What does Beyonder cost and how do I pay?

Your Beyonder subscription will be paid for monthly, usually by direct debit, with the price you pay dependent on the boat you choose. You can see details of the overnight boat here and the weekend boat here for further information on the monthly cost.

What happens when I sign-up?

When you sign-up, we will ask you to complete a simple application form and will send a copy of the terms and conditions, for you to review. When you’re ready we will chat through your application with you and also talk through which boat you would like to be assigned to. When your application is approved, you simply need to sign the terms and conditions which will specify your monthly costs, and we’ll help arrange any training that you need.

Your monthly direct debit will only start from the date you have completed your orientation and are signed off to use your boat. You can't cancel your subscription early - it is a 12 month term - however if you have problems paying, get in touch and we will see what we can work out.

What qualifications do I need to take a boat out?

You’ll need a minimum of RYA PB2, and ideally a VHF short range certificate. If you don’t have these qualifications just yet, we can put you in touch with our training partners to help you get these.

Apart from the monthly subscription, what else might I have to pay for?

With Beyonder there are no initial joining fees! The only additional cost is refuelling your boat at the end of your trip.

Is Beyonder good value for money?

Owning and running your own boat is expensive. Let's look at the numbers for owning a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 695 in comparison to subscribing through Beyonder. The below numbers are typical values.

Purchase cost: £81,120 less 30% deposit = £56,784 financed over 10 years would mean 120 monthly payments of £606, making a total cost of ownership inc the deposit of £97,975

Berthing: £4,319 per annum so £360 per month at Haslar Marina

Insurance: £750 per annum or £63/month

Servicing and annual haul out: £1,500 or £125/month

Repairs and other sundry costs: £600 or £50/month

Total monthly cost: £1,204

Or you can have unlimited access to the Merry Fisher 695 from Beyonder for just £500 a month.

You do the maths!

Exactly how much use am I entitled to over the year?

There is no limit to the number of days you can use the boat in the year. It is available year-round (except for a few annual maintenance days in the winter).

We have a booking system that will show you availability and allow you to book 3 planned days up to 6 months in advance on your chosen boat. As you use the planned days, you can book another.

In addition, you will have unlimited spontaneous days (within 48 hours) on any boat in your pricing tier, or below which is available. This means that there are no limits to how much you can use your membership.

Can you bring pets onboard?

Yes, pets are welcome! We’ve got plenty of members who bring their canine crew with them, but we always ask that dogs (especially wet ones) are kept off the cushions.

What is your ratio of customers to boats?

We control availability by ensuring there are no more than 7 customers to each boat. As the number of happy customers increases, so does the number of boats in our fleet.

How far can I travel on a Beyonder boat?

There are some boundaries to where you can travel on a Beyonder boat. We’ll talk you through where these are for your chosen location as part of your onboarding process.

Can you moor the boat anywhere?

In the day, yes. You can moor anywhere - and if you need some recommendations on the best spots the Beyonder team are happy to help. At night, the boat can’t be operated and must be moored in a marina, or on an authority mooring in a recognised harbour. You can’t stay overnight on an anchor.

Are there free berthing rights at other boatfolk marinas?

Yes, as part of the boatfolk community, all Beyonder members are entitled to up to 30 free visitor nights at any of the boatfolk marinas - that’s up to 300 free visitor nights in total across the UK (subject to availability).

What is the largest boat you have?

The largest boat we currently offer is the Merry Fisher 795 (see the details here). We are constantly reviewing the fleet and will be adding more boats in due course (some bigger, some smaller!), so stay tuned!

How much availability will I have on busy weekends?

There is no limit to how much you can use the boat, or on which days of the week. We restrict this by allowing people to book only 3 days in advance - as you use one of these days you book another one. In practice, this means that with a maximum ratio of 7 people per boat, only 21 days can be reserved in a 6 month period.

In addition, you have unlimited spontaneous usage of your boat, and any similar or smaller boat at you location: if a suitable boat is available in the next 48 hours, it will appear as available in the booking system and you can book it, irrespective of any other bookings you have already made.

What time can I pick up the boat, and when do I have to bring it back?

You can collect the boat from 9am onwards, and return the boat at sunset, 9pm or when the fuel dock closes - whichever is earliest.

Do I have to re-fuel the boat when dropping it off?

Yes, hiring a boat is just like a hire car! You need to return the boat full. If for any reason you can’t return the boat full please do let us know. We’ll charge you for the cost of the fuel, plus we reserve the right to levy a fuelling charge.

What is the average fuel usage of the boats? And is it unleaded or diesel?

Exact fuel consumption all depends on where you go and at what speed*. A trip across to the Isle of Wight will use about 25 litres of unleaded fuel (that’s approximately £50 at today’s prices). A return trip to the Isle of Wight and Cowes will use about 50 litres (£100 of fuel), and a day to the other end of the Solent and back, plus exploring, will probably use about 100 litres (costing around £200). A nice daytrip out of Portland to Lulworth cove, back to Portland via Weymouth uses approximately 60 litres of fuel (£120).

Do the boats have air conditioning?

Unfortunately no. On a boat, space is a premium so we’ve chosen boats with more space to move around. However, you’ll likely find that a sea breeze (particularly when speeding along the Solent) is far more pleasant than any air conditioning would be!

What if I want to buy a boat?

If you’ve made the decision to buy a boat, we can introduce you to our sister company, boatpoint. Based on-site at boatfolk Marinas, boatpoint are the UK’s biggest broker, as well as official dealers of Jeanneau, so whether you’re looking for a brand new Merry Fisher or for something pre-owned, they will be able to help. And as part of the boatfolk family, they can offer exclusive discounts on berthing and boatcare at any boatfolk Marina. If you’d like an introduction, do not hesitate to ask!

Got some more burning questions? No problem, just email them to us at hello@beyonderboating.co.uk and we will come back to you as soon as we can.

*All fuel costs are estimated based on 2024 fuel prices