Boat share app to make waves in Hamilton later this spring
Get your best yacht-rock playlist ready, Steeltown - a boat-sharing platform is slated to make waves in Hamilton Harbour later this spring.
Skipperi, a Finland-based startup, announced Tuesday it's set to launch from the Harbour West Marina starting May 1 - the same day the company is slated to expand its services in Pickering, Toronto and Port Dalhousie.
The company, which describes itself as the world's first boat sharing app and smart fleet, aims to democratize boating" through a subscription-based platform that allows users to rent boats as they please through the typical sailing season.
More than 40 new motor boats will be hitting the waters of Lake Ontario later this spring, with three of them set to be moored in Hamilton, said Anne Morello, a public relations representative for the company, in an email to The Spectator.
Skipperi launched its Ontario operations last summer with a market preview" season in Toronto, however, this year will mark their first full boating season in the province.
Boat lovers of all skill levels now have the ability to enjoy sunny days cruising on Lake Ontario - without the hefty cost or maintenance hassles of boat ownership," read the release.
To use the platform, boaters are required to purchase a season membership, which starts at $475 plus tax per month - $2,850 plus HST for the six-month season. Memberships run from May to October, with no option for monthly memberships.
That base subscription gets you unlimited boating from Monday to Friday, all season long, from any harbour, using their fully equipped Starcraft SVX boats. Morello said vessels can be reserved from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.
However, the more boating you want to do and the bigger the boat you're looking for, the more it costs, according to the company website.
If a member wants access to the fleet on weekends, that add-on costs an additional $280 plus tax per month. If a member wants a larger boat with more capacity, that add-on costs an extra $143 plus tax per month.
Mind you, those are early bird prices - meaning it will be more expensive to join come June 1, according to the company.
Fuel is billed separately on a monthly basis based on use, according to the company. All of their boats feature Bluetooth-compatible sound systems, roomy seating areas and swimming decks.
The boats are also equipped with a digital dashboard" that includes maps and geofencing technology that alerts users to speed limits, no-wake zones and wildlife habitats, according to a press release.
Alcohol is not permitted on the boats, according to Morello. The in-boat technology also alerts the company of any erratic or dangerous boat operation," she noted.
Hoping to take a cruise from Hamilton to Toronto and dock in their harbour? That's a no go, as the boats are required to be returned to their own docking space, according to Morello. Boats also must be cleaned, locked and fastened" when members are done with them.
Users of the service are required to have their pleasure craft operator card. They also have to complete Skipperi's in-house training program, which according to the company means even those with no boating experience can be on the water in no time."
The training program teaches members important skills" such as basic boat operation and safety as well as docking. It will be conducted in the local harbour by one of the company's captains.
Morello said memberships include insurance, noting that the company handles all claim processes. The boats have a $1,500 deductible and possible damages will be billed from the renter according to the costs accumulated up to $1,500," according to the company.
Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com