Meet 3 boat owners who make a living by renting out or chartering their vessels to customers stir-crazy from the pandemic - sometimes raking in as much as $200,000 a month

Sarah JacksonJul 10, 2021, 18:24 IST

Marcel Perdomo

Insider spoke with 3 boat owners who earn money by renting out or chartering their vessels.
Some say business grew in the pandemic as people eager to head out saw boats as a safe way to do so.
One boat owner told Insider he handles 75 charters a week on average, grossing $200,000 per month.

With summer underway, people are looking to head out on the water in greater numbers.

The pandemic has only sparked even more interest, as people looking for a break from lockdowns turned to boating. Last year, there was a 35% jump in the number of boat purchases made by first-time buyers, according to the industry publication Trade Only Today.

Insider spoke with three boat owners who derive at least part of their income from renting out or chartering these vessels.

Nijole Adler's boat charter business was set in motion in 2012, when she and her husband, Rimas, bought a 36-foot sailboat for roughly $10,000.

Nijole Adler

Five years ago, the Adlers decided to take the business full-time during sailing seasons.

Nijole Adler

Because they're present on every charter trip, they don't sail on their own as much as they did before.

Nijole Adler

In 2020, the Adlers made the most they have ever made by chartering their boat.

Nijole Adler

In Miami, boat captain Marcel Perdomo earns his living by doing bareboat charters, where no crew or provisions are included.

Marcel Perdomo

Perdomo got his start in the business around four years ago, when he bought a used jet boat for $7,000.

Marcel Perdomo

As business took off, Perdomo quit his job selling traffic safety equipment in late 2019 to focus on the charters full-time.

Marcel Perdomo

When the pandemic struck a few months later, his usually steady list of bookings disappeared.

Marcel Perdomo

It wasn't long, though, before reservations started coming in again.

Marcel Perdomo

Florida's sometimes-lax approach to handling COVID-19 was another key factor in getting business booming again.

Marcel Perdomo

Requests multiplied quickly, which prompted Perdomo to start brokering charters for other boat captains.

Marcel Perdomo

The two Yamaha jet boats Perdomo owns generate roughly $30,000 combined each month.

Marcel Perdomo

As Perdomo's operation grew, so too did his staff.

Marcel Perdomo

In the UK, Poole resident Adam Dolman makes money renting out his 20-foot yacht named Skate, although he primarily works as a teacher.

Adam Dolman

Since mid-April, the couple has rented out the boat roughly five or six times per month, charging $175 per day.

Adam Dolman

Before buying this yacht, Dolman owned a boat for the better part of two decades.

Adam Dolman

Step inside Montecito, California, the dreamy celebrity playground Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and other A-listers call home

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Meet 3 boat owners who make a living by renting out or chartering their vessels to customers stir-crazy from the pandemic - sometimes raking in as much as $200,000 a month

Nijole Adler's boat charter business was set in motion in 2012, when she and her husband, Rimas, bought a 36-foot sailboat for roughly $10,000.

Five years ago, the Adlers decided to take the business full-time during sailing seasons.

Because they're present on every charter trip, they don't sail on their own as much as they did before.

In 2020, the Adlers made the most they have ever made by chartering their boat.

In Miami, boat captain Marcel Perdomo earns his living by doing bareboat charters, where no crew or provisions are included.

Perdomo got his start in the business around four years ago, when he bought a used jet boat for $7,000.

As business took off, Perdomo quit his job selling traffic safety equipment in late 2019 to focus on the charters full-time.

When the pandemic struck a few months later, his usually steady list of bookings disappeared.

It wasn't long, though, before reservations started coming in again.

Florida's sometimes-lax approach to handling COVID-19 was another key factor in getting business booming again.

Requests multiplied quickly, which prompted Perdomo to start brokering charters for other boat captains.

The two Yamaha jet boats Perdomo owns generate roughly $30,000 combined each month.

As Perdomo's operation grew, so too did his staff.

In the UK, Poole resident Adam Dolman makes money renting out his 20-foot yacht named Skate, although he primarily works as a teacher.

Since mid-April, the couple has rented out the boat roughly five or six times per month, charging $175 per day.

Before buying this yacht, Dolman owned a boat for the better part of two decades.