My rental starts early in the morning. Can I arrive the night before and spend the night on board?

Generally speaking, yes, but some rental companies may charge a fee for this. If your rental begins in the morning (which is typical for many rental companies on the French Riviera or in Brittany), and you have a long drive or need to take public transportation to get there, then it is indeed convenient to arrive at the boat the night before and spend the night docked there. This will save you from having to book a hotel room.

With some rental companies, this is included in the price; with others, there is an additional charge. If you choose to spend the night on board the day before your rental begins, you can generally arrive starting at 8:00 PM, rarely earlier, as the rental company needs time to clean the boat after the previous rental. They will usually leave the boat unlocked and the lights on, letting you know its location in the harbor beforehand. Then you can spend a peaceful night on board, and the next morning, you’ll go through the inventory and get a briefing on the boat.