You heard it here first…
New apps for boaters
Boataffair – boat-swapping
Want to sail somewhere new? Boataffair connects boat owners so you can swap boats with sailors anywhere in the world. Like home-exchange sites, boataffair allows you to create your own boat profile and browse those of others. If you like the look of one, reach out via the Boataffair messenger to confirm a swap.
It’s available in 30 countries and includes local excursions and day-trips crafted by the boat owners themselves.
boataffair.com Navily – the boat owner’s TripAdvisor ‘How’s the holding? Good? Would you give it 5 stars or 4? And what about protection against wind and swell?...’
Navily, the free App for cruisers allows you to share reviews of ports, marinas and anchorages across the world.
Founded in 2014 by Edouard Fiess and Benjamin Rousseau, the startup has just secured r1million in seed funding to build on its community of 700,000 boaters. There are currently 20,000 user-submitted reviews of anchorages and harbours, and the online community is doubling each year.
Not only is it a sharing tool, but users can book moorings ahead, and ports can upload their own profiles. To date, 300 ports in seven countries have joined.
“Navily’s growth is a result of the bold choices we’ve made and the partnerships with people who believe in our vision,” says Edouard Fiess.
While there are still many more ports to be populated, it’s only a matter of time...
navily.com MyBoat – digital organiser
There’s a lot to keep on top of when owning a boat, and servicing safety equipment often falls off the radar. MyBoat is an online digital organiser that sends you reminders whenever a piece of equipment needs replacing or servicing.
The portal is customisable, so whether it’s a fire extinguisher, lifejacket, flares or first aid kit, you add the expiry date, and leave the rest to MyBoat. You can log-on anytime to check details on your dashboard, or wait until you receive an email alert. The easy-to-use portal keeps all your important boating information in one place that can be viewed across all devices.
Also, if you have more than one vessel – yacht, motorboat or even stand-up paddleboard – you can create an individual profile for each.
MyBoat is designed by boat insurer GJW Direct, and will also remind you when your insurance is due for renewal. The website is password secured and accessible only to the you. GJW say it’s totally separate from the insurance side of the business and entirely confidential.
myboat.gjwdirect.com