Can I legally offer my boat in a Barcelona port (Forum) on Airbnb?

[Ulrike-Josefa0]

Can I legally offer my motorboat in a Barcelona port on Airbnb?

I would like to offer my motorboat in Port Forum harbour on Airbnb. Unfortunately, I can't find out anywhere whether this is legal or illegal in Barcelona/Catalonia. That is, whether a boat is legally considered tourist accommodation in a port (in Barcelona or also Catalonia) and whether I need a corresponding registration number. Does anyone have any more information or advice?

Many thanks in advance, 

Ulrike Rasch 

[Robin4]

@Ulrike-Josefa0 

Ulrike,  this community centre is possibly not the best place to get an answer to your problem. The answer varies from country to country. All I can say to you is in my country (Australia) any water craft has to be registered and have a license. The license determines who is allowed to operate that water craft.

For my situation I had a ten berth houseboat which I rented out through a company that specialises in boat rentals. I was given the required insurance details  which I accepted and given a permit by the local government authority to offer my houseboat as a rental option. I have posted it here before but here is the boat in question! I am posting these photos  because it might give some relevance to your situation Ulrike!

It's a substantial boat.

Now Ulrike, anyone who has a motor vehicle license in my state  is allowed to pilot this vessel .

My local government authority promotes the use and rental of these watercraft........but, I am in Australia, not Barcelona....and l can't give you a definitive answer as to the rules and regulations in Spain!

Cheers.........Rob   

[Lorna170]

@Robin4  I soooooo want to come to Australia to meet you and Ade and to stay in your garden cottage or houseboat!  Lovely pictures!

[Robin4]

Hi @Lorna170 ,

Our door is always open to you! The houseboat I am afraid is not in our possession any more, we have sold it.

The thing with a houseboat, it is a depreciating asset.....it's like a motorhome or an expensive motor vehicle,  every year it's worth less than it was the year before. We got a great deal on it when we bought it, it was only two years old and was part of a deceased estate. But we did have to borrow some money for the purchase and the first four years the return was good, and for days it wasn't rented out we had some great times on it with friends and family!

But once a boat gets to 8-10 years old they do get harder to rent. When people  are paying out that much money for a few days, they want the latest and the best. So, as real estate, each year its maintenance costs rose  and the returns diminished a bit so, once it's value fell below 250,000 we felt that money would be better put into shore based property which unlike a boat, rises in value every year.

Also, with each passing year it became a bit less user friendly for Ade with her MS. It was a nice part of our life Lorna but, good as times are, we do need to move on to suit our circumstances!

No regrets!

Cheers.........Rob

@Quincy