Dockshare FAQs
Whether you're a host or a boater, you probably have questions. Check out the dockshare faqs!
Hosts
Yes, absolutely! As a host, you have full control over your rental pricing. You can set competitive rates based on your dock’s location, size, amenities, and demand.
Setting the right price can mean the difference between getting a steady flow of bookings or none at all. If we notice that a price is set far above the market in your neighborhood and reservations aren’t being made, we may reach out and offer some guidance to help with earning potential. Contact us if you need pricing guidance.
The amount you can charge depends on factors like location, accessibility, and demand for dock space in your area. Listing your dock at a competitive price can attract more boaters and increase your bookings. If you need ideas on what your dock could rent for, please reach out to our team.
Your earnings depend on how often your dock is booked and your set rates. Some dock owners earn hundreds to thousands of dollars per month by renting their private docks. The more optimized your listing, the higher your chances of securing bookings.
Dockshare provides enhanced guest screening services and property damage protection. Learn more about this plan here.
We also recommend checking with your insurance provider to confirm coverage for short-term dock rentals. Although boaters are required to confirm they have insurance at the time of booking, you may want to require renters to provide proof of insurance before arriving.
Dockshare handles all payments securely, powered by Stripe. Once a boater books and checks in for their dock rental, funds are processed and deposited into your account within 3 days after check-in. Check your payout dashboard for details.
Most renters will send you a message with additional questions before they book your dock.
After a booking request is confirmed, you will be provided with the boater’s direct contact information so you can make arrival arrangements. This allows you to provide instructions, answer questions, and ensure a smooth check-in process.
In addition, all booking requests come with a risk-free preview period to ensure the boat will be a good fit for the dock. Learn more about how it works.
Great question! Dockshare works very much like other peer-to-peer sharing platforms (think Airbnb, Uber, etc.) and personal contact information cannot be shared until a booking is approved and the boater has completed a verification step for our damage protection provider.
However, if a boater wants to see your dock before committing, they can! They will first need to reserve their desired dates on your listing’s calendar. This simply places a hold on their card. You will have up to 7 days to arrange a dock preview. The boater’s card will not be charged until the end of the 7 days, or 36 hours before the booking starts, whichever comes first. Learn more about how it works.
If, upon visiting the dock, it is not a good fit, the dock rental can be cancelled anytime within the preview period with no penalty. Learn more about how it works.
Yes! If a renter wants to see your dock before committing, they can! They will first need to reserve their desired dates on your listing’s calendar. This simply places a hold on their card. You will have up to 7 days to arrange a dock preview. The boater’s card will not be charged until the end of the 7 days, or 36 hours before the booking starts, whichever comes first.
If, upon visiting the dock, it is not a good fit, the dock rental can be cancelled anytime within those 7 days with no penalty.
When hosts join our crew, we encourage them to abide by the following basic requirements, after all – treat others the way you would like to be treated!
• Be responsive and timely: Reply to booking inquiries and reservation requests within 24 hours.
• Accept reservation requests: Accept requests anytime your listing is available.
• Avoid cancelations: Avoid canceling on your guests – they are counting on you.
In addition, your dock should:
- Be accessible and in good condition
- Have clear photos and an accurate description
- Comply with any local marina regulations
- Be safe and properly maintained
Before the dock rental starts and the boater arrives, ensure the dock is clean, safe, and ready for use. You may also want to:
- Confirm availability of amenities (power, water, cleats, etc.)
- Send any special instructions through the messaging system
- Provide parking details if applicable
Being a great host helps you earn positive reviews and attract more dock rentals. Some best practices include:
- Keeping your dock well-maintained
- Responding quickly to booking requests
- Providing clear directions and access instructions
- Offering a welcoming experience for renters
You can easily switch your listing between active and inactive in your account settings. If you need a break or plan to make dock upgrades, simply deactivate your listing and reactivate it when you’re ready. Or better yet, block off the dates on your availability calendar so boaters don’t attempt to book when it’s not available.
Encouraging good boating etiquette helps maintain a positive experience. You can:
- Set clear rules and expectations in your listing description
- Politely remind renters to respect noise levels and neighboring docks
- Provide guidance on proper docking and equipment use
Dockshare offers a flexible cancellation policy that protects both hosts and renters. Be sure to review the terms before listing your dock to understand refund policies and cancellation timeframes.
You can view our full cancelation policy here.
Refund for Short-Term Bookings (1 month or less in duration) | Refund for Long-Term Bookings (Over 1 month in duration) | |
Within 7-day preview period AND at least 36 hours in advance of check-in | 100% refund | 100% refund |
After 7-day preview period and 30 days or more in advance of check-in | 95% refund | 95% refund for 1st month; all following recurring monthly charges will be canceled |
After 7-day preview period and less than 30 days in advance of check-in | 90% refund | 1st month is non-refundable; all following recurring monthly charges will be canceled |
Less than 36 hours in advance of check-in | Non-refundable | 1st month is non-refundable; all following recurring monthly charges will be canceled |
After check-in date | Non-refundable | Refund will be prorated given 30 days notice of cancelation |
Boaters
Yes! As personal contact information cannot be shared until a booking is approve, you will first need to reserve your desired dates on the listing’s calendar. This simply places a hold on your card. You will have up to 7 days to arrange a dock preview. Your card will not be charged until the end of the 7 days, or 36 hours prior to your booking – whichever comes first.
If the dock isn’t a good fit after visiting, the reservation can be cancelled anytime within those 7 days with no penalty.
Navigate to the dock’s listing page and click the “Contact Host” button in the upper right corner. Dock owners will be notified of messages via email and you will be able to communicate with the host.
We’ll place a hold for the full reservation cost when you book. If the host accepts your reservation request, we’ll charge your account for the full amount 7 days after you book or 36 hours before the booking starts – whichever comes first. The 7 day window allows you to visit the dock in person if desired without penalty for cancellation, to make sure it’s a good fit for your boat.
If the host declines your initial booking request, we’ll cancel the hold on your account.
To change or cancel a booking, reach out to our team at [email protected] OR submit a cancelation request on the booking details page – we’ll be glad to assist! You can also view our cancelation policy here.
It’s important to be a good guest. After all, who doesn’t want to be invited back?
Be the best guest you can be by exceeding the basic requirements. Below please find some of our suggested tips on being a responsible and kind dock renter.
- Clean space
– Keep the dock and surrounding area clean. Pick up trash, wipe down mud off to the dock, gather all belongings.
– Leave the dock space better.
– As you leave the dock, be sure to check the space for any leave behinds. Keep the dock clear – as though you weren’t even there.
- Safety
– Provide a direct emergency number for dock renter as well as a secondary emergency renter contact.
– If someone else is handling the watercraft, please share the name of the driver as well.
– Utilize the communication platform on Dockshare app for secure outreaches.
– Our technology enables us to determine fraudulent activity by verifying user accounts, allowing dock owners and boaters to confirm their identities of each party.
- Reduce hazards
– Abide by safe occupancy levels on the dock.
– Follow the suggested route from the dock to the nearest walkway or path.
– Encourage young children to stay with adults when/if walking on the dock.
– Keep pets on a leash when exiting the watercraft and walking on the dock.
- Inclusion
– We strive to make the water accessible to everyone.
– We expect our community members to be respectful, kind, and inclusive.
– We will not tolerate inappropriate behavior either online or in person. We reserve the right to remove anyone from the Dockshare community should you fail to follow our principles.
- Neighbors
– Refrain from smoking if the dock owner does not allow smoking on the dock or property.
– Keep noise down if the dock is in an area with close neighbors. The dock is not a party venue.
– If pets are onboard, pick up after their animals and dispose of any waste in a trash can
Respect and safety go hand and hand when renting. We suggest that you follow some of these recommendations:
Abide by safe occupancy levels on the dock.
Follow the suggested route from the dock to the nearest walkway or path.
Encourage young children to stay with adults when/if walking on the dock.
Keep pets on a leash when exiting the watercraft and walking on the dock.
Being respectful to neighbors is something we strive to do, both on and off the water. Dockshare crew members are encouraged to reinforce the suggestions below to keep everyone happy!
Refrain from smoking if the dock owner does not allow smoking on the dock or property.
Keep noise down if the dock is in an area with close neighbors. The dock is not a party venue.
If pets are onboard, pick up after their animals and dispose of any waste in a trash can.