10 Things to Know About Renting a Boat Without a License

Introduction

In Italy, to drive inflatable boats or vessels with engines over 40 HP, you must possess a boating license. However, it is permitted to drive inflatable boats up to 40 HP without a license. In this guide, I will explain the essential things you need to know to rent an inflatable boat without a license.

I will provide you with some insights on navigation rules, some best practices, and some tricks for maneuvers that you will surely appreciate, especially if you've never been out to sea. This guide won't make you a seasoned captain if you've never been out to sea and have never rented an inflatable boat; however, you will gain some useful advice.

The inflatable boat is the best means of navigation for beginners because it's as easy to steer as a go-kart, safe, and unsinkable by definition. All the advice you read in this guide is just that—advice and not skills that you must absolutely have. The guide is designed for those who are curious and simply want to have a little more knowledge.

Boat rental Portisco

1. Renting inflatable boats: what is the rental agreement​

After booking your inflatable boat rental online and arriving at the departure port on the designated day, the first thing you will need to do is sign the rental agreement. It is important to keep a copy of the agreement on board along with the other mandatory documents so that you can easily show them if requested by the Coast Guard or other authorities.

In general, a standard rental agreement for an inflatable boat without a license requires the completion of the following fields:

Name and surname
Date of birth
Residence
Type of identification document
Document identification number
Duration of rental
Departure date
Departure time
Return date
Return time

Type of inflatable boat and model
Number of people on board
Adults
Minors

Deposit 
Most rentals require a deposit – often via credit card – to cover any potential damages.

How does the deposit work?
The renter “swipes” the card to authorize the amount defined in the contract. This amount is not charged but only authorized, which means that:

• if upon return to port, the inflatable boat has sustained no damage of any kind, as happens in 99% of rentals, the authorization is canceled
• if upon return to port the inflatable boat has incurred damages, the renter will charge the previously authorized amount. Remember that a deductible may apply

What is the amount of the deposit?
The amount of the deposit depends on the type of inflatable boat rented; it can range from 300 euros to 10,000 euros. In any case, this information is always clearly stated in the contract.

2. Renting inflatable boats: what to check before departure

Those who have never driven an inflatable boat think that the inflatable boat is unsinkable, indestructible, and can even reach the shallowest waters. This is true, but not for beginners.
Even though the inflatable boat doesn't have a keel and doesn't draft like a sailboat, it still has parts that are permanently underwater, which are:

• part of the hull
• the engine's foot
• the engine propeller

In case an inexperienced navigator scrapes a rock, for example, the propeller is the first thing that gets damaged. For this reason, to ensure the propeller is in excellent condition, the renter will show you that it is in perfect condition: not damaged, bent, or twisted. This is important because if, upon return, the propeller is damaged, you will be responsible for paying for the damages.

Onboard equipment
The renter will show you all the mandatory onboard equipment:

• life jackets for every person on board
• life buoy
• fire extinguisher
• flares
• engine manual
• insurance
• and the contract that you will have carefully stored in the document folder

3. Renting inflatable boats: how to start the engine

If a boating license is not required, there is a reason: driving an inflatable boat with a 40 HP engine, generally up to 5.90 meters, is truly child's play.

How to start the engine of the inflatable boat
Most rental inflatable boat engines are 4-stroke injection, so starting occurs simply by turning the key.

• Insert the key
• Insert the safety lanyard
• Turn the key
• You will hear a beeping sound
• When the beeping sound stops, you can turn the key again and start the engine
  
  

What is the safety lanyard?
The key has a black plastic lanyard that must be inserted into the safety button. During navigation, you should tie the red elastic around your wrist so that the engine shuts off in case of an emergency.

Onboard instrumentation
Not all inflatable boats, especially small ones without a license, are equipped with extensive onboard instrumentation. In fact, it wouldn't even be necessary, as a 40 HP inflatable boat is designed for short, daytime, and coastal sailing, making the use of rich nautical instrumentation superfluous. Below is the instrumentation typically present in the console of a rental inflatable boat:

• revolutions counter
• fuel level
• trim level

What do those buttons on the control panel mean?
The control panel in the console allows you to operate:

• bilge pump
• freshwater shower
• navigation lights

🏆 TIP
When you want to rinse off with fresh water after diving, remember to turn the engine key; otherwise, the shower won't work. And then remember to turn it off to avoid draining the battery!

4. Renting inflatable boats: how to leave the harbor

Now that you're on board, you've familiarized yourself with the inflatable boat and its instruments, you're ready to leave the harbor and enjoy your day at sea!

Usually, the dockhand will assist you with the unmooring maneuver, especially if you are not very experienced.
During the maneuver of entering and exiting the harbor, fiberglass boats must put out fenders to minimize damage in case of collisions. The inflatable boat, however, being a “big and soft fender” is not required to follow this practice. In any case, always do what makes you feel safest.

🏆 TIP
Two simple yet always useful tips:
1. Before leaving your berth, even if supported and supervised by the dockhand, make sure there are no other boats in motion to avoid collisions.
2. Before leaving the berth, check which direction the wind is coming from, as this will affect your maneuver

5. Renting inflatable boats: navigation tips

Now that you've left the harbor with a masterful maneuver and the sea at your disposal, you need to familiarize yourself with a few aspects. The main elements are: the wind and the waves, the engine

The wind and the waves
The wind pushes the inflatable boat on the water and can help navigation if it pushes in the direction you are sailing or can “hinder” it if it pushes in different directions. Generally, the waves follow the wind direction.

How to take the waves with the inflatable boat?
To ensure smooth sailing without constant jolts, try to take the waves “on the bow,” meaning with the prow slightly angled 3/4 to the wave. In this way, the wave breaks and slides along the inflatable boat, reducing its force. The idea is always to avoid heading directly into or away from the waves.

What is the trim of the engine?
What is Trim? Trim is the fun part of the inflatable boat's engine! It is a tool that allows you to adjust the boat's attitude according to the weather conditions and the people on board. Simply pressing the button on the throttle lever raises and lowers the engine to help the inflatable boat redefine its attitude and evenly distribute weights.

The trim levels are 3:

• negative (submerges the engine's foot in the water)
• neutral (is the default, natural setting)
• positive (raises the engine's foot out of the water)
  
  

What is the purpose of trim?
Proper use of the trim allows:

• to navigate over waves with greater smoothness
• to bring the inflatable boat onto a plane faster
• to optimize fuel consumption

How to adjust the trim?
First, adjusting the trim – that is, the height of the engine – it's important to evenly distribute the people on board so that the weights are evenly distributed across the inflatable boat. The stern (the back) is physiologically and structurally heavier than the bow (the front) because it's on the transom that the engine is mounted.

Only after distributing the weights can you adjust the trim for smoother sailing. In very simplified terms:

• the inflatable boat navigates better when on a plane; to get the inflatable boat on a plane, you need to set the trim fully negative, meaning fully resting on the transom
• once this phase is surpassed, the trim needs to be returned to a neutral position.
  
  

🏆 TIP
What does “get the inflatable boat on a plane” mean? Getting the inflatable boat on a plane means ensuring the hull is fully resting on the water and the inflatable boat does not remain “prone.” Using trim is not essential for having a wonderful day at sea, but it is still fun to experiment with!

Boat rental Portisco

6. Renting inflatable boats: how to reach the beach

Usually, the renter will provide you with a map with points of interest to visit, recommended spots for diving, lunch breaks, and related photos of the coves. To explore the area and its seabed, the Navionics navigation app is also available, an essential tool for every boater. The app is paid, but a free trial period is offered.

Getting to the beach with the inflatable boat
It is prohibited to approach the beach directly with the inflatable boat; however, there are two allowed ways: through a launch lane and swimming

Launch lane
The launch lane is a corridor marked by two rows of buoys. If you need or simply want to access the beach, you must enter exclusively by following this stretch of sea. After unloading luggage and letting people off on the beach, you will need to move the inflatable boat back beyond the buoys to a minimum distance of 200 meters from the shore. If you also want to reach the shore, you can do so by swimming or ask the dockhand if they can “come pick you up.”

Swimming
Some beaches are UNESCO World Heritage Sites or belong to a Marine Protected Area or natural reserves, therefore motor navigation is not allowed. In this case, you can only anchor at least 200 meters from the beach and reach it by swimming.

In certain stretches of sea, there is an absolute ban on bathing or navigation. Therefore, ask the renter if there are any such restrictions on your itinerary.

maneuvers not to do even if very scenic

7. Renting inflatable boats: how to anchor

How to anchor in 4 simple steps. You have finally reached the cove the cove you dreamed of since this winter and can’t wait to do some snorkeling! But before you dive, you need to anchor.

How do you drop the anchor?

Those who have never driven an inflatable boat think this operation is very simple and… it is indeed! However, it's not uncommon to encounter boaters who try to anchor and after twenty minutes are still fumbling unsure. Follow these practical tips for anchoring.

Step 1
Watch what others are doing
First of all, before dropping anchor, you need to understand how to “position” the inflatable boat. Look at how the other boats of the same size are positioned and you will notice that they are all facing the same direction, with the bow into the wind. For this reason, before dropping anchor, position the inflatable boat with the bow into the wind.

Step 2
Be generous in everything
To avoid crashing into others or worse, the rocks, keep in mind that the sea is not asphalt and the inflatable boat is not a car: staying “still” is almost impossible even with very light wind. Also, you need to consider that the steps to anchor vary and take time:

• take the anchor out of the locker
• position yourself at the bow with the anchor in hand
• drop the anchor and wait for it to sink
• wait for the line to be completely stretched
• tie the line to the cleat

And during this time, your inflatable boat… has moved. If you were “cautious”… it will have moved into a safe spot and you can enjoy all the snorkeling you want.

If, on the other hand, you calculated a tight time and little space, your boat will probably be too close to another boater’s boat, which may be very friendly and you will become fast friends, but you will definitely have to move and redo the maneuver to keep a proper distance.

To make a correct anchoring maneuver, you must consider that it takes more time than you think and more space than you think.

🏆 TIP
Remember that the inflatable boat… has no brakes! Keep the engine running throughout the maneuver, so you have the ability to correct it on the go.

Step 3
Let out line!
An old adage says “little line, little sailor.” To anchor correctly it is essential to “let out line”: the more line is laid on the bottom, the more secure your anchoring will be. It is customary to let out 3-5 times the depth. So if the depth is 5 meters, you need to let out between 15 and 25 meters of line.

Step 4
Check that the anchor has caught
To determine if you have anchored correctly and can enjoy a dip or a siesta without having to stay alert, just follow this simple practical tip: identify two fixed points, one in front of you and one beside you. Wait a minute. If your position relative to those points does not change, congratulations, you are anchored. If you notice that you are moving in relation to the chosen points, it means you have not anchored correctly and need to redo the maneuver.

🏆 TIP
In general, a good tip is to always anchor in not too deep bottoms, considering that the line provided is not very long; in sandy or not too rocky bottoms to avoid grounding.

8. Renting inflatable boats: how to open the bimini

You have finally dived and explored the coast, encountering many magnificent little fish. You have climbed back onto the inflatable boat via the ladder and want to stay in the shade for a well-deserved nap.

How to open the bimini?
Opening the bimini is really simple; just stretch out the canvas and securely tie it to the hooks with the appropriate lines. There are different types of biminis with various materials and shapes; in any case, it is always advisable:

• even if very robust in steel or mounted on roll bars, to close the bimini while navigating to avoid it being an obstacle during steering or catching wind unexpectedly
• tie the bimini. After folding the canvas, remember to tie it with the appropriate ribbons to avoid it catching wind and… making annoying noises
  
  

🏆 TIP
Before setting off again, fold the ladder and secure it to the inflatable boat so that it remains steady during navigation.

Boat rental Portisco

9. Renting inflatable boats: navigation rules

Did you go out to sea just because you bought a ticket for a boat excursion or as a guest on a sailing trip? No problem. There is always a first time for everything. Even to become captains in 1 day!

In this paragraph, we will see what the rules and best practices are to navigate safely and in compliance with current regulations:

• entry and exit from the ports should always be done at minimum speed with the engine running and keeping to the right
• those exiting the port have the right of way
• navigation is allowed while staying at least 100 meters away from steep coasts and 200 meters from beaches
• pay close attention to floating red buoys with white diagonals. They indicate the presence of divers or people snorkeling. Slow down and keep at least 100 meters away from the signal
• it is prohibited to collect sand, stones, animals, or objects from the sea or beaches
• fishing is prohibited in the designated area of the Marine Protected Area
• in case of breakdown, call the contacts provided in the rental contract
• the inflatable boat is under your responsibility: avoid areas with shallow bottoms to prevent damage to the hull, the motor's foot, the propeller, or other parts

  Other navigation tips

• always give way to the right while navigating, just like in a car
• sailing boats have longer maneuvering times and therefore always have the right of way.
• large boats, such as ferries, always have the right of way
• sailing boats, while docking, “give a lot of line,” so try to pass wide to avoid going over.

10. Renting inflatable boats: is fuel included or excluded?

The rental day has ended and, alas, you must return the inflatable boat to the port. But first, we need to stop for refueling.

Is fuel included in the rental?
The cost of fuel is almost always excluded from the rental price because the amount of fuel consumed depends on factors such as:

number of people on board
weather and sea conditions
rough seas and headwinds

These conditions require more effort from the engine and consequently, more fuel
driving style. Just like with a car: the faster you go, the higher the fuel consumption. To achieve a correct driving style, it is necessary to bring the inflatable boat immediately onto plane and adjust the vessel to its correct trim.
type of excursion. If it is an exploration of the territory, you will have the engine running longer; if you like to stop for long dives, the engine will be on for less time.

For this reason, before returning, it is necessary to go to the fuel station in the port and fill up with the consumed fuel, this way you will only pay for the actual amount.

Please note: not all ports have a fuel pump. In this case, the renter will fill in front of you with the fuel consumed. In both cases, the fuel cost is your responsibility.

How much fuel is needed for a day of rental?
For the reasons above, it is not possible to state how much fuel you will consume during the rental.

Bonus: netiquette

 LAST TIP
With this sea, stay at home!

Porto San Paolo, November 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to rent an inflatable boat?

No, to rent an inflatable boat with an engine up to 40 HP, a boating license is not required. It is important to follow the instructions of the renter if you are a beginner.

What documents are needed to rent an inflatable boat?

To rent an inflatable boat, it is necessary to present a valid ID and, if required, a credit card for the deposit. Make sure to also have a copy of the rental contract on board.

How much is the deposit for renting an inflatable boat?

The deposit for renting an inflatable boat can vary from 300 euros to 10,000 euros, depending on the type of boat chosen. The amount will be authorized on the credit card and refunded if there are no damages to the boat.

What to check before leaving with an inflatable boat?

Before leaving, check that the propeller and onboard equipment (life jackets, fire extinguisher, flares) are in good condition. Be sure to also check for any pre-existing damage to the inflatable boat.

Can I easily maneuver an inflatable boat if I am a beginner?

Yes, inflatable boats are designed to be easily maneuverable, even for those who are new to the sea. Follow the instructions provided by the renter and practice the maneuvers before departing.

What to do in case of emergencies at sea?

In case of emergencies, immediately contact the Coast Guard and follow safety procedures. It is important to have a fire extinguisher and signaling flares on board for critical situations.

How do I start the engine of an inflatable boat?

To start the engine of an inflatable boat, follow the instructions provided by the renter. Usually, it involves turning the key or pressing a button, after ensuring that all safety equipment is ready.