About
About MatesBoat™:-
Welcome to Matesboat™ – where we are a boat hire marketplace making Boating For Everyone!
MatesBoat™ is a peer-to-peer boat hire marketplace allowing more of the community to have access to affordable boating experiences.
Our marketplace provides a user friendly and convenient platform for both passengers (the Mates) and Masters (Owners/Skippers) to come together as boat mates.
We are committed to being largest platform in Australia offering a peer-peer marketplace for bareboat rentals (Hire & Drive) and allowing Masters to take paying mates out on their vessels, legally and safely!
We are mates with all boaties including commercial operations and anybody wanting to embark on earning money from their boat.
MatesBoat™ is not just about boat rentals, we’re about building a community of passionate boaties.
Our platform is a one stop shop for people looking to rent a boat, rent out their boat, become a boat charter service or see the latest marine news and information.
We take pride in providing comprehensive reviews, expert advice, and a wealth of information to help you make well-informed decisions for your boating journey.
Our mission is to be your trusted Mate in providing a simple and secure boating marketplace to make your boat rental or boat charter service as simple, smooth and straightforward as possible.
MatesBoat™ will offer impartial insights into various boat models, accessories, and the latest maritime technologies and news. We’ve done the hard work and curated all the essential information, best products, and created a supportive community all into one convenient boating marketplace.
We are a community platform where you can connect with like-minded individuals, sharing stories, tips, and experiences. Discover what other mates are up to on the water, from exhilarating adventures to the best fishing spots – Matesboat™ is your portal to an exciting boating lifestyle.
Join us at Matesboat™, where your boating journey is not just a ride, it’s an adventure shared with mates!
Where MatesBoat™ Started:-
I have been boating in Victoria, Australia since I can ever remember. I was fishing with my Dad in Port Phillip (PPB) when I was only 5 years old, now in my late 40’s :). That passion grew into buying my own boats and personal watercrafts over the years.
I spend the majority of my boating at Lake Eildon where I still fish but predominately waterski, wakeboard and wakesurf with my beautiful family.
Back in 2021, during the pandemic I was sitting on the banks of the Edwards River staring at the boats moored on the bank and not being used for hours a day. These boats ranged in price from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
That got me thinking about I could get some type of return for these boats……. The penny dropped when I noticed a large number of people camping/caravanning without access to a boat.
How do I bring the boat owners together with the non-boat owners? A marketplace where you can list your boat for rent as a peer-to-peer charter or as a bare boat rental of course!
Well it sounded a lot simpler in my head at the time…. 😉
That commenced my journey into studying and learning the rules and regulations for renting your boat as a Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV).
During the planning of MatesBoat™ I discovered a lot of interesting statistics about boating. I found that Australia boasts around one million registered boats, and each year witnesses the addition of 30,000 new registrations.
A significant 2.5 million Australians hold a valid boat license, with one in five proudly identifying as “boaties.” Surprisingly, one in every 23 Australians has access to a boat, contributing to a staggering 25 percent of the population, this amounts to 5.8 million boat enthusiasts nationwide.
These statistics painted a clear picture of Australia’s profound connection with and widespread passion for boating.
This planning and studying of the rules and regulations took me a long time. I sort advice from many subject matter experts, lawyers, insurance brokers and the like during this period.
After getting over my fear of failure, the cash investment and the unknown, it wasn’t until April, 2023 that I launched the MatesBoat™ marketplace.
I built the marketplace with a genuine intention of bringing boat owners and non-boat owners together to become boat Mates!