Online booking engine
Boats, berths and dates with live availability, seasonal rates, minimum nights, changeover days and mid-week specials.
Houseboat hire software: bookings, bonds & provisions
Houseboats: bookings, bonds and provisions sorted before they hit the jetty. More river, less paperwork.
Bookings come in by email, the bond is a card number on a form, provisions get ordered over the phone and the same induction runs on the jetty every changeover. We build booking, bond, induction, provisioning and fleet systems for houseboat hire companies that all talk to each other. Then we host them and look after them.
Looking for houseboat hire booking software that handles bonds, inductions and provisions?
A houseboat hire business is a holiday rental, a boat hire, a grocery run and a marina rolled into one. The booking might live in Rezdy or a diary, the bond on a separate terminal, the provisions list in an email and the induction in one staff member's head. Every changeover the same questions get answered on the jetty while the next group waits in the car park.
Wollopit builds custom houseboat hire software around how your fleet actually runs. Guests book a boat and dates online, pay the deposit and bond, watch the induction and order provisions before they leave home. Your crew get a turnaround board, return checks that price the fuel and generator hours and condition photos on every booking. We connect the tools you already like, replace the ones holding you back and look after the lot on our own servers.
01The problems
What we hear from houseboat hire companies
Does your houseboat hire business have these problems? Here's how we'd fix them.
Most houseboat operators run a lovely fleet off a wall planner, a clipboard and a phone that never stops ringing. It works right up until Easter.
- The problemBookings by email and phoneAn enquiry comes in, you check the wall planner, email a quote, chase the deposit and lose the boat to a quicker operator.How we fix itLive availability by boat and date with seasonal rates, minimum nights and deposits taken online in one go.
- The problemBonds handled by handCard details on a paper form, a pre-auth that drops off before the boat's back and awkward refund calls a week later.How we fix itBonds taken or held online before arrival, then released in one tap after the return check or partly kept with photos attached.
- The problemThe same induction every changeoverStaff run the same hour-long walk-through on the jetty while three other groups sit in the car park.How we fix itPre-arrival induction videos and a short quiz for every driver, so the jetty brief is a quick hands-on check.
- The problemSkipper paperwork chased on the dayDriver licences, ages, guest numbers and signed hire agreements sorted on a clipboard at check-in.How we fix itOnline check-in with nominated drivers, licence photos, guest lists and signed hire terms done before they leave home.
- The problemProvisions ordered over the phoneGuests ring through a shopping list, someone does a supermarket run and the bill gets reconciled by hand.How we fix itProvisioning packages and extras ordered with the booking, packed to a list and charged on the same invoice.
- The problemThe route explained every hireMoorings, no-go zones, locks and the good swimming spots drawn on a photocopied map with a biro.How we fix itA route guide on their phone with moorings, locks, pump-outs, fuel and hazards that still works when reception drops out.
- The problemFuel, gas and generator hours argued at the counterSomeone reads the hour meter, guesses the fuel, writes it on a docket and debates it with a tired guest.How we fix itReturn checks on a tablet with meter readings, fuel and gas usage priced automatically and added to the final bill.
- The problemDamage disputesA scratched hull or a missing anchor and nobody can prove whether it was there before the hire.How we fix itTimestamped photo condition records at check-in and return, attached to the booking and the bond.
- The problemTurnaround day chaosCleaning, linen, pump-out, gas bottles and a quick repair all crammed into a few hours between hires.How we fix itA turnaround board for every boat with cleaning checklists, linen counts, pump-out and maintenance jobs ticked off on phones.
- The problemRiver conditions change the planHigh water or an algae warning closes a stretch and you're ringing every group on the water one at a time.How we fix itOne SMS to everyone on the water or arriving this week, with updated notes pushed straight to their route guide.
- The problemOwner boats on a spreadsheetPrivately owned boats in your fleet and owners emailing to ask about bookings, their own dates and statements.How we fix itAn owner portal with bookings, owner-use dates, maintenance history and earnings statements they can check themselves.
02What we build
Solutions
What we build for houseboat hire companies. Usually all talking to each other.
Pick the one that's hurting most or join the whole lot up. Everything is built around how your team works, not the other way round.
Bonds & payments
Deposits, balances and bonds taken or held online with automatic reminders and one-tap bond release.
Pre-arrival inductions
Induction videos and a quick quiz for every nominated driver, tracked against the booking.
Online check-in & hire agreements
Guest lists, driver licences, ages and signed hire terms collected before arrival day.
Provisioning packages
Breakfast packs, BBQ boxes, family hampers and drinks ordered ahead and packed to a list.
Extras & add-ons
Tinnies, kayaks, fishing gear, linen packs and late check-out added to the booking and the bill.
Route guide app
Moorings, locks, pump-outs, fuel, pubs and hazards on their phone, saved for offline use.
Return checks & usage billing
Fuel, gas and generator hour readings priced automatically and added to the final invoice.
Condition records
Photo check-in and return records on a tablet, timestamped and linked to the bond.
Turnaround & maintenance board
Cleaning, linen, pump-out and repair jobs for every boat on one board the crew can see.
Guest SMS & alerts
Arrival reminders, staggered jetty times and river condition alerts sent by text.
Owner portal
Bookings, owner-use dates, maintenance and earnings statements for privately owned boats.
A website that floats
Hand-built, quick on mobile, with every boat, live availability and booking built in, made to rank for 'houseboat hire'.
03The systems
The big ones
Your whole fleet, on one system.
These are the systems houseboat operators ask us about most. Each one works on its own and they get properly clever when they're joined up.
Bookings & bonds
Boats, dates and bonds booked in one go.
Guests see which boats are free, pick their dates and pay the deposit online. Seasonal rules look after themselves and the bond is taken or held before they arrive, then released the moment the return check is done.
- Live availability by boat and berths
- Seasonal rates and peak periods
- Minimum nights and changeover days
- Mid-week and last-minute specials
- Deposits and balance reminders
- Bonds held or taken online
- One-tap bond release or part claim
- Gift vouchers and promo codes
- Group and repeat guest records
- Payments synced to Xero or MYOB
Inductions & check-in
The induction done before they leave home.
Every nominated driver watches your induction videos and passes a quick quiz before arrival day. Licences, guest lists and the signed hire agreement are all in, so the jetty brief is a short hands-on check instead of an hour-long lecture.
- Induction videos for each boat type
- Short quiz for every driver
- Driver licence and age checks
- Guest list and numbers
- Signed hire terms and house rules
- Staggered jetty times by SMS
- Check-in status on one screen
- Automatic chasers for missing steps
- Hands-on jetty checklist for staff
Provisions & extras
Groceries on board before the guests are.
Guests choose provisioning packages and extras when they book or any time up to your cut-off. Your team get one packing list per boat and everything lands on the same invoice.
- Breakfast, BBQ and family packages
- Build-your-own grocery lists
- Drinks with age confirmation
- Tinny, kayak and fishing gear hire
- Linen and towel packs
- Order cut-offs before arrival
- Packing lists per boat and day
- Charged on the same booking
- Stock counts for hire gear
Route guides
The river map that fits in their pocket.
Your local knowledge in a guide on their phone. Moorings, locks, pump-out stations, fuel and the best swimming spots, saved so it still works when the reception drops out halfway up the river.
- Moorings with notes and photos
- Locks and opening times
- Pump-out and fuel stops
- No-go zones and hazards
- Pubs, shops and swimming spots
- Works offline once downloaded
- Suggested day-by-day routes
- Condition alerts pushed to guests
- Emergency and base contacts
Returns & turnaround
Back at the jetty, billed and turned around.
Return checks on a tablet capture meter readings, fuel, gas and condition photos, then price the usage straight onto the final bill. The turnaround board shows the crew exactly what each boat needs before the next group arrives.
- Generator hour and fuel readings
- Gas bottle swaps tracked
- Usage priced automatically
- Return condition photos
- Bond claims with evidence attached
- Cleaning checklists per boat
- Linen counts and laundry runs
- Pump-out logged
- Maintenance jobs and service history
- Boat marked ready for next hire
04How it changes
Before and after
A holiday hire, wolloped.
Here's how a Friday changeover could look. Every fleet is different, so we map yours first.
Before
- Booking confirmed over three emails and a phone call
- Bond card details written on a form
- Shopping list rung through and bought on a supermarket run
- Hour-long induction on the jetty while others wait
- Route explained with a biro on a photocopied map
- Fuel and generator hours argued at the counter on return
After
- Booked and paid online in a few minutes
- Bond held online and released after the return check
- Provision package ordered and packed on board
- Induction video watched at home
- Route guide saved on their phone
- Usage priced from the tablet and added to the bill
05Services
Everything under one roof
Software, websites and systems for houseboat hire companies.
Whether you're starting fresh or upgrading what you've got, it's one team from the first sketch to the support call.
Custom software for houseboat hire companies
Built around how your houseboat hire business actually runs: online booking engine, bonds & payments and the admin in between, in one system you own.
Websites for houseboat hire companies
Fast, hand-built websites that rank for the searches your customers make and turn visits into enquiries, bookings or orders.
Houseboat hire business system upgrades
Running on spreadsheets, old software or a platform you've outgrown? We move your data across and upgrade in stages so the business never stops.
Apps and portals for houseboat hire companies
Pre-arrival inductions and online check-in & hire agreements: customer and staff portals that work on any phone without an app store.
Integrations and automation
We connect Rezdy, FareHarbor and Checkfront so information moves on its own and nobody retypes it.
Hosting, support and care
Managed hosting, updates, backups and security for your houseboat hire business, looked after by the people who built it.
06Integrations
Connections
Plays nicely with what you already use.
We connect to the tools you rely on, work alongside booking platforms you're happy with or replace the ones holding you back.
- Rezdy
- FareHarbor
- Checkfront
- Bookeasy
- Booking.com
- Airbnb
- Expedia
- Stripe
- Square
- Xero
- MYOB
- TripAdvisor
- Google Business Profile
- Google Maps
- Mailchimp
- Twilio SMS
- YouTube
- Deputy
07How we work
The process
Some people dip their toe in. We turn up in a rebreather.
We get properly below the surface of your houseboat hire business: the systems, the busy days and the jobs everyone hates. Then we fix the bits that matter most first.
- 01
Think
We spend time on the jetty, in the office and on a turnaround day, then work out what's actually slowing you down.
- 02
Archi-tech
We plan it before writing code: your boats, seasons, bonds, inductions, provisions, routes, hosting and cost.
- 03
Build
Real engineering, shown to you early and often. Usually the most painful bit first, so you get a win before the next school holidays.
- 04
Look after
We host it, maintain it and keep improving it. When something breaks you call the people who built it.
08Questions
FAQ
Things houseboat hire companies ask us.
Something else on your mind? Ring 0423 011 252 and ask the people who'd build it.
Can guests order groceries for arrival?
Yes. Guests choose provisioning packages or build their own list when they book or any time up to your cut-off. Your team get a packing list per boat and it's all charged to the same booking.
Can the induction really be done before they arrive?
Most of it. Drivers watch your videos and pass a short quiz at home, so the jetty brief becomes a quick hands-on check of the helm, mooring lines and gas. You decide what still has to happen in person.
Can it hold the bond and release it automatically?
Yes. Bonds can be held or taken online before arrival. Once the return check is done you release it in one tap or keep part of it with the photos and readings attached.
Does the route guide work without phone reception?
Yes. Guests download it before they head off, so moorings, locks, pump-outs and hazards still show when the signal drops out on the river.
We already use Rezdy or FareHarbor. Do we have to switch?
No. If your booking platform is doing its job we build around it: inductions, provisions, route guides, return checks and turnarounds on top. If it's holding you back we'll show you what replacing it involves before anything changes.
Can it keep Booking.com and Airbnb in sync?
Yes. We can connect to the channels you list on so a boat booked in one place is blocked everywhere else and you stop double booking the long weekend.
How much does a houseboat hire system cost?
It depends on what you need, so we quote up front once we understand it. No surprise invoices, no lock-in and you own what we build.
How long does it take?
Smaller jobs like online inductions or provisioning packages can be quick. Bigger systems are planned in stages so you get the first win early instead of waiting for everything at once.
Who looks after it once it's built?
We do. We host it on our own managed servers and keep it updated and secure. When you need something you ring the people who built it.
We already have systems. Can you upgrade them instead of starting again?
Usually, yes. Most houseboat hire companies we work with keep what's working and upgrade the rest in stages. We move your data across, connect the old and new while we switch and retire the old system only when the new one is proven.
Contact
Got a houseboat hire business problem? Consider it wolloped.
Tell us what's slow, broken, manual or missing. You don't need a spec, just describe what's going on.