Here you’ll find answers to common questions about our slip & dock rental services. Whether you’re a boat owner looking for a place to park your boat for a day or a full season, or a slip or dock owner wanting to rent out your space, we’ve got you covered.
General Questions
We are a new, family-owned company that lives in Minnesota and we love to spend our free time on the lake. And what better place to get on the lake than the state that has more than 10,000? We decided first to focus on where we live and serve the boaters of this great state. Once we feel we have Sota properly covered, maybe we’ll branch out.
Boat owners can search for available slips and docks on our platform by location, date, and boat size. Slip & dock owners can list their available spaces with detailed descriptions, photos, amenities and rental terms. Once a match is found, both parties can communicate and finalize the rental agreement directly on the platform.
We are a new, family-owned company that lives in Minnesota and we love to spend our free time on the lake. And what better place to get on the lake than the state that has more than 10,000? We decided first to focus on where we live and serve the boaters of this great state. Once we feel we have Sota properly covered, maybe we’ll branch out.
For Boat Owners
Use our search tool to enter your preferred location, dates, and boat specifications. Browse through the listings and choose the one that best fits your needs. You can contact the slip or dock owner directly through our platform.
Yes, we charge a small service fee for each booking, which is included and transparently displayed in the total rental cost displayed during the booking process.
We offer a wide range of options, including private docks, marina slips, and community docks depending on availability. Listings include details on amenities, such as power hookups, lifts, covered options, fuel, and security features.
You can reserve slips as far in advance as you like based on availability. We recommend booking during business hours for same-day stays to ensure smooth communication with the marina.
We offer a variety of slips to accommodate different boat sizes and types, including fixed docks and floating docks.
Yes, we offer daily and short-term rentals for visitors.
Yes, each slip has a maximum size limit. Please check the details in the listing to ensure your boat fits. If you have questions, our platform allows you to communicate with the property owner to get the answers you need. In addition, we offer a 7 day period after the reservation is accepted to communicate with the host and arrange to visit the property, if needed, to ensure it is a proper fit.
We accept all major credit and debit cards through secure payment via Stipe or PayPal.
Once a reservation is made we will place a hold on your credit or debit card for the full amount of the reservation. If the host accepts your request to reserve their property, we will charge the full amount 7 days after you book or 36 hours before the booking starts (whichever comes first). The 7 day window allows you to visit the dock in person, if desired, to make sure it works and meets your needs without penalty for cancellation. If the host declines your booking request we will cancel the hold on your account.
Yes, additional fees may apply for services like electricity, water, parking or other amenities. If any apply, these additional fees will be specified and transparent in each listing.
Cancellation policies vary by listing. Generally, cancellations made within a specified time frame may be eligible for a refund. Please review the specific terms for each slip or dock before booking. To change or cancel your booking please reach out to our team at info@sotaslips.com.
On each listing there is a “Contact Host” form that notifies the dock owner via email any questions boat owners might have about a listing. This allows all communication to be directly transmitted between both parties and allows for us to monitor and make sure questions are getting answered. Like other peer-to-peer platforms, we do not allow contact information to be shared until payment is accepted and the booking approved.
For Slip & Dock Owners
It’s simple and easy. Sign up for an account and create a listing by providing detailed information about your slip or dock, including location, dimensions, amenities, and photos. Set your rental rates and availability and publish your listing to our platform. If this is your first time using our rental platform, we can provide a brief questionnaire and create the initial listing for you quickly and have it ready for your review within a few hours.
Listing your slip or dock is free. We only charge a platform fee paid by the renter when your space is successfully rented out, paid for and you earn incremental income. If there is a cancellation and our property owners don’t earn income, neither do we.
Payments are processed securely through our platform via Stripe or PayPal. You’ll receive your rental earnings via direct deposit to your bank account after the boat owner checks-in and payment has been processed, typically within 3 days.
Yes, you can specify your rental terms, including pricing, availability, cancellation policy, and any additional rules or requirements for renters. If you need help with any of these we can certainly assist based on our knowledge of the market and other active listings.
Prior to booking boat owners seeking to rent your property can communicate through messages on the platform. You will receive notifications to your email account so you will be aware of questions. We also monitor this to ensure you don’t miss anything! After confirmation of a new booking, property owners will receive the renter’s contact information to provide specific arrival instructions or answer any questions.
To ensure that your property is the right fit for a boat owner, we allow up to seven days for a renter to communicate with you and visit your property to make sure everything meets expectations and any necessary size/amenity requirements. This happens immediately after the reservation is accepted and a hold placed on their credit or debit card. You will be able to communicate through our platform and we will make sure to monitor this so nothing gets missed. After seven days, or 36 hours before their booking starts (whichever comes first), the renter’s account will be charged and the reservation will be secured, unless changes or cancellations are made within this one-week period.
Safety and Security
We verify the identity of all users and provide secure messaging and payment processing, similar to the home and vacation rental platforms we all know and love. We also encourage both boat owners and slip & dock owners to review each other’s profiles and ratings before finalizing a rental agreement. Lastly, communication is key. Our platform allows you to message and email with technology built directly into your listing, making it easy to get to know who is renting and who you are renting from.
Our customer support team is available to assist with any disputes or issues that may arise. We recommend documenting any concerns and communicating openly with the other party to resolve the matter amicably.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or need assistance, the quickest method is to contact our customer support team via chat through the platform. If that is not convenient or there is nothing time sensitive, you can email us at info@sotaslips.com. We monitor this account constantly and will be quick to respond. We’re here to help!