| Option | Price per day | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Licence-free boat (under 5 m, under 5 kW) | €115 – €198 | Small, simple motorboat anyone over 18 can drive — perfect for the sheltered waters around Ugljan and Pašman |
| Licensed boat (with boat licence) | €150 – €650 | Everything from nimble speedboats to comfortable family cruisers — the licence unlocks range and power |
| Private boat with skipper | €400 – €650 | No licence needed: a local skipper drives, you relax — the stress-free way to reach the good bays |
| Skipper added to a rental | +€100 – €150 per day | Hire a boat and add a skipper if your licence confidence runs out |
Note: Expect a security deposit of €400 – €600 (cash or card hold) and fuel charged separately at return. Both are standard; I confirm the exact terms on WhatsApp before you book.
No licence? What you can (and can't) drive
Croatian law lets anyone over 18 drive a boat under 5 metres with an engine under 5 kW — no licence required. These little boats are ideal for the Zadar channel: pottering between Ugljan, Pašman and the small islets, anchoring for swims, back by sunset. Expect €115 – €198 per day.
What they are not is Kornati machines — the range, power and open-sea ability aren't there, and honest rental companies will tell you so. For the national park, either bring your licence and rent bigger, or take a boat with a skipper. If a rental stand waves you towards the open sea in a 5 kW boat, walk away.
Deposit, fuel and the other numbers that matter
Three extras define the real cost of a rental day. The security deposit: €400 – €600, blocked on a card or left in cash, returned when the boat comes back unharmed. Fuel: almost never included — you return the tank full or pay consumption, typically €30 – €80 for a day's island pottering. And insurance: check the excess, because the cheapest daily rate sometimes carries the biggest one.
None of this is a scam — it's how boat rental works everywhere — but it should be in your budget, not a surprise at the dock. The quote I send you spells out deposit, fuel policy and insurance terms alongside the daily rate.
Skippered boat: the option nobody regrets
Here's the option experienced visitors quietly choose: a private boat with a local skipper, €400 – €650 per day. No licence worries, no navigation stress, no anchoring anxiety — and a skipper who knows exactly which bay will be empty at eleven and which konoba grills the best fish. For a group of four to eight it often costs less per head than the group tours, with total freedom on top. Already hold a licence but want a relaxed day? Add a skipper to your rental for €100 – €150 and let someone else watch the depth sounder.
FAQ
Licence-free boats cost €115 – €198 per day; boats requiring a licence run €150 – €650; a private boat with skipper is €400 – €650. Add a €400 – €600 deposit and fuel, which is almost always extra. Exact quote on WhatsApp.
Yes — boats under 5 metres with engines under 5 kW can be driven by anyone over 18, no licence needed. They're perfect for the sheltered waters around Ugljan and Pašman, but not for open-sea runs to the Kornati.
Three: the security deposit (€400 – €600, returned at the end), fuel (charged by consumption, typically €30 – €80 a day), and optionally a skipper (+€100 – €150 per day). My quote lists all of them upfront.
Croatia recognises the ICC and most national coastal boat licences. Bring the physical document — photos on a phone aren't accepted. If you're unsure whether your licence qualifies, message me before you book and I'll check.
If you lack a licence or simply want a zero-stress day, absolutely — €400 – €650 for a private skippered boat, or +€100 – €150 added to your own rental. Skippers know the bays, the wind and the lunch spots; it's the upgrade nobody regrets.