Boat hire contract and deposit in Spain: what to check before you sign

1. The deposit: how much and how

The deposit is the sum the company holds as a guarantee. Usual ranges:

• No-licence boat: €150 – 500.
• Motorboat or RIB of 6–8 m: €500 – 1,000.
• Sailing boat or catamaran: €1,000 – 2,000 or more, usually equal to the insurance excess.

It is taken as a hold on a credit card (not a charge) and released at check-out or in the following days. Ask exactly when and get it in writing. Some companies offer a deposit-reduction waiver for a supplement; it is worth it on big boats.

2. The insurance excess

Every rental boat is insured, but with an excess: the part of any damage you pay. It usually matches the deposit. What to know:

• What is covered and what is not. Damage through negligence (sailing outside the zone, grounding on a marked shoal, carrying more passengers than allowed) can be excluded. Then the excess does not apply: you are liable for the full amount.
• Engine and propeller. The most common damage on motorboats: touching bottom in a cove. Ask whether the propeller is inside the excess or charged separately.
• Third-party damage. Must be covered by the boat's compulsory insurance.

3. The check-in: photograph everything

This is the step that avoids the most arguments. Before leaving, with the company's representative:

1. Photograph the hull on both sides, the bow, the stern, the propeller and the deck. Time-stamped.
2. Note on the contract or the handover sheet any existing knock, scratch or defect.
3. Check the inventory: anchor and chain, lifejackets (one per seat), extinguisher, flares, radio or phone, bilge pump.
4. Look at the fuel level and photograph it.
5. Check that the engine starts, the anchor goes up and down and the awning or bimini works.

On return, the same walk-round with the same person. If the company does not do a check-in with you, do it yourself and send the photos by WhatsApp before leaving.

4. Fuel

Two systems: "full to full" (you leave with a full tank and return it full) or "pay for what you use" (the company measures what you burned and charges at its own price). The second is usually dearer per litre. On a 15 hp boat the difference is small; on a 200 hp RIB it is not. Ask which system and the price per litre.

5. Cancellation and bad weather

Three different scenarios:

• You cancel in advance: each company has its policy; the norm is a refund up to 7 or 15 days before and a partial retention after that.
• The company cancels for weather: the norm is a change of date or a full refund. It must be in the contract.
• The weather is bad but the company does not cancel: grey area. If the official forecast carries a warning, negotiate the change before the day; once in the harbour, it is their call.

6. Passengers, zone and time

The contract fixes the maximum number of people (children included), the sailing zone and the return time. Exceeding any of the three can void the insurance. The return time is kept: an hour late in August is an hour another customer loses, and it is charged.

7. What should not be missing from the contract

• Company and boat details (name, registration, insurer).
• Total price broken down: boat, skipper, extras, fuel, cleaning.
• Deposit: amount, method and refund period.
• Insurance excess and exclusions.
• Cancellation policy, including weather.
• Sailing zone, number of seats and hours.
• Check-in sheet signed by both parties.

If any of this is missing, ask for it. A serious company has it.

8. A note for visitors

Contracts are usually in Spanish, sometimes with an English translation of variable quality; the Spanish text is the one that counts. Ask for the key figures (deposit, excess, cancellation) in writing in a language you understand before you pay. The deposit hold on a foreign card can take up to two weeks to drop off your statement after check-out, which is the bank, not the company. And keep the check-in photos until it does.

Frequently asked questions

Is the deposit charged or held? Held on a credit card in almost every case. If it is charged, ask about the refund period and get it in writing.

Can I hire a boat without a deposit? Rarely. Some companies replace it with a waiver for a supplement. On no-licence boats the deposit is low (€150–500).

What if I break the propeller? It depends on the contract: it may be inside the excess or charged separately. It is the most common damage on motorboats; ask beforehand.

Who is liable if a passenger is injured? The boat's compulsory insurance covers third parties and passengers within the terms of the contract. If the zone, seats or hours have been breached, it may not.

Can they charge me for damage after I have returned the boat? Only damage found at check-out and recorded. That is why it matters to do it with the company present and with photos.