GÖTA KANAL CHARTER – General Terms and Conditions for the Rental of Leisure Boats

Göta Kanal Charter AB, Mem–Sjötorp

• Phone: +46 70 54 69 169
• Org.nr: 556884-0226
• Address: Råggatan 10, SE-592 32 Vadstena, Sweden
• Email: boka@kanalcharter.se
• Website: www.kanalcharter.se
• Bankgiro: 752-8581
• VAT: SE556884022601

Company name: Göta Kanal Charter Mem Sjötorp AB

VAT: SE556884022601

We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

1. Booking and payment

En bokning blir bindande när hyrestagaren har fått en bokningsbekräftelse via e-post och när Göta Kanal Charter har mottagit en förskottsbetalning om minst 30% av den totala hyressumman.

The deposit must be paid within 2 days of booking. By paying the deposit, the charterer accepts these general terms and conditions.

The remaining balance must be received by Göta Kanal Charter no later than 40 days before the start of the rental period.

If the final payment has not been received by this time, Göta Kanal Charter may cancel the reservation and release the boat for rebooking. In such cases, the deposit will be retained as a cancellation fee.

For bookings made less than 40 days before the start of the rental period, the full rental amount must be paid immediately.

Göta Kanal Charter informs the charterer of the expected handover harbor for the boat. The handover location cannot be guaranteed in advance, as unforeseen circumstances may require Göta Kanal Charter to change the route. In such cases, the charterer will be informed as soon as possible.

2. Hyrestagarens skyldigheter

A. Driver competence and experience

The charterer must have sufficient knowledge and experience to operate the rented boat safely and in accordance with the instructions and rules provided by Göta Kanal Charter.

In Sweden, leisure boats may be operated without a license/certificate as long as the boat is not legally classified as a “vessel.” According to Swedish regulations, a pleasure craft is classified as a vessel if it is both at least 12 meters long and at least 4 meters wide. All boats in the Göta Kanal Charter fleet are below these limits and are therefore classified as boats, not vessels—meaning no boat operator license is required by law.

If it becomes apparent during the rental period that the charterer is unable to handle the boat safely or does not follow applicable instructions/rules, Göta Kanal Charter has the right to terminate the rental agreement with immediate effect. In such cases, any remaining rental amount will be forfeited.

Eventuella extra kostnader som uppstår för Göta Kanal Charter till följd av en sådan uppsägning (inklusive men inte begränsat till kostnader för att återföra båten till starthamn eller avtalad återlämningshamn) ska betalas av hyrestagaren.

B. Use of the boat

The charterer undertakes to take good care of the boat and all associated equipment and to follow all instructions from Göta Kanal Charter. The charterer is responsible for the boat throughout the entire rental period.

The boat may only be used for leisure cruising. The boat may not be used for racing, towing, or transport of goods or passengers for compensation (the towing prohibition does not apply to dinghy/jolly or in emergency situations).

The charterer is responsible for complying with Swedish laws and regulations. The boat may only be used within the areas covered by the insurance (see section 4C).

The charterer may not sublet the boat or transfer it to a third party.

The charterer must follow the route plan provided by Göta Kanal Charter. Changes to the route plan require prior approval from Göta Kanal Charter.

Operating hours: The boat may only be operated between 08:00 and 18:00. Operation outside these hours is permitted only in exceptional cases and requires prior approval from Göta Kanal Charter.

C. Return of the boat

The boat must be returned to the harbor at the time specified in the rental agreement. At that time, the crew must have disembarked and all personal belongings must be removed.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing and approved by Göta Kanal Charter, the boat must be cleaned both inside and outside. The cleaning must be approved by Göta Kanal Charter before the crew leaves. Göta Kanal Charter reserves the right to charge the charterer for cleaning if the boat is not returned in an acceptable condition.

If the charterer is prevented from returning the boat at the agreed time, Göta Kanal Charter must be informed immediately.

In the event of late return, Göta Kanal Charter will charge compensation equivalent to double the agreed daily rental rate, plus any additional losses incurred because the boat was not available to the next charterer on time. Weather conditions may not be used as a valid reason for delay.

If the boat is not returned to the agreed harbor, the charterer is responsible for all costs and risks associated with transporting the boat (arranged by or via Göta Kanal Charter) to the agreed harbor.

The charterer must inform Göta Kanal Charter before any return transport is initiated and, if required, pay delay compensation as stated above.

D. Measures in case of breakdown, fire, or theft

If a breakdown occurs during the rental period, if equipment is lost, or if the boat is stolen, Göta Kanal Charter must be informed immediately. Göta Kanal Charter will then provide instructions on how the situation should be handled.

If the charterer has their own insurance that may cover the incident, it is the charterer’s responsibility to contact their insurance company without delay.

In the event of fire on board or theft of the boat or its equipment, the charterer must promptly report the incident to the police and provide a copy of the police report to Göta Kanal Charter.

Failure to fulfill the obligations above may result in the charterer being directly liable for financial damages that arise as a consequence.

The charterer is liable to pay compensation for lost items and for repair of damage to the boat to the extent that the loss/damage is not covered by the (optional) collision damage waiver.

E. Interruption of use

If a breakdown makes it impossible to continue the trip (either because the boat no longer functions or because continued travel would increase the damage), Göta Kanal Charter has 24 hours from being informed to repair the boat or provide a replacement boat, provided that the breakdown was not caused by the charterer’s misuse, negligence, or failure to follow instructions or this agreement.

If Göta Kanal Charter cannot repair or replace the boat within this time, Göta Kanal Charter will refund the daily rental fee for the boat (excluding canal ticket and any optional extras), proportionally for the time after the first 24 hours that the boat cannot be used—provided that the breakdown was not caused by the charterer as stated above.

If the breakdown is due to the charterer’s actions or negligence (including misuse, carelessness, or failure to follow instructions), the charterer is not entitled to any refund, replacement boat, or other compensation and is responsible for any resulting costs and losses.

Göta Kanal Charter reserves the right to compensate the charterer with non-monetary benefits, such as meals or accommodation.

F. Cancellation of the trip by the charterer

If the charterer cancels the trip for any reason before the agreed return date, no refund will be made.

Göta Kanal Charter reserves the right to claim compensation for additional costs and losses, for example if the boat must be relocated to the agreed return harbor or cannot be made available to the next charterer in time.

G. Seizure and detention

The charterer has no right or authority to consent to the boat being seized, impounded, confiscated, or taken as payment by anyone for any reason.

The charterer undertakes to carry a signed copy of the rental agreement on board during the trip and to present it to any person(s) attempting to confiscate the boat and/or its equipment.

3. Deposit

Alternativ 1: Återbetalningsbar deposition

Vid ankomst till basen ska hyrestagaren betala en återbetalningsbar skadedeposition upp till €1 500 (beroende på vilken båt som hyrs). Depositionen tas i anspråk endast om båten återlämnas skadad eller om utrustning/inventarier är skadade eller saknas.

Alternative 2: Collision damage waiver (optional)

An additional fee of up to €300 (depending on which boat is rented) may be paid upon arrival or at the time of booking. With this option, the charterer is covered for damage to the boat as well as damage to or loss of equipment/inventory upon return.

The collision damage waiver does not cover damage caused intentionally, through gross negligence, or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Grounding or propeller damage, as well as loss of or damage to rented bicycles, are not covered.

Financial losses incurred by Göta Kanal Charter due to the charterer breaching the rental agreement are also not covered by the collision damage waiver.

4. Göta Kanal Charter’s liability

A. Delivery

The boat shall be made available on the agreed date. If Göta Kanal Charter cannot provide the boat on the agreed date due to circumstances beyond their control (e.g. breakdown or delayed return by a previous charterer), Göta Kanal Charter shall, if possible, provide an alternative boat.

If no replacement boat can be offered, Göta Kanal Charter shall refund the daily rental fee for the boat (excluding canal ticket and optional extras), proportionally to the delay.

Göta Kanal Charter reserves the right to compensate the charterer for the delay with non-monetary benefits, such as meals or accommodation.

B. Båtens skick

Göta Kanal Charter åtar sig att överlämna båten och dess utrustning (enligt inventarielistan) ren och i fungerande skick.

C. Insurancevvvvvv

The boat is insured with comprehensive insurance as well as third-party liability insurance. The scope of the insurance, insured value, and deductibles are determined according to the terms of Göta Kanal Charter’s insurance provider.

The insurance is valid on the Göta Canal and the lakes between Mem and Sjötorp.

5. Avbokning

A.

Before the deposit payment has been received, the charterer may cancel free of charge.

B. Cancellation after deposit payment

If the charterer cancels after the deposit has been paid, the deposit will not be refunded.

However, the deposit may be credited once (1 time) toward a new booking with Göta Kanal Charter made within 12 months from the original cancellation date. To use the credit, the charterer must pay the remaining balance in full for the new booking. The credit is personal, non-transferable, and may only be used for one booking.

C. Avbokning inom 40 dagar

If the charterer cancels less than 40 days before the start of the trip, 100% of the rental amount will be forfeited.

D. Transfer of agreement

Instead of cancelling, the charterer may request to transfer the rental agreement to another person, provided that Göta Kanal Charter approves this in advance in writing. The new charterer must accept these terms and assume full responsibility for the agreement. Göta Kanal Charter may charge a reasonable administrative fee for the transfer.

6. Disputes

In the event of a dispute regarding the interpretation or application of these general terms and conditions, the parties shall first attempt to reach an amicable settlement.

If the parties cannot agree, the dispute shall be resolved through arbitration in accordance with Swedish law. The place of jurisdiction shall be Linköping, Sweden.

7. Right of withdrawal (distance contract)

If the charterer is a consumer and the booking is made online (distance contract), mandatory consumer protection regulations may apply.