Small Boat Hire - Terms & Conditions

Dreamboats is part of Vision Wimborne a registered charity No 1081678. Our staff are all trained.It is run by a committee of volunteers keen to help everyone enjoy the river.

When you request a booking via our Dreamboats website or directly from our boat launch jetty team you are making an offer to hire a boat under these terms and conditions. You must be 18years of age to hire a rowing boat, kayak, or a canoe although your guests may be younger, and 16 years of age for a stand up paddle board.

Collection of the Boat: The Boat will normally be available at the time of your booking from our Dreamboats Boathouse in Riverside Park, Wimborne, BH21 1QU. Priority is given to online bookings; please make yourself known to the staff at the Boathouse. Please note that as we may be waiting for boats to be returned by other customers, we cannot absolutely guarantee that your boat will be ready for you at the time you booked. Our staff may be busy and they will be helpful.

Instruction: Before you take over the boat, we will give you suitable instruction, demonstrations, and information on safety, how to operate the vessel, rules of the river, and how best to have safe fun on the river. This is to ensure you and your guest’s safety and to respect the environment and other users of the river.

Navigation: You, the hirer,are in charge of the vessel and all those on board and agree to comply at all times during the hire with the Rules of Navigation as explained to you by our helpful Dreamboats staff and contained within the information provided onboard the boat.

Returning the Boat: The boat must be returned to the same location from which it was hired, and it is your responsibility to allow sufficient time to ensure timely return. If you return the boat late then you will be liable to pay 25% of the hourly hire charge for every 15min of the delay in returning the boat. Should the boat be returned in a dirty and/or an untidy state, a cleaning charge of 50% of the deposit shall be levied.

Rights Reserved: We reserve the right to cancel the hire and refuse to hand the boat over to you if, in our reasonable opinion, you are unsuitable to take charge of the boat for any reason that may adversely affect the safety of any person, persons, or property. In this event, provided that you have fully complied with your obligations under this agreement, we will refund the deposit which you have paid to Dreamboats, and the contract shall be discharged without further liability on either party. We reserve the right to immediately cancel and refuse to hand the boat over to you if you or any member of your party is or appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In such a case we shall be entitled to retain the hire charge already paid.

Termination of Hire: We reserve the right to terminate the hire at any time and repossess the boat if we have reason to believe that you are carrying more people than the boat is licensed to carry, or if the person in charge of the vessel appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, if you are not navigating safely, if you are not behaving responsibly, or if you have contravened any of the bylaws of the Navigation, or the terms of this contract. All monies paid,shall be forfeited and no further claim shall be entertained by the Dreamboats.

Accidents & Responsibilities: You are in charge of the boat and are responsible for it, its equipment, and its safe navigation.  In the event of any accident or damage involving you or any other people or any property you must inform us immediately and obtain and record the name of any other boats and the names and addresses of any other people involved.

All accidents will be recorded in the Accident Book

Breakdown: In the event of a problem on the river in a boat hired by you, contact us immediately for assistance 07761 816796. We will come and help you.

Loss: Although the boat and its equipment are insured against many risks by the charity you remain responsible for any damage or loss arising from your breach of the agreement, your deliberate acts, or from your negligence. You will be responsible for the cost of rectifying damage to the boat, or repairs to or replacing any items on the inventory which are missing or damaged at the end of the hire.

Liability: Dreamboats insures the boat against loss and public liability, but it will not be responsible for any loss, or damage, or injury to the hire party or possessions, howsoever caused.

Prices: The Company’s advertised prices are in pounds sterling and include Value Added Tax. The hire charge is payable to secure and confirm a booking. The balance of the hire charge, may be payable on the day of hire. The Charity reserves the right to correct errors in advertised or quoted prices at the time of booking confirmation.

Payments: Full payment for Dreamboats small boat hire is made at point of booking, either in person or through online booking. An increase in numbers can be made through the online booking system or in person on the day if additional boats are available. Reduction in numbers must be requested by direct contact from the customer, and any refunds will be processed only on final agreement.

Priority is given to Dreamboats online bookings where we can. During periods of high demand, we cannot guarantee the boat will be available immediately. During these periods the next available boat will be provided as soon as possible. At weekends or Bank Holidays our boats are only available on a first come basis during these busy periods if you have not booked on line. Any delay in arrival of online bookings may result in your hire being shorter, particularly during peak periods, though we will try to provide your full hire wherever possible.

Cancellations or Changes to the Booking: If you need to cancel or change your booking you should advise the company by telephone. Changes in the date of your booking, or cancelations, more than seven days before the date of hire can be made free of charge.

Cancelation by Us: In the event that the boat is not available, or navigation impossible on the day of hire due to circumstance outside our control (for example, adverse river conditions, navigational interruptions or unexpected damage) we may cancel the agreement at any time and shall immediately refund you the hire charge and any other payments you have made.

Legal Matters: This Agreement shall be governed by the law of England and Wales. Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be first submitted to mediation or failing that to arbitration under the British Marine Federation’s Dispute Resolution Scheme, which is approved by the Royal Yachting Association.

Images and Personal Data: On occasions photographs or video may be taken of our boats for publicity purposes. If you prefer not to be photographed, please make us aware. Any information taken about you will only be used in the purposes of administration and where it is required by law and will be held with subject to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations).