Why Yacht Operators Lose 25% Revenue To Brokers
The Hidden Cost Nobody Talks About
Captains with one or two boats face a brutal reality. Click&Boat, Sailo, and similar platforms promise exposure. What they deliver is a 25% commission on every charter.
Your Sunreef 50 generates €25k for a week in Ibiza. Click&Boat pays you €18,750. That €6,250 difference compounds across a season. Three charters. €18,750 gone.
The Insurance Myth Small Operators Believe
Most captains think direct bookings require new insurance policies. Wrong.
Your existing yacht insurance already covers commercial charter liability. Hull coverage. P&I. The same policy brokers use. Direct booking changes zero insurance requirements.
Charterers need their own travel insurance regardless of booking channel. That's on them. Not you. Your broker simply adds their platform insurance on top of your existing coverage and charges you for it.
Reality: Same insurance. Same coverage. Full revenue.
Why Brokers Win (Until They Don't)
Small operators stick with brokers because managing direct inquiries feels overwhelming. Three WhatsApp threads. Two calendar platforms. One email inbox. Double bookings happen weekly.
Click&Boat handles the operational mess. For a price. They own your customer relationships. Your email list. Your repeat business.
One Framer landing page changes everything. Single inquiry form. Google Calendar sync. 14% mobile conversion. One inbox to manage.
Captain Mike's Numbers (Ibiza Catamaran)
Click&Boat Reality:
€25k charter x 4 bookings = €100k
25% commission = €75k payout
Operational chaos across 3 platforms
Versus a direct custom website (build by Fibonacci HQ, of course):
€25k charter x 4 bookings = €100k
100% revenue = €100k payout
One calendar. One inbox. Clean process.
€25k stays in his pocket first season. Site investment recovers in just one additional booking.
The Direct Booking Objection Checklist
Captains hesitate for three reasons. Here's the truth:
"Direct bookings need different insurance"
Your existing policy works. Brokers use the same coverage.
"I'll get double bookings without a platform"
Single Framer form + Google Calendar eliminates this.
"Guests prefer booking through brokers"
Guests book direct when you show €2k cheaper pricing. Instagram traffic converts at 14% with clean mobile flows.
Plus, we all know the broker platforms are outdated and clunky.
Your Three Step Transition
Week 1: Forward all Click&Boat inquiries to new direct form
Week 3: Framer site live. Same insurance. Google Calendar sync
Week 5: Broker commissions drop to zero. Full €25k charters
One extra booking pays your site three times over. Remaining profit stays yours.
Small Fleet Operators Only
This doesn't work for bareboat rentals under €2k/week. Or operators doing under three charters yearly.
Target: Crewed catamarans and monohulls €20k+. Boats ready. Broker frustrated.
February implementation slot open. 90 second application processes your broker escape plan.
Published
Jan 12, 2026
Topic
Digital Strategy
