By Alex Wilson
Staying at Boatel on the Water is a little bit like taking a fantasy cruise to the Ventura Harbor Village. While the two vintage cabin cruisers named Ventura Boatel and Boatel California never cast off from the dock, stepping aboard is an adventure nonetheless.
Glenn Willson is a longtime commercial fisherman from Ventura who also farms pineapples and dragon fruit on the big Island of Hawaii. In 2019 he bought Boatel on the Water, which had existed in Ventura Harbor for many years, utilizing several different boats.
“These are both 1969. They’re both 40 foot. Very spacious inside. And they both have that old world charm,” Willson told Ventana Magazine. “We tried to keep them as original inside as possible, but we did a lot of work cleaning them up. And we put things in there like, you know, smart TVs, both in the living room and in the master bedroom.”
Each vessel can accommodate up to six guests and comes equipped with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave and crock pot for people who would like to cook in the galley. Most of the guests, however, choose to patronize one of the many restaurants that are just steps away in Ventura Harbor Village, perhaps after enjoying a sip of champagne onboard their private yacht.
“There’s a beautiful deck outside on both of the boats. The fantail, so to speak, with nice views, beautiful sunsets,” Willson said.
Boatel on the Water has hundreds of five-star ratings on Airbnb from customers who thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but Willson acknowledges that it’s not for everybody.
“They’re just super comfortable and it’s a very unique, unique offering. We don’t claim to be the Four Seasons. We don’t claim to be luxurious. But what we are is very comfortable, unique, affordable. Stay in that gorgeous area right there in the Ventura Harbor below all the restaurants,” Willson said. “People love it. As long as you’re reading the description, you know you’re staying on a boat. Like we say, we’re like a nice RV on the water.”
Rates vary from around $160 to $300 a night depending on demand, plus a $65 cleaning fee and $46 Airbnb service fee. Boatel on the Water does not allow kids under 11 or pets, and of course guests will need to follow special instructions about what can and can’t go in the “head” (boatspeak for bathroom). But it’s all part of the nautical adventure.
Many guests combine a stay at Boatel on the Water with a trip to Channel Islands National Park, since the vessels offer the closest accommodations to transportation concessionaire Island Packers Cruises. Boatel on the Water is also popular with guests celebrating special occasions like birthdays, wedding anniversaries and even reunions. Families have been known to rent both boats at once.
“For bookings of two nights or more, the guests will receive their choice of a bottle of wine, champagne or sparkling cider. And we also give them certificates to Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room right above the Boatel,” Willson said. “People love it because it is unique and it’s in that fantastic location. And, you know, being on the water, it’s not something everybody gets to do. We’re the only ones that do it in our area.”
Boatel on the Water
1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura Harbor
805.991.2628
boatelonthewater.com
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