It is hardly a contest.  The favored way by more than a hundred fold and more, is that boaters along the eastern Connecticut shoreline prefer to own their own boats, rather than rent them.

Take for example the very modest boat rental program at the Brewer Pilots Point Marina in Westbrook.  Whereas there are literally hundreds of slips for boat owners keeping their own boats at this marina, there are only two boats that are available for rent at the marina.

Brewer’s Boat Rental Plans

That’s right, amidst hundreds of boat owners renting slips at the marina, Brewers offers only two boats that are for rent.  They are:

• a 24- foot Key West, center console, motor boat
• a 24-foot Sea Ray Sundeck motor boat.

To rent these boats, Brewers has set up a Brewer’s Boating Club, which offers boat renters a number of rental options.  The top of the line of these plans are the Skippers Plans, which offer peak season boat usage, and which vary in price from $3,775 to $5,375 depending on boat usage.  Next, down the line is the Captain’s Choice Plan for $6,295, which offers “Nearly Limitless membership features,” with “weekend reservation privileges… ”

Then there are the club’s Weekday Plans, including a Windward plan for $4,095 a season, and a Weekday Per Diem Membership Plan, which offers a 5-hour weekday usage for $395.

The complexity of these varying plans is challenging.  However, Kit Will, Brewer’s personable, Pilots Point Sailing and Charter Director can explain it all.  He can be reached at 860-575-8329, and at kwill@byy.com

One of the points that Kit Will makes is that belonging to the Brewers Boating Club is, “a good stepping stone to boat ownership.”  He, himself, is a professional boat captain, who has over 25,000 miles of off-shore racing experience.

Pilots Point Marina’s Kit Will aboard a 24 foot Key West center console, motor boat for rent

A Simpler Boat Renting Option

Certainly, a far less complicated way to rent a motor boat along the Shoreline can be found at the Westbrook Marine Center, located at 533 Boston Post Road in Westbrook.  The co-owner of the operation is the affable Tasha Cusson, who owns it with her husband.  The advantage of renting a boat here, according to Tasha, “is that you just get in and go.”

The boats offered for rental at the Westbrook Marine Center are:

• an 18 foot May-Craft Skiff, which has a five person capacity, and which is powered by a 90 horsepower outboard motor with a fuel tank of 42 gallons
• a 20 foot Hydras Sports Vector, which has a passenger capacity of six persons and is powered by a 225 horse power engine with an 85 gallon fuel capacity.

Westbrook Marine Center’s 20 foot Hydra-Sport Vector motor boat for rent

The rates for boat rentals at the Marine Center are easy to understand.  The 18 foot boat rents for $330 for four hours, and $495 for eight hours.  The larger 20 foot boat rents for $365 for four hours, and $560 for eight hours.  Also, on occasion the boats are rented for a longer term at “a special lower rate,” according to Cusson.  In addition to the rental charges, boat renters are required to fill up the fuel tanks of their rental boats before returning them.

Cusson notes, “Most people know boats, who rent from us.”  As for those who are less familiar with boats, she says that a boat rental, “is a fantastic opportunity to try out boating.”  Before every boat rental, the renter is briefed from an extensive check list.  Furthermore, Cusson says that she does not rent her boats to everyone.  “I have turned people away,” she says, adding, “The personal safety of the renter is the key.”

Cusson also comments that possessing a State of Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate is not a necessary qualification for renting a boat in the state.  However, her judgment, as to whether or not the Marine Center wants to rent the boat to a particular person, sees it as a necessity.

She also noted that she had a number of rentals over Father’s Day weekend.  The number to call for a boat rental is 860-399-8447.

Next week we shall profile three typical boat owners, who pay handsomely for their seasonal boating slips, but are grudgingly happy to do so.