fbpx

FAQ

Common questions about the KellyBoat experience.

Guests

What are the COVID-19 policies?

KellyBoat has implemented many policies and procedures to ensure both guest and crew safety on board. Please read them here: https://kellyboat.com/policies/ Please contact ksl@kellyboat.com with any questions.

I found the perfect boat! How do I book it?

To book a trip simply visit https://kellyboat.com/boats/, select the boat you are interested in booking, and click ‘Book This Boat’. There you will see pricing and duration details, select which one you’d like, and follow the remaining steps to confirm your booking request. Before booking, you will be asked to review our complete terms and conditions.

Your request will be reviewed by the boat owner, and once approved you will be charged. You will receive a confirmation email, and then your booking is complete!

Don’t forget to post your pictures #KellyBoatCo or send them to us at info@kellyboat.com; we’d love to include shots of you having a great time on the water!

 

How does KellyBoat work?

Simple!

  1. Submit an inquiry to an owner directly by clicking “Book”.  Include some info about you, your group, and your details for your perfect day on the water.
  2. If you have a question about the boat prior to booking, click “Contact” and ask your question in the field.
  3. The owner of the listing will review your details and accept, reject or otherwise communicate with you for clarification.
  4. Once they accept, the booking is complete, and you’re all set to go!
  5. On the day of your trip, KellyBoat will arrange details about your pickup location and logistics.
What if my request is rejected?

If your booking request is rejected, you may message the owner to see if they’re open to alternative options. Typically owners will decline inquiries due to unavailability or the size or type of group does not meet their stated specifications.

You can check for alternative boat options, or submit a custom search request to the KellyBoat Crew by emailing ksl@kellyboat.com.

What if I need to change my request?

Each owner has his or her own cancelation policy and you should review it carefully. Rebooking, rescheduling, and refunds, if permitted, are all dictated by the owner’s policy.  If you need to amend your booked trip, please reach out to us as soon as possible at info@kellyboat.com. We will contact the owner on your behalf. 

What if the owner cancels my trip?

 

Our goal is for every charter to be perfect, but sometimes safety and comfort force us to shorten a trip.  If your trip is shortened due to current or expected inclement conditions, or circumstances beyond our control, your trip will be prorated accordingly.

If an owner needs to cancel your booking, Let us know asap at ksl@kellyboat.com so we can issue a refund.

It’s an unlikely occurrence, and we will work with you to resolve the problem should it arise.

Weather policy

Bad weather is something that we all wish we could avoid, but we can’t!  Please keep in mind, fog, waves and strong wind are sometimes a part of boating. 

The vessel captain will decide if your charter will be canceled or delayed due to current conditions and approaching systems in the charter area.  For your safety, we will not begin a charter during an electrical storm, moderate rain, or if we believe that such approaching conditions will be unavoidable during a charter. 

You will be notified as soon as it has been determined that the charter should be delayed or canceled.

If bad weather prevents us from sending you out on your intended date and time, we will first try to reschedule you at your convenience for another day during your stay in the charter area.  If we cannot, 100% of your fee will be returned to you, less any credit card transaction fees we may have incurred while processing the booking (usually 3%). 
What if the owner cancels my trip? What if I want to cancel my trip?

Each boat owner has a published cancellation policy that you agree to upon booking. KellyBoat honors the owner’s cancellation policy so please be sure to review it carefully.

Partial charter

Our goal is for every charter to be perfect, but sometimes safety and comfort force us to shorten a trip.  If you trip is shortened due to current or expected inclement conditions, or circumstances beyond our control, your trip will be prorated accordingly.

If KellyBoat or the captain cancels your charter -not if you cancel or no show- your payments will be refunded and there is no future obligation.

No shows

Please don’t stand us up!  Chances of rain do not warrant canceling or postponing a trip. (Sometimes those weather reports are wrong, or it rains 20 miles away). If you do not show and conditions do allow for a trip, this will be considered a no-show and the no-show fee of 50% of the charter fee will apply (sorry, we just don’t want to be left standing on the dock with an empty boat that could be out on the water for a good time). 

If KellyBoat or the captain cancels your charter -not if you cancel or no show- your payments will be refunded and there is no future obligation.

Do I have to tip the captain/crew, and if so what's the normal amount?

Tipping is voluntary; if you had a great day and the crew was professional, helpful, gracious, etc., then it’s customary to pay 10% to 15% of the total charter amount before you leave the boat.  If there are multiple crew members – just give the tip to the captain and he’ll allocate it to the crew for you. 

What other fees will be assessed to me?

Each owner will have his or her own policies with regards to extra fees.  You will find them on each boat home page.  If you have questions, please reach out to us for assistance. However, in general, the extra fees you can expect are:

Dockage:  If you will be traveling to another port, the owner may charge a dockage fee equal to the cost of renting a slip or mooring in your intended port.

Fuel: For motor vessels, if you travel outside the general “home waters” of the vessel, the owner may charge a fuel surcharge.  This is up to the individual owner.   Generally, two hours of burn for a half day and four hours of burn for a full day are included in the base price of the vessel.

Can I extend my trip?

At the discretion of the captain and owner, trips may be extended.  An additional fee would be agreed to and assessed for each extension.

Why can I only bring 6 guests?

This is a complex answer; it is related to USCG regulations for passenger transportation.  All the boats in our program are privately owned boats that the owners have offered to share with you for the day.  As the transport of more than 6 guests requires that the boat be subject to an extensive, lengthy, invasive and complicated processmany private boat owners haven’t done so.  We hope to add more certified boats soon.

What if I like a boat that is in a nearby port? Can it come to me?

Yes, it can, at the owner’s discretion.  A transportation fee would be assessed to cover the fuel consumed to move the vessel.

Can I choose the food and drink served aboard?

The food aboard is up to you, but it’s BYOB. For a fabulous, custom menu, visit our partner On Island Chefs who have created a customized menu for KellyBoat guests.  A minimum of 48 hours notice is required for any meal orders. If the custom menu is not to your preference, any other arrangements can be made.  The meals will be delivered to your greeter prior to your boarding.

Boat Owners

Why would I register my boat with KellyBoat?

KellyBoat is the premier boat sharing platform.  We are 100% focused on safety (and fun!).  We are the only boat sharing platform that has partnered with an insurance provider; and not just any insurance provider, the #1 independent provider of marine insurance!  This is a lot of extra work, but we do it because it’s the safest way to share a boat.  Joining our platform exposes your boat to our proprietary marketing algorithm, sharing your boat with hundreds of interested guests.

We are always available to help our boat owners anytime day or night at ksl@kellyboat.com, or please feel free to call us at 508.901.9664.

What about taxes?

Each boat owner is responsible for their own taxes.  We do not do withholdings, we do not send 1099’s, W-2’s or any other documents for tax purposes. We can upon request issue an invoice.  If you need one, please send your request to kerri@kellyboat.com.

If you have specific tax questions as they relate to your business and using our platform, always consult with your tax advisor.

What if I do not want to accept a request?

You don’t have to.  Each request is up to you.  If you decline a guest, please let us know the reason so we can better tailor requests to your boat.

What price should I charge?

This is totally up to you.  Our team will be happy to provide guidance for you, but the pricing of each offering is up to the owner.

We have owners who price very aggressively because they want lots of requests, and others who price quite high, to review only a few serious requests. 

What's the best way to increase bookings?

Great photos and a thorough description coupled with a well priced offering. 

What happens if there is damage to my boat?

This would be handled with your insurance provider.  Please inform them and us as quickly as possible following discovery of any damage. 

Just looking for a price quote? Click here for inquiries!