may be asked to verify additional information for your account and any associated accounts with your business.

How long does it take to verify ID?

Typically, they are reviewed and approved within a couple of minutes, however, it may take up to 12 hours after you submit your information.

Owner liability insurance

Owner liability insurance provides Owners with $1 million in coverage in the rare event you are found legally responsible for a guest getting hurt while renting or chartering your boat. Captains and Crew are also included, so you can feel confident chartering your boat with Anchor.

Damage caused by guests

Damage to vessels is rare and typically minor in nature. The most common occurrences are spills and stains while other damages, like clogged toilets, can be more technical. In the rare case a boat is damaged by the renter or their guests, Anchor will process (withdraw) funds from the renter’s security deposit in full while a quote can be generated to repair the damage.

Anchor will use funds from the processed hold to reimburse the owner for repair costs. Anchor pays for replacement costs and any approved labor required to bring the boat back to its original condition prior to charter. This process typically takes 7-10 days but may take longer if the damage is extensive and/or requires a specialized technician to generate a professional quote for repair. If Anchor is managing your vessel, we will initiate the claim process on the Owner’s behalf.

In order for a claim to be valid, Owners (or the Captain) must use the Anchor Captain app to capture photos of the boat prior to departure as part of our Check-in and Check-out (CICO) process. If no pre-charter photos exist, a claim should not be filed. Claims must be filed within 24 hours of the boat's return from a charter. Any claims filed beyond the 24 hours will be denied without review. Any claims filed without photographic evidence (before and after) will be denied without review.

Damage caused by Captains

Cosmetic damage is rare–damage caused by Captains is even more rare. Less than 1% of the boats listed on Anchor have experienced damage caused by Captains. Having said that, it is a real risk that must be considered by Owners. Only the Owner is responsible for damage caused by the Captain unless gross negligence can be proven–renters, nor Anchor, are responsible for mechanical or structural damage to your boat or yacht caused by the Captain.

Captains are not employees of Anchor–they are freelance contractors. By adding Captains to your operator roster, or allowing Anchor to add Captains to your operator roster, you are approving those Captains to operate your boat. In some scenarios, Captains are employees of the Owner. Likewise, if you employ your Captain, Anchor, nor the renter and/or their guests, are responsible for any damage to the vessel caused by the Captain or Crew.

Owners are required to hold a commercial insurance policy which covers the Captains on your operator roster. Anchor does not provide any hull coverage. Our fees are in exchange for bookings and facilitation only. We hope to bring owners a new type of insurance soon that would provide “per-trip” coverage… stay tuned.

Product or service unsatisfactory

If something is missing, broken, or not what you expected when you arrive or during your charter, let the Captain or Owner know as soon as possible. If the Captain or Owner can’t help resolve the issue within a reasonable amount of time, we’re here to support you. Keep in mind that to be eligible for assistance through Anchor, you must report any issue to Anchor within 48 hours of discovering it. Failure to report issues within 48 hours of discovering it will disqualify you from any refund or credit.

If you have experienced unsatisfactory service by an owner, you can begin a dispute by using the dispute resolution center.

I disputed a charge from Anchor with my bank, what happens next?

When someone disputes a charge with their bank, a dispute process called a chargeback is initiated. If you file a chargeback, Anchor can no longer assist you with any disputes. Anchor will provide evidence directly to your bank proving the charges are authorized and correct and will appeal the chargeback–no exceptions.

As a tip, banks do not typically offer refunds or credits to cardholders for unsatisfactory products or services. You may be better off working directly with Anchor’s dispute resolution center if you were unhappy with the product or service you received. Anchor cares about our customers and we’re here to ensure you enjoy your experiences on and off our website.

What's a chargeback?

A chargeback is a formal payment dispute initiated by a consumer with their bank.

Chargebacks are usually filed by someone when they’ve noticed what they believe to be an unauthorized, incorrect, or unexpected charge on their account.

If you’ve filed a chargeback, you’ll need to contact your bank for more details on how their particular process works.

What happens once a chargeback has been filed and the dispute process begins?

Once a chargeback has been filed, it can take up to 90 days for the bank to resolve it. You can check the status of this process, or cancel it, by working with your bank.

While the chargeback process is ongoing, your bank may temporarily deposit the disputed amount into your account—it’s important to note that this amount comes directly from your bank, not Anchor. If it’s determined that the charge from Anchor was valid, then these funds may be taken back by the bank.

Will I still be refunded by Anchor if I disputed a charge?

When a chargeback is filed, Anchor is no longer able to resolve the dispute with you directly, and any refund you receive will come from your bank and not from Anchor.