Roommates on boat? Help?

[Ericsstinnett]

If I own a boat and am a liveabord but don't have a commercial license can I charge a roommate rent, or at least make them split the slip fees?

[haiqu]

As long as you're not sailing I can't see an issue, although the marina might have rules that forbid it.

[Dr. Strangelove]

You mean a sleepy-funtime kind of roommate or just a roommate?

Because I've had many "regular" roommates over the years and I couldn't imagine living on a small boat with one unless it was a buddy that just needed a place to crash for a short time.

[valhalla360]

A few issues to sort thru:
- Is rent mandatory? If yes, check with your insurance company. You may need to upgrade to commercial insurance. Also, your marina may have different rules.
- If the boat leaves the slip and rent is a condition of being on the boat, you need a licensed captain.

You can try to fly under the radar but...low chance of anything happening but potential huge impact if something does.

[captstu]

No license is required ti split actual costs. Just like splitting a charter.

[svinvictus2]

NO......once you charge a fee you become liable. Be very careful with this.
There are lots of precedence here.
Check them out.
A thousand people may do it without any issue but you don't want to be 1001.

[knockabout]

volunteer crew can donate towards running costs / set minimum donation offset with work on board / some backpacker charters have a insurance cover paid for by each work for passage customer

[valhalla360]

The key issue here is the nature of your relationship with the other person:
- Ask your buddy out on the boat for the day and he happens to pay when you top at the fuel dock, no problem. It's not a commercial venture, so you are allowed to take friends out and they can share in some of the costs.
- Go online and offer to take random people you don't know out on boat rides but it's mandatory for them to cover the fuel bill, it's a commercial operation. At that point insurance, marina rules, captains license requirement all must be addressed.

You're playing in a bit of a gray area. You could claim it's a buddy staying with you. In theory, you are covered right? Let's say he accidentally breaks off a thru hull and sinks the boat. No problem your insurance covers such an accident... but you ask him to cover the $1000 deductible. He's not the standup guy you thought things turn a bit ugly and when the insurance company asks, he tells them that you are subletting space on your boat as a commercial venture...a couple weeks later you get a nice letter from the insurance company notifying you that they aren't covering the incident because it was part of a commercial venture and you didn't buy commercial insurance. (we can make if far worse if your room mate invites a date over while you are gone and she trips cracking her skull open.)