Hiring a Skipper With a Boat Rental in Trogir: How It Works

24 August 2026 · Updated 3 September 2026 · 6 min read

A speedboat approaching the cliffs of Biševo near the Blue Cave

You cannot take a rental boat out yourself without a valid licence, full stop. What you can do without one is rent the same boat with a skipper aboard. Here is how that works, and what a self-drive rental involves if you do hold one.

Key takeaways

  • •A valid boat licence, and a VHF radio certificate, are a legal requirement to operate a rental boat in Croatia yourself. We check both at handover on the three self-drive boats, not on trust. The other three rent skippered, so nobody aboard needs either.
  • •Without a licence, the boat still goes out, but only with a licensed skipper aboard: an option at a published daily rate on the three bareboat boats, and already the only way the three larger ones rent.
  • •A refundable security deposit is due on collection, from €500 to €1,500 depending on the boat, and returned in full if the boat comes back on time with the same fuel level.
  • •Fuel is never included in the rental price. Each boat burns 20 to 60 litres an hour depending on size, and you return it with what you took out.
  • •You are responsible for the boat during the rental and liable for loss or damage beyond fair wear and tear, which is what the deposit is there to cover.
  • •A day rental starts at 08:00 and needs at least 12 hours notice, so a booking after 20:00 rolls to the following day.

This is the one rule on the whole site with no workaround: you cannot take a rental boat out yourself in Croatia without a valid boat licence. It is a legal requirement, not a house policy, and we check it when you collect the keys. What you can still do without one is rent the exact same boat with a licensed skipper aboard.

What counts as a valid licence

A recognised boat licence for the category of vessel you are renting, plus a VHF radio operator certificate, both checked at collection. That applies to the three boats we rent bareboat: the Jeanneau Cap Camarat, the BWA GTO 26 and the Marlin 790. The Axopar 29, Saxdor 320 and Colnago 38 go out skippered whoever books them, so no licence is asked for at all. Each boat page states which of the two it is.

No licence? The boat with a skipper

This is not a downgrade, it is the same boat. Without a licence, we still rent it to you, but a licensed skipper comes aboard and takes the boat out. On the three bareboat boats the skipper is an option priced per day on top of the rental: €80 on the Jeanneau Cap Camarat, €100 on the BWA GTO 26 and the Marlin 790. The Axopar 29, Saxdor 320 and Colnago 38 only rent skippered in the first place, so their crew fee is part of the deal rather than a choice: €130, €150 and €200 a day. Either way you agree it when you book, and it is never added at the dock.

If you do have a licence: what self-drive involves

A refundable security deposit is due when you collect the boat, and it varies by vessel, roughly €500 on the smaller boats up to €1,500 on the larger ones. It is returned in full provided the boat comes back on time and with the same fuel level it left with. Fuel is never included in the day rate on any boat; consumption runs from around 20 litres an hour on the smallest boat in the fleet to about 60 on the thirstiest, so it is worth checking the figure on your specific boat's page before you plan a long day trip to Hvar and back.

You are responsible for the boat and its equipment for the whole rental period, and liable for loss or damage beyond fair wear and tear. That liability is exactly what the deposit exists to cover, which is also why it is refundable rather than a fee: nothing changes hands if the boat comes back the way it left.

Booking a rental

A rental day starts at 08:00, and we ask for at least 12 hours notice measured against that start, so a request made after 20:00 rolls to the next available day rather than the same morning. Three of the boats have a weekly rate that applies at exactly seven days; anything else is priced per day at the season rate. Full details, including exact skipper fees and the deposit for a specific boat, are on the boat rentals page.

If you are weighing the options rather than the rules, our guide to renting a boat in Trogir puts the six boats, the seasonal day rates and the skipper fees side by side, and renting without a licence walks through the three routes that are open to you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent a boat in Croatia without a licence?
Not to drive it yourself, that is a legal requirement checked at handover on the three bareboat boats. Without a licence we still rent the boat, but with a licensed skipper aboard. Three of the six rent skippered anyway, so on those a licence never comes up.
What licence do I need to rent a boat in Trogir?
On the three bareboat boats, a valid boat licence for the category of the vessel plus a VHF radio certificate. On the Axopar 29, Saxdor 320 and Colnago 38 nothing at all, because they rent skippered. Each boat page states which it is.
Is a security deposit required for a boat rental?
Yes, a refundable deposit is due on collection, roughly €500 to €1,500 depending on the boat, returned in full if the boat is returned on time with the same fuel level.
Is fuel included in the boat rental price?
No. Fuel is never included; you return the boat with the same fuel level you collected it with. Consumption runs 20 to 60 litres an hour depending on the boat.
What happens if I damage the rental boat?
You are responsible for loss or damage beyond fair wear and tear during the rental period. This is what the security deposit covers.
Can I rent a boat for just half a day?
Rentals are priced per day. Contact us if a shorter arrangement would work for what you have planned.
How much does a skipper cost on a boat rental?
A flat daily rate, published per boat. Optional on the three bareboat boats: €80 on the Jeanneau Cap Camarat, €100 on the BWA GTO 26 and the Marlin 790. Mandatory on the three that only rent skippered: €130 on the Axopar 29, €150 on the Saxdor 320 and €200 on the Colnago 38. It is agreed at booking, never added at the dock.
Is the rental deposit charged to my card or just held?
Held, not charged. The security deposit is reserved on your card at collection and released when the boat comes back on time with the same fuel level. You are only responsible for loss or damage beyond fair wear and tear.
Can we return the rental boat to Split instead of Trogir, or keep it overnight?
Both are possible. A drop-off in Split can be arranged, with the return of the boat to base charged extra. On a rental of more than one day you can stay out overnight, anchored in the designated anchorages.
Only one of us has a licence, can we take turns at the helm?
The licence holder is fully responsible for the boat and for safe navigation for the whole rental. Letting someone else take the wheel is their decision and remains their responsibility.
How far can we take the rental boat, and how much fuel does a day to Hvar use?
The range depends on the category of your licence and on the weather that day. For fuel, the Marlin 790 burns about 32 litres an hour, so Trogir to Hvar uses roughly 30 to 35 litres.
Do you give a briefing before we take the boat out?
Yes, a detailed one. Ask anything you are unsure about then.

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