Summary

The French nautical sector has been experiencing growth, with an increasing trend towards boat rentals over purchases, partly driven by the accessibility and affordability provided by online rental platforms and management agencies. In 2020, the boat rental market turnover in France was €236.5 million, with river boat rentals accounting for 54% of the market.

France, a major player in the sector, is the third-largest manufacturer of pleasure boats in Europe, with a turnover of €4.7 billion in 2021, supported by 5,668 companies and 41,361 employees. The rental sphere is diverse, offering various services such as no-license rentals, eco-cruises, and flexible charter periods. The regulatory environment, including the Division 240 regulations for sea navigation, and taxation on collaborative platforms, has adapted to modern practices such as boat rentals without a skipper. Major market players include large European entities and traditional boat manufacturers, while numerous smaller companies contribute to the highly fragmented segment of the market.

Flourishing Boat Rental Market in France Indicates High Demand and Varied Customer Preferences

In France, a country renowned for its substantial role in the nautical sector, the demand for boat rentals has seen a considerable resurgence. In a market where buying boats once reigned, a shift in consumer behavior is evident, as a burgeoning interest in rental alternatives over outright purchases unfolds. Predominantly favoring marine environments, charters are also pursued in the nation's vast network of lakes and rivers. The present demand in the French boat rental market displays an array of services catering to varying customer bases, encompassing rental from professionals to individuals, management-rental via specialized agencies, and private hire through burgeoning online platforms.

The boat rental market has attained a noticeable growth trajectory with a compound annual growth rate estimated at around 5% for the decade following 2020. On the business front, the market structure remains relatively concentrated with a few European players dominating the scene. Geographically, activities centralize in specific regions such as Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) and Corsica, which also host a significant portion of the country's marinas. France's boat manufacturing prowess, particularly in pleasure boats and motor yachts, creates an advantageous backdrop for the rental market, with the industry's employment figures touching between 40,000 and 45,000 across more than 5,000 companies and generating a turnover of approximately €4.5 to €5 billion in 2021. This upbeat economic significance translates to the consumer segment, where boat rentals have grown in favor.

Interestingly, river boat hire claimed a larger share of the market, possibly owing to the extensive waterways that France proudly offers. French consumer attitudes highlight the perceived inaccessibility of boating, with over 80% concurring on its expensiveness. Nevertheless, the emergence of boat rental platforms and flexible renting options seem to counter these opinions, as nearly 50% of French people recognize a growing accessibility in recent years. Target demographics for rental companies are broad, with millions indulging in water sports and regular boating activities. The market serves a mix of friend groups, families, couples, and colleagues, with the average age of renters ranging from early 30s to early 50s. It is notable that the French market exhibits.

Navigating Dominance: Leading Entities in the European Boat Rental Sector

The European boat rental landscape is distinguished by the presence of a few market colossi that command substantial dominance due to their extensive portfolio and expansive operational reach.

  • Among them, companies like Sunsail, Le Boat, and Footloose emerge as revered titans, operating under the corporate umbrella of TUI Marine. These entities have etched their legacy on the nautical charts by offering a diverse range of experiences, from bareboat charters to fully crewed yachting adventures, tapping into the ever-growing demand for maritime escapades.

  • Dream Yacht Charter, another seminal player, adds a layer of exclusivity and luxury to the industry with a fleet that boasts both scale and diversity, propelling the company to be a favored choice among sailing enthusiasts who seek opulence and personalized service on the waves.

  • Kiriakoulis, a company seated at the nexus of maritime tradition and contemporary service, wields significant influence within Mediterranean waters, with its disciplined operation ensuring a reliable experience for clients seeking a dalliance with the sea.

  • Nautal, although a relative newcomer compared to the above stalwarts, has quickly hoisted its sails to become recognized as an innovative force. Harnessing the power of the digital wave, Nautal offers a seamless online booking platform that promises to demystify the rental process and make nautical adventures more accessible.

Together, these major entities not only shape the contours of the market but also set the bar for quality and service that smaller rental companies aspire to. Their vast fleets, encompassing boats ranging from modest vessels to luxurious yachts, allow them to cater to a diverse clientele - from solo sailors to corporate fleets. Despite the dominance of these companies, the market remains peppered with an armada of smaller operators, each charting its own course and contributing to the vibrancy and competitiveness of the sector.

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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 20/03/2023
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Presentation and definition of the market

France is a major world player in the nautical sector and in particular one of the largest manufacturers of pleasure boats, sailboats and motorboats After a sharp decline in the nautical sector due to the economic crisis of 2008, the recovery is underway, with a craze for boat rentals rather than for sale The vast majority of charters take place at sea, but some charters also take place on lakes and rivers.

The rental business is based on three different business models

  • The rental from professionals to individuals
  • the management-rental via specialized agencies
  • the private hire via online platforms

The global rental market has been growing relatively fast in recent years, with an estimated CAGR of 5% over the period 2020-2030 The market is relatively concentrated around large-scale European players . Similarly, boating and yachting activities are logically concentrated in a few specific geographical areas such as the PACA region and Corsica

The the yacht charter market is growing nicely and boating is becoming more democratic this trend is gradually gaining ground, even if water sports activities still seem inaccessible to a large part of the French population. The actors of the sector try to encourage this tendency, through marketing campaigns communicating on the financial accessibility of this leisure or by proposing new services like the organization of seminars or team-building activities, at sea.

Above all, the he traditional pleasure boating offer is being modernised and is attracting new players, facilitating access to boating for as many people as possible, through the development of online rental platforms allowing the rental of boats between individuals for a relatively short period However, the latter still face competition from traditional players, the rental management agencies

 

1.2 Yacht charter, a growing global market

Turnover of the global yacht charter market World, ****-****, in billions of dollars CAGR: *% Source: ****

In ****, the global yacht charter market is estimated to be worth USD **.** billion. Over the period ****-*****, the CAGR (***) is estimated at *%. This increase in the market can be explained in part by a change in ...

1.3 France, a major global player

Boating, a fast growing activity

France is the third largest European manufacturer of pleasure boats, behind Germany and the United Kingdom. France is the fourth largest producer of motor yachts.

The nautical sector employs **,*** people in *,*** companies, generated a turnover of *.* billion euros in ****. This turnover is largely made up of ...

1.4 The effects of Covid-19 on the boat rental market

The impact of covid on the freight boat rental market

The graph below highlights the evolution of the turnover index of the NAF code **.**Z "Rental and leasing of water transport equipment" - over two different time periods: the first from February **** to February ****, which is the period when there were ...

2 Analysis of the demand

2.1 The popularity of renting

Renting facilitates access to boating

Boating is an activity that is often considered to be not very accessible, especially because of the potential costs involved.

**% of French people agree or agree somewhat with the statement "boating is too expensive". Renting can therefore be a solution to allow French people to ...

2.2 The target clientele for rental companies

A large potential customer base

Concerning the core target, ** million people will be practicing a water sport in France in ****, and * million others will be regular boaters

According to a survey operated by the charter company Yacht Syst, **.*% of boat rental customers are groups of friends, **.*% are families, **% are couples and ...

2.3 River tourism, a popular sector: strong demand from foreign customers

Driven by "slow tourism" (***), river tourism has seen a strong demand in recent years, according to Thierry Guimbaud, Director General of VNF. [***]

Indeed, more and more travelers aspire to a greener tourism, more respectful of the environment. According to a study conducted by Booking **% of tourists are willing to make a ...

2.4 The importance of the climate hazard

Boating activity remains subject to the weather. For example, hurricanes Irma and Maria that hit the Caribbean in September **** destroyed *** to *** boats according to the estimates of the local charter companies .

The tourist season is especially disrupted in Saint Martin and Tortola where charter companies have suffered a dry loss corresponding ...

3 Market structure

3.1 A market dominated by a few large European-owned companies

According to the report of the Ecorys consulting firm, the Mediterranean area concentrates **% of the world boat rental market.

Almost **% of the turnover generated in the European market is achieved by a few "giants" of the sector such as Sunsail, Le Boat and Footloose (***) as well as Dream Yacht Charter and ...

3.2 Different business models for boat rental

Different types of rental

The three main modes of boat rental are:

The rental from professional to private, in which the professional owns the boat and rents it; Management-rental, in which the owner of a boat delegates its management and rental to a professional, on the same principle as a rental ...

3.3 A geographically concentrated market

The yachting and pleasure boat market is clearly localised in France. The coastal areas concentrate **% of the French market (***), with the PACA, Corsica, Brittany and Pays de la Loire regions alone accounting for **% of marinas.

In ****, the PACA and Corsica regions together totalled *** ports and **,*** rings or **% of France's marina ...

3.4 The role of the rental management agencies

Rental management agencies (***), agencies whose services are referenced on the internet are increasing their market share

The site HeyCaptain for example, is aimed exclusively at professionals, offering to list and publicize available offers to customers (***). Agencies also have access to better booking management tools, designed specifically for their business. According to ...

3.5 The rise of digital rental platforms

In the context of the rise of the sharing economy around ****, some companies have launched themselves into the role of online intermediary for boat rentals between individuals These online platforms that list classified ads act as a "trusted third party" to carry out the transaction, in exchange for a commission by ...

4 Analysis of the offer

4.1 Types of boats rented

According to the report of the rental company Nautal, the most rented boats are sailing boats, this is mainly due to the fact that this type of boat has a better profitability of the "price per cabin" for a week of rental (***). Motorboats come in third place in the type of ...

4.2 Diversity of rental types offered

The influence of eco-tourism

Boating and yachting are benefiting from the craze for off-the-beaten-track activities with less ecological impact. The Paris Tourism Fair in March ****, for example, relied on ecological issues for its central theme. We can observe the emergence eco-cruises, more respectful of the environment, often with an ecological theme ...

4.3 Rental rates

Classic rentals, by the day or by the week

According to Click In Marseille, it is necessary to count on average between *** and *** € to rent a sailboat for a day and between *** and **** € for a catamaran, obviously the prices vary according to the period chosen and the type of boat chosen. ...

4.4 Vers un renouvellement du parc nautique

En septembre ****, le Parlement européen a élargi au secteur du nautisme la réglementation du SEQE-EU. Le SEQE-EU est le système d'échange de quota d'émission de CO* de l'Union européenne. Ce système a pour objectif de quantifier et de proposer une forme de taxation des ...

5 Regulation

5.1 Framework for the rental of boats

Rental conditions

The site Service Public.fr proposes a list of formalities to be observed to guard against hazards and bad surprises. Indeed, although it is not compulsory, it is recommended to draw up a rental contract between the owner and the renter, specifying the deposit, the rental price, the cancellation ...

5.2 Regulations in case of rental with Skipper

The different rental contracts

With the proliferation of collaborative rental platforms, the Maritime Affairs authorities have stepped up their checks at sea. It is therefore important to know the legal framework relating to each boat rental with skipper. The charter contract determines who has commercial and nautical control of the vessel. ...

5.3 Boat license regulations

The boating license is mandatory to drive a boat pleasure craft at sea or inland waters (***)

On rivers and canals, the operation of sailing boats equipped with a motor of more than *.* kilowatts is subject to the possession of a licence valid for inland waters and corresponding to the length of ...

List of charts

  • Market sales in the marine sector
  • Breakdown of boating sales by activity
  • Registration of pleasure boats in maritime waters
  • New boat sales
  • Boat rental market sales
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Latest news

River tourism: Locaboat takes over competitor Nicol's Yacht - 15/12/2022
  • With this acquisition, Locaboat generates sales of €27 million and employs around 120 people
  • Locaboat has 700 boats at 43 rental bases in seven European countries
  • Nicol's Yacht manages nearly 300 speedboats from 25 bases in France, posting sales of €10.5 million this year, up 12%.
  • In 2018, this group took over Carrickcraft, Ireland's number one in unlicensed river boating.
  • Locaboat entrusts production to Dutch shipyard Linssen
Nauticoncept raises €1.1M for boat rentals - 22/05/2023
  • Nauticoncept founded: 2016 in Mâcon (Saône-et-Loire, France)
  • Latest fundraising: 1.1 million euros
  • Investors: Aminvest, Arnaud Duriez, David le Douarin, Sylvain Bertrand, and Manuel Janisson, and UI Investissement (historical partner)
  • Liberty Pass" offer launched in 2019 (from less than 199 euros per month), enabling boaters to subscribe to a boat for 12 months instead of buying it
  • Subscribers: 500 by 2020, currently 800
  • Subscriber target: 1,500 within a year and a half
  • Base presence: 80 bases, notably in Switzerland and Spain, versus 3 in 2020
  • 11 employees
Wiziboat: Beneteau changes gear in subscription-based boat rental - 05/07/2023
  • Beneteau has acquired Cannes-based start-up Wiziboat, which offers boat rental services to private individuals via an app.
  • Wiziboat has 700 subscribers, 22 bases and 70 motorboats.
  • Wiziboat has been listed on Euronext Access since 2021.
  • Wiziboat's estimated sales for the 2022-2023 season are 900,000 euros, up 30%.
  • Beneteau has acquired a 74% stake in Wiziboat Beneteau also has a 49% stake in the American company Your Boat Club, which offers a similar boat-sharing service; it has 1,000 subscribers.
  • In France, Beneteau has been testing the "boat club" concept since 2019 in Les Sables-d'Olonne with 45 members.
  • Beneteau plans to offer this service to its 500 European dealers.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Travelopia, Sunsail, Le Boat, The Moorings
Moorings France (Moorings Group)
Filovent
Dream Yacht Charter (Beneteau Groupe)
Bénéteau Rent (Groupe Beneteau)
Lagoon Catamaran (Construction Navale Bordeaux)
Globe Sailor
Quo Vadis Plaisance
Les Canalous
Travelopia (Le Boat)
Nautal
SamBoat.fr

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