# How to find captains (Owners)

> As an owner it is your responsibility to ensure that your captained booking has a captain ready for the departure time     For GEICO BoatUS bookings      For 

Source: https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/how-to-find-captains-owners-HyXmIJjho

Last updated: 2026-02-11T20:33:16.605Z

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Owners must make sure captained bookings have a captain ready for the departure time.

## **For Buoy bookings**

For bookings insured under the [Buoy Peer-to-Peer Insurance Policy](https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/buoy-peer-to-peer-insurance-HJJP3Pobll), captains must be selected from the Boatsetter Captain Network and must be paid through the Boatsetter platform. Please make sure your captain preferences are set correctly and disqualify any captains you do not want operating your boat. The renter will select a captain from this list. [Click here](https://support.boatsetter.com/hc/en-us/articles/200622265-Adding-a-captain) to learn more about adding captains to your qualified list.

If no captains are available, reach out to Boatsetter Support for assistance by reaching out via our [Contact Form](https://boatsetter.kustomer.help/contact/contact-us-rybdP8n5i). _Please note that Boatsetter cannot guarantee securing a captain for your upcoming captained booking._

## **For commercial bookings**

Owners under their own [commercial insurance policy](https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/using-commercial-insurance-S1QNLJohs) can either choose to use the Boatsetter Captain Network or provide their own list of captains for the renter to select from. You can choose to have the captain's fee paid directly at the dock or via Boatsetter.

If collecting at the dock, captain fees must be paid off the Boatsetter platform in cash, a mobile payment platform, or a payment processor. To learn more about captain settings, click [here](https://support.boatsetter.com/hc/en-us/articles/200622265-Adding-a-captain).

## **Are captains vetted to ensure they have a license?**

All captains have their credentials verified with the USCG database.

## **How does the captain network work?  
**

The captain network is a group of USCG-licensed captains vetted and approved by Boatsetter. Captains are available for trips requiring their expertise, ensuring safety and compliance for renters and owners.

## **Can I choose my own captain for a charter?**

Yes! If you are booking a **Bareboat Charter**, you have the option to bring your own captain. However, the captain must be approved through Boatsetter before they can be added to the booking.

## **How can my captain get approved?**

If you want to bring your own captain, they need to sign up and be verified on Boatsetter:

*   Have them visit [www.boatsetter.com/captains/new](http://www.boatsetter.com/captains/new)
*   Complete the captain sign-up process, including providing their U.S. Coast Guard credentials
*   Once approved, you can add them to your booking as the designated captain

## **How can I communicate with the captain?  
**

Once a captain is approved for your booking, you are given access to their phone number and email. You can also contact them through the message thread on the site.

## **Important notes about Bareboat Charters:**

*   Bareboat charters require the renter to hire the captain independently (the boat owner cannot provide one)
*   The renter is responsible for ensuring their chosen captain meets all licensing and safety requirements
*   If the captain is not yet registered on Boatsetter, their approval process may take some time—so plan ahead!