The idea of making some extra cash by renting out something you own is nothing new in this day and age. There are various different platforms to rent out your guest room, your car, your baby’s stroller, and even your driveway! With the recent rise in outdoor recreation, boating, and watersports, docks should be no different. And while it’s nothing new to rent your boat slip for the season, it may be time to consider renting your dock on the short-term; weekly, daily, or even hourly!
Okay, so you live on the water, you have a dock, but not sold on the idea? Consider these 7 reasons why you may want to list your property on Dockshare.
1. Provide a place for boaters to dock while enjoying land-based activities.
If you live in a downtown area, or if there are fun attractions or restaurants within walking distance of your home, boaters will be itching to rent your dock. With Dockshare, you can list things to do that are close to your dock right in your listing’s description. This is the perfect opportunity for renting your dock by the hour. You even have the flexibility to choose which days and times your dock is available for rent.
2. Earn extra cash, but only when you want to.
This is a no-brainer. If you rent out your dock, you’re going to make money. But choosing to rent your dock on a short-term basis, rather than seasonally, can increase your earning potential exponentially. And with the ability to choose which days and weeks your dock is available, you can free up your dock for when YOU need it.
3. Support paddling access to waterways for the growing paddling community.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, interest in paddlesports has skyrocketed across the globe. Unfortunately, public access to waterways cannot keep up with the demand. Building public boat ramps and soft launches isn’t exactly a quick process! If your property has a suitable place to launch a kayak or paddleboard, and you have space for a paddler to park their car for a few hours, you could open a crucial door for paddlers to explore new territory. In addition, paddlers also like to take breaks – to stand up and stretch, have a picnic, or grab something from a dry hatch. If you have a spot to land a kayak or paddleboard, you have the perfect opportunity for a paddler to rent your space by the hour.
4. Strengthen the transient boater community..
If you have a dock that can accommodate at least a 26’ vessel and has a depth of at least 6’ mean low water, the transient boating community NEEDS you. What exactly does transient mean? A boater that’s passing through the area and may need a place to dock for a few days. Municipalities and private marinas are struggling to meet the transient boaters’ needs, and if you CAN meet their needs, the payout could be huge, simply put.
5. Meet like-minded, adventurous, boating friends.
A fun reason to rent your property by the hour or the day, is that you open yourself up to so many opportunities to meet new people – people from all over, and likely those with your shared interest in boating, sailing, or paddling. Another benefit of renting short term is that when you’re NOT feeling social, you can specifically schedule your dock’s availability for when you’re not home (because you know, we all have those days!).
6. Turn your dock into an asset.
As Dockshare grows and your listing fills with reservations, you could potentially bring in enough income to offset the higher costs of living waterfront. It’s just like renting your second home to vacationers to offset the cost of owning that second home, but renting your dock is way less intrusive.
7. It’s free to list your dock, so you’ve got nothing to lose!
Here at Dockshare, we’re working hard to strengthen the boating community by connecting boats to docks, and ultimately creating new connections between people and waterways. If anything in the list above sparked curiosity or excitement in you, reach out and say hello to the Dockshare team – we’d love to connect and help you turn your dock into an asset!