FRIDAYEXTRA !
The Daily Astorian
Friday, May 6, 2016
Weekend Edition
Courtesy of GetMyBoat
Boatbnb
In sharing economy, boats are on offer
By KYLE SPURR
The Daily Astorian
T
wo entrepreneurs were boating
together more than a decade ago
in California’s Bay Area and asked
themselves, “Why can’t more people enjoy
the thrill of being on the water without hav-
ing to buy a boat?”
Their idea did not gain traction until the
emergence in recent years of the “sharing
economy,” peer-to-peer transactions where
owners rent out something they are not
using, such as a car or house.
Instead of a taxi , some people use Uber.
Instead of hotels, some people use Airbnb.
Sascha Mornell and Rafael Collado
thought the same principles could apply to
boating.
Consider their concept Boatbnb.
The co-founders launched GetMyBoat
in 2013. The San Francisco-based company
has become the largest boat rental and char-
ter marketplace in the world with 53,000
boats in 154 countries.
There are currently six listings in the
Astoria area for fi shing charters and guided
trips.
“For us right now, we want to have
options for everybody no matter where you
are looking,” Bryan Petro, GetMyBoat’s
chief information offi cer, said. “While we
have made it great for the owners to use, the
real goal is to have a boat in every location
that someone can rent.”
People can access the service at Get-
MyBoat.com or by downloading the appli-
Courtesy of GetMyBoat
cation to their phone. The founders used
feedback from people to add instant mes-
saging between parties, an organized cal-
endar system to book dates and fl exible
pricing.
GetMyBoat operates similar to other
sharing services, where people can write
reviews after the experience. In addition,
users must have boating licenses and insur-
ance is offered.
“We leave it open to customize,” Petro
said.
The service initially launched in three
markets on the West Coast, then three states.
Eventually, it went worldwide.
Petro said the company, which employs
more than 60 people, had to think bigger.
It now offers boat tours, dinner cruises and
fi shing charters. A new offering allows peo-
ple to rent a boat and never leave the dock,
sort of like a boat and breakfast.
Everything watercraft is offered, from
yachts to kayaks .
The company was surprised to see celeb-
rity listings on its site. People can rent the
yacht from the James Bond movie, “The
World is Not Enough,” or the yacht featured
in the music video for the song “I’m on a
B oat,” by The Lonely Island.
“You come across some high-profi le
boats,” Petro said.
For Astoria, the company sees an endless
opportunity for fi shing charters.
“We look in Astoria, and see fi shing char-
ters,” Petro said. “I would love to have that
built out a little bit more.”
GetMyBoat is not getting the same push
back from communities as Airbnb and Uber.
In fact, Petro said, the company sees
itself as giving a platform to entrepreneurs.
Owners can make money off of boats that
often sit idle in a marina.
The service can create an extra income
for boat owners or charter companies, Petro
said.
“One of the things we wanted from the
beginning was to create this ecosystem with
sustainable jobs,” he said. “We are creating
jobs. It’s inspiring.”