# How to add a captain to my boat > Owners have the option to either captain their boat themselves as long as they have a USCG license or leverage Boatsetters expansive captain network Source: https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/how-to-add-a-captain-to-my-boat-B1uGUJjns Last updated: 2026-08-31T14:23:58.373Z Owners have the option to either captain their vessel themselves, _as long as they have a USCG license,_ or leverage Boatsetter’s expansive captain network. ## **Adding a captain to your booking options** To make your vessel eligible to be chartered by a US Coast Guard licensed captain, navigate to your [**Owner dashboard**](https://www.boatsetter.com/owner) **> My boats > Edit Listing > Durations & pricing > Edit > Select the option “USCG-certified captain operates my boat”**. ### ### **Buoy P2P Owner View** ## ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/d126459996bbbe2399859662832d1d71.png) ### ### **Commercial Owner View** **![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/43798aadf3ae6e59320354c205a4a58c.png)** If you are an owner under your own [commercial insurance policy](https://support.boatsetter.com/hc/en-us/articles/201295594-Using-commercial-insurance), you can select whether or not you will use the Boatsetter Captain Network. To use the Boatsetter Captain Network, answer “**Yes**” to the following question: “**Will you use the Boatsetter Captain Network?**”. Captain prices are set per duration offered, as shown below: ### ### **Buoy P2P Owner View** ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/2a39e66208464963223b2cf78aa1e13b.png) ### ### **Commercial Owner View** ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/4210153e9f4c5ad5ed1dab9b194c7dcb.png) If you are an owner under the [Buoy Peer-to-Peer Insurance Policy](https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/buoy-peer-to-peer-insurance-HJJP3Pobll) OR a commercial owner who chooses to use the Boatsetter Captain Network, captain prices are determined based on the length of your vessel and will be paid via Boatsetter (see last section for rates). For all owners who are under their own commercial insurance policy and opt **out** of the Boatsetter Captain Network, you can enter your captain price(s) per duration. * * * ## ## **Below is ONLY for owners with their own commercial insurance policy who have opted** **_out_** **of the Boatsetter Captain Network** If you are an owner under your own commercial insurance policy, you can also choose to provide your own captain list instead of using the Boatsetter Captain Network. In this case, you will answer “**No**” to the following question: “**Will you use the Boatsetter Captain Network?**”. ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/d88f2615b91a2f29a5f81591a95f7d9a.png) Select who will choose the captain, either you or the renter. ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/3cb743e9a29ab6d976e7462265e3cc72.png) Select how your captain will be paid, either directly at the dock, or via Boatsetter. * Remember, in compliance with USCG regulations, the captain’s rate cannot be included in the boat price. * _**For payment via Boatsetter, captain payouts are subject to the same listing fee as your boat price.**_ * If you select the captain collection method as “At dock”, no captain price will be charged through Boatsetter. Captain compensation will be left for you, the renter, and the captain to coordinate. ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/3f1a8127296a04f86b1f0ed5a48eb0ed.png) When using the Boatsetter Captain Network, a captain price will be charged in addition to your listed boat price and applicable service fees. In these cases, the captain prices are determined based on the length of your vessel and will be paid via Boatsetter (see last section for rates). * * * ## ## **Who can captain my vessel?** Anyone with a US Coast Guard captain’s license can operate your vessel. Please keep in mind that captains are limited by the restrictions of their licenses. * If you know a US Coast Guard licensed captain and would like to assign this person to your vessel, have them create a Boatsetter captain profile by navigating to [https://www.boatsetter.com/captains/new](https://www.boatsetter.com/captains/new) and following the on-screen prompts. Onboarding is free and takes only 5-10 minutes. * If you need to be matched with a captain, Boatsetter will provide a list of qualified captains in your area (please reach out to us through our [Contact Form](https://boatsetter.kustomer.help/contact/contact-us-rybdP8n5i) for assistance). If you have commercial insurance, you must answer “**Yes**” to the question “**Will you use the Boatsetter Captain Network?**” when setting up your captain package to be matched with the Boatsetter Captain Network. You can captain your own vessel if you have a US Coast Guard captain license and meet all qualifications. As the captain and owner of the vessel, you are limited to 6 passengers maximum, regardless of the type of license you hold. For more information about captaining your own vessel, refer to this [US Coast Guard literature](http://wow.uscgaux.info/Uploads_wowII/P-DEPT/PaxForHire_trifold.pdf) or contact us through our [Contact Form](https://boatsetter.kustomer.help/contact/contact-us-rybdP8n5i). ## **Finding a captain** After listing your vessel, you can choose a favorite captain from the Boatsetter Captain Network. This makes the captain the default choice for renters, who are solely responsible for determining who operates the vessel during their charter. To find potential captains for your vessel, navigate to your **Owner dashboard > My boats > Manage captains**. From here you can: * Register a captain with USCG credentials * Invite a captain by sending them a URL * Search for specific captains to add to your listing * Select which captains are or are not qualified to operate your vessel * Select a “Favorite” captain to appear on your listing from your qualified captains list * Find captain contact information ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/6639b66f6142aca8b0e4c1e99f52b2f3.png) If you’d like to contact a few captains prior to a booking, you may reach out to them directly by navigating to your **Owner Dashboard > My Boats > Edit Listing > Manage Captains > Qualified**. ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/648f809c6747222623cd3b36c7ed7c9d.png) ## **USCG regulations around charters** Please make sure to abide by USCG charter regulations. These general guidelines are not intended to be comprehensive or operate as legal advice. To determine whether your captain's license is sufficient to operate in particular circumstances, see 46 CFR Part 11, Subpart D, NVIC N7-94, the Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 1993, the resources found at [www.uscg.mil/nmc](http://www.uscg.mil/nmc), or consult a maritime attorney. ## ## **Boatsetter Captain Network payout rates** ****Vessel Length: 0 - 29 feet:**** * $60/hour ****Vessel Length: 30 - 49 feet:**** * $70/hour ****Vessel Length: 50 feet+:**** * $100/hour