# New to Boatsetter

> To rent a boat through our website enter your rental location in the search bar and a list of available boats will appear Be sure to filter by date duration

Source: https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/new-to-boatsetter-BkQbUJj2s

Last updated: 2026-02-11T20:28:22.260Z

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/cea825237595809a32abdad30ef18350.png)

To book a vessel through Boatsetter, enter your rental location in the search bar and a list of available vessels will appear. Be sure to filter by date, duration, captain, and number of passengers.

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/dcd23341db9be2c3f41647bad27efd9d.png)

For booking requests and inquiries, you can message owners directly through the site. Each owner will have specific rules and policies on fuel, crew, time slots, etc. The best way to get answers to your questions is to message the owner of the vessel you are interested in directly. 

Once you've identified a vessel that looks like a good fit, you can send a booking request to the owner by clicking the "[Request to Book](https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/how-to-pay-SJOW81i2o)" or "[Instant Book](https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/how-to-pay-SJOW81i2o)" button. You will be required to fill out booking details such as the date, duration, start time, and number of passengers. If you prefer to ask the owner questions before entering payment information, scroll down on the listing past “Boat location” and select "[Message owner](https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/messaging-an-owner-HJLWLkons).”![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/7493077de54b9e8d5385e64dca7eb769.png)

The booking is not considered finalized until it’s approved by the owner and payment is collected. You will be [charged the full rental amount](https://support.boatsetter.com/hc/en-us/articles/360045091132-Payment-schedule) upon approval. If the listing has “[Instant Book](https://support.boatsetter.com/en_us/how-to-pay-SJOW81i2o)” enabled, you will be charged the full rental amount once you complete the checkout process.![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/63b5c8a85a141f76a9688e43/2970100b6c91612197cbf82be2ef6774.png)

We suggest allowing owners 24 hours to respond to your message or booking requests. We also suggest looking for similar vessels that check the boxes you're looking for in a rental and messaging those owners. This will increase your chances of getting out on the water!

You cannot be double-charged for a second booking on the same date. This means you can send multiple booking requests for any given day without worrying about being charged twice. We only charge you on the first booking approved by the owner and all other booking requests will be blocked from approval. Should you wish to book multiple vessels on the same day, please reach out to Boatsetter Support through our [Contact Form](https://boatsetter.kustomer.help/contact/contact-us-rybdP8n5i) for assistance.