Yachts ahoy! Boat-sharing apps allow would-be sailors to co-own boats so they can break waves without breaking the bank

The crisp flap of sails against wind, bow cutting through sparkling waves, you at the helm — master of all you survey.

If you can see yourself in this sailing reverie but question whether you can afford the boat that goes with it, there’s an app for that: boat sharing.

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The market is huge (1). Roughly 85 million Americans go out on the water every year — and most of them make less than $100,000 a year. Boat sharing is a way for more of them to have a share in a sailboat, yacht or any other craft they desire.

And now there are even apps to make it easier, including Nautical Monkey, NauticEd and WeeShare (2).

Here’s a look at how the platforms work and the pros and cons of boat-sharing, along with other ways to break waves without breaking the bank.

Sharing the cost of a boat and time on the water

Founded by two Austin, Texas friends who pooled their money to buy a boat together, Nautical Monkey is a dedicated boat-sharing platform.

Like a matchmaking tool for sailors, it helps connect people interested in all sorts of pleasure craft: sailboats, motorboats, motor yachts and even Jet Skis.

Anyone is welcome, from novice to experienced sailor. In some cases, you might find someone who already owns a boat but is open to sharing it through co-ownership.

Once you’ve found a partner (or partners), you buy a fractional share in the boat. Then, like a time-share, you use the online scheduling calendar to book time on the boat based on your percentage investment.

The software also tracks costs and ongoing maintenance responsibilities so that they are shared fairly among co-owners.

Founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 2011 as the sharing economy exploded, WeeShare is a platform where people can share everything from cars to vacation homes to boats. It helps boat owners rent out their boats to others to help offset their expenses like maintenance, insurance and taxes.

The app includes a reservation system so people can see when the boat is available. It includes an accounting system to help distribute costs based on boat usage.

Both Nautical Monkey and WeeShare are for-profit, private software-as-a-service (SaaS) systems.

NauticEd (3), which offers sailing and boating courses, offers the nonprofit MyBoat sharing software. Users can either buy a boat together or join existing boat shares to enjoy ownership at a fraction of the cost of sole ownership.

Read More: Are you paying too much for car insurance? Here are 3 clever ways to slash your monthly bill

Pros and cons of boat sharing

Boat sharing is unquestionably less expensive than sole ownership. It’s also a more efficient use of a boat.

As of 2025, there were approximately 12 million (4)registered pleasure craft in the U.S., but most were used for fewer than 25 days (5) a year. Boat sharing increases the odds that the boats will get used regularly.

On the downside, there are risks to any shared ownership. Partners have to know what they want going in — not just in terms of what boat they want, but how much money they’re each willing to spend and how much time they want to sail. It’s a good idea to sign a contract. Nautical Monkey has sample agreements available (6) online.

Boat sharing isn’t the only alternative. You can rent a boat from a boat club. A lot of adult learn-to-sail programs use club-owned boats (7) that can be rented for a small fee when not in use for classes.

You can offer to crew at a yacht club, where sailors may welcome a hand on deck for either recreational weekend sails or races. You may even be able to crew for free, without a membership to the club. After all, you’re volunteering your help. And you’ll be asked back if you have a good attitude and pick up the ropes (called “lines” or “sheets” in sailing lingo) quickly.

For example, the New York Yacht Club welcomes (8) members willing to crew on yachts in Newport, Rhode Island in the summer.

With all these alternatives, there’s no reason financial headwinds should hold would-be sailors back.

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Article Sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.

Dream Yacht Sales (1); Weeshare (2); Nauticed (3); National Marine Manufacturers Association (4); BoatTEST (5); Nautical Monkey (6); American Sailing (7); Yacht Racing Life (8)

This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Yachts ahoy! Boat-sharing apps allow would-be sailors to co-own boats so they can break waves without breaking the bank

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.