Turn Your Boat Into Income. Rent By The Hour.
Minnesota's boat sharing platform. Enterprise features at Minnesota prices.
Minnesota Roots, Modern Solution
I'm Anthony Lopez, a 24-year-old Plymouth native who grew up on Minnesota lakes. My family had a boat that sat unused most of the time, and I started thinking: "What if we could rent it out to other people while we're not using it?"
Meanwhile, friends without boats were stuck paying $8,000+ for boat club memberships with rigid usage. The disconnect was obvious—boat owners with idle assets, renters wanting affordable flexibility, and nobody connecting them efficiently.
After graduating from Minnesota State Mankato and interning as a software engineer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, I realized the existing platforms were outdated, overpriced, and barely served Minnesota. So I built something better—from scratch, by myself, in 2025.
Aquavora isn't backed by Silicon Valley venture capital burning through investor money. It's bootstrapped (I deliver packages at Amazon to fund this), local, and built for the right reasons: to help Minnesota boaters get on the water without breaking the bank.
What is Boat Sharing?
Think Airbnb, but for boats. Owners list their boats when they're not using them. Renters find boats near them and book by the hour. Everyone wins.
If You Own a Boat
Your boat sits idle 90% of the time. Why not earn money when you're not using it?
If You Want to Rent
Why pay $8,000+ for a boat club membership with rigid uses when you can rent by the hour, only when you want?
Bottom line: Boat owners make money on idle assets. Renters get affordable access to boats. The platform handles everything automatically. Win-win-win.
Why Aquavora is Different
Most platforms treat boat sharing like an afterthought. We built the entire system from scratch with modern technology and Minnesota in mind.
Traditional Platforms
Owners keep 60-75% vs our 90%
Outdated tech, clunky interfaces
~170 MN listings, minimal support
Mostly daily bookings, high minimums
Manual emails, no real-time updates
Tie up $500-2000 of your money
Aquavora
Owners keep 90% of every rental
Modern tech stack, mobile-first design
Built here, for here, by a Minnesotan
2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours - your choice
20+ professional emails, real-time updates
No deposits - only charge if damage occurs
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Competitors | Aquavora |
|---|---|---|
| Owner Keeps | 60-75% | 90% |
| Real-Time Messaging | ❌ Basic/None | ✅ Full inbox + typing |
| Professional Email Automation | ❌ Manual/Basic | ✅ 20+ templates |
| Review System | ❌ Basic stars | ✅ Full reputation + responses |
| Damage Protection | ❌ $500-2000 deposits | ✅ Smart claims (no deposits) |
| Cancellation Protection | ❌ Basic policies | ✅ Advanced emergency system |
| Automated Payouts | ❌ Slow/Manual | ✅ Automatic via Stripe |
| True Hourly Booking | ❌ Daily/Limited | ✅ Any hours you want |
💰 Enterprise features at Minnesota prices. That's the Aquavora difference.
How It Actually Works
Simple for you. Automated for us. Professional for everyone.
List Your Boat (10 minutes)
Upload photos, set your hourly rate ($50-200/hr typical), choose your availability, and set captain requirements. Our smart calendar does the rest.
Automation: Platform generates your professional listing, handles search optimization, and sends you an email confirmation.
Accept Bookings (or Let Auto-Accept Do It)
Choose instant booking for maximum income or manual approval for control. Either way, you're in charge.
Automation: Professional emails sent to renter immediately. Payment links generated. Countdown timers started. Calendar updated in real-time.You do nothing.
Meet Renter & Enjoy Your Earnings
Show up, hand over keys, and let them enjoy. Our messaging system keeps communication organized. Get paid automatically after rental.
Automation: Confirmation emails sent. Automatic payment settlement in 3 days. Review prompts sent automatically. Payout processed to your bank.Complete hands-off income.
Enterprise Features, No Enterprise Price
These aren't basic features slapped together. This is a fully-featured platform built from the ground up in 2025 with modern technology.
Real-Time Messaging
Full inbox system like Airbnb. Message owners before booking. Typing indicators. Online status. File attachments. Professional and instant.
20+ Automated Emails
Every interaction handled professionally. Booking confirmations, payment reminders, review prompts, damage claims, cancellations. All automatic, all branded.
Full Reputation System
Category ratings, written reviews, review responses, completion rates, performance tiers. Build trust and reputation like Airbnb hosts.
Smart Damage Protection
No deposits tying up $500-2000. Claims filed within 48 hours, admin-reviewed, 5-day dispute window, fair resolution. Only charge if damage actually occurs.
Emergency Protection
Owner-initiated emergency cancellations for weather/safety = automatic full refunds. Weather-aware policies. Professional admin review system. Fair for everyone.
Automated Payouts
Money hits your bank automatically 3 days after rental completes. Powered by Stripe. Secure, reliable, transparent. Track every penny in your dashboard.
Minnesota-Smart Calendar
Set weekly hours, block dates, handle ice-out season automatically. Real-time updates prevent double-bookings. Built for Minnesota's unique boating calendar.
Request-to-Book Flow
Not ready for instant booking? Use request-to-book with countdown timers, approval deadlines, payment windows. Professional automation handles everything.
Mobile-First Design
Built in 2025 for how people actually use phones. Everything works perfectly on mobile - messaging, booking, calendar management, photos, everything.
Why Early Adopters Win Big
We're launching Spring 2026, but accepting founding members now. Here's why being first matters.
For Boat Owners
First listings appear first. Lock in your prime positioning before others join.
Set premium prices with zero competition. Establish yourself before market saturates.
Get reviews and establish trust before others. Become the "established" owner.
Your feedback directly influences features. Help build what Minnesota needs.
For Renters
Book premium boats before everyone else knows they exist. Get summer slots early.
Less competition means better selection and more flexible booking options.
Connect with owners early. Become a trusted renter before demand spikes.
Be part of building Minnesota's boating community from Day 1.
The Minnesota Opportunity
The big platforms focused on coasts and ignored the Midwest. That's their mistake, your opportunity. Be part of capturing the Minnesota boat sharing market before someone else does.
Ready to Be a Founding Member?
Join Minnesota's first true boat sharing community. Whether you're an owner ready to start earning or a renter looking for better options, now is the time.
100% free to join. No credit card required. List boats or browse rentals anytime. You're in control. Built by Anthony Lopez, a Plymouth native who actually understands Minnesota boating.