Published by Saphyr · About the owners and our guides
Can you hire a boat in Saint-Cast-le-Guildo without a boating licence? Yes: small motorboats are advertised for visitors without one. However, they suit different outings from a powerful RIB or a sailing boat. This guide brings together options found on operator websites and local tourism information, so you can choose according to your experience and group.
The main licence-free lead: Les Bateaux d’Émeraude
Les Bateaux d’Émeraude advertise two Fun Yak 450 boats, La Palourde and Le Tourteau, with 6 hp engines and a stated capacity of six people. Their website identifies Port Jacquet as the meeting point. Confirm the precise boarding location and reserved boat before arrival.
Valentin’s Fun Yak listing displays €180 per day, including fuel, a €1,000 security deposit and a minimum rental age of 18. These are indicative details checked on 5 November 2026: confirm the total, fees and terms for your dates.
Vitavoile: check the licence-free offer directly
The local 2026 tourist map also lists Vitavoile for licence-free boat hire. However, its former page for this option is no longer available, while the current rates found list motorboats requiring a licence. Call Vitavoile on +33 6 72 93 89 83 to check whether a licence-free option is offered for your dates. Do not assume a listed motorboat qualifies.
Larger motorboats and RIBs
Nouvelle Vague, at the harbour, lists Arimar 5.40, Promarine 6.10 and Capelli Tempest 700 RIBs, plus a Cap Camarat 7.5. Before hiring to drive yourself, confirm the required licence, experience, passenger capacity and quotation. Telephone: +33 2 96 41 85 02. These are not being presented as licence-free boats.
Sailing, kayaking or an instructor-led outing
The Centre Nautique de Saint-Cast offers catamarans, dinghies, kayaks and paddleboards, alongside private tuition. Its summer hire point is on the Grande Plage; check opening hours before visiting. An instructor-led session is another way to enjoy the water if you are not yet confident navigating independently.
At Port du Guildo, Les Canoës du Guildo offers paddling on the Arguenon, with departures governed by the tides. This is a different location from Saint-Cast harbour, so check your meeting point.
Licence-free still requires preparation
The French maritime ministry states that a boating licence is required for recreational motorboats above 4.5 kW, approximately 6 hp. Have the operator confirm the boat’s category. A driving licence is not a boating licence; check recognition of any foreign boating qualification.
Ask for a proper briefing covering manoeuvres, the permitted area, tides, weather, equipment and return procedures. Request correctly sized lifejackets, especially for children. Operators mention Les Ébihens, but no route should be treated as guaranteed: follow the permitted area and conditions on the day rather than a fixed crossing time.
Questions before booking
Which boat, how many passengers, what times and which harbour? Are fuel, insurance and platform charges included? What deposit, insurance excess and weather-cancellation terms apply? An online listing does not establish availability in November or year-round opening.
Read our Saint-Cast harbour guide and explore Saphyr, our sea-view apartment. Send us your holiday dates to plan your stay in Saint-Cast.
Sources and planning: information checked on 5 November 2026. Dinan-Cap Fréhel — plan 2026 · Ministère chargé de la mer. Check current conditions and access before each walk.
Photograph: Saint-Cast harbour and bay.
Cover photograph: view of Saint-Cast-le-Guildo harbour.