Hiring a small motorboat in Mallorca has never been simpler. For a modest fee, visitors can take to the sea without needing a skipper’s licence, and the practice has quickly become one of the island’s most popular summer pastimes. What began as a niche leisure option has rapidly grown into a profitable line of business, with rental firms multiplying along the Balearic coast to meet demand.
But seasoned sailors say this easy access to the water comes at a price. Novice operators, often with no nautical knowledge, are increasingly at the helm, creating situations that more experienced boaters describe as awkward at best, and hazardous at worst. Complaints are particularly frequent in high-traffic areas such as the Migjorn and Ponent coasts, where locals report reckless manoeuvres by tourists unfamiliar with maritime rules.
The lack of seamanship shows in a variety of ways. Some renters struggle to manage close-quarters navigation, endangering swimmers and neighbouring boats. Others require rescue when they get into difficulty, with rental companies obliged to dispatch staff to assist. Environmental groups have also raised alarms after cases of anchors being dropped on beds of posidonia, a protected seagrass vital to the marine ecosystem. Meanwhile, in places like Es Carbó, boats have been seen mooring close to the shoreline, sparking friction with beachgoers — a problem that worsens on busy weekends.
Alcohol consumption has added another layer of risk. Witnesses say crews often take to the water after drinking, impairing their ability to handle the vessels safely. In hotspots such as Puerto Andratx, Santa Ponsa and around Colònia de Sant Jordi, fellow sailors complain of drunken behaviour at sea, which they argue puts everyone in danger and spoils the atmosphere.
The rules currently set by the Maritime Authority in Palma allow motorboats under five metres long and with engines up to 11.26 kilowatts to be hired without a licence, provided conditions are calm and visibility is good. Trips must remain within a mile of the coast, and rental firms are required to keep track of their boats and have a support vessel ready to intervene if necessary. Each support boat may cover up to ten rentals at once. Despite these restrictions, critics insist that the boom in “easy boating” has outpaced oversight, leaving the Balearic waters more congested — and less safe — than ever.