Second Hand Skipper Deck Hand

The Mediterranean is not a postcard. It is not a backdrop for your selfie, and it certainly isn’t a museum. It’s a living, breathing, occasionally violent body of water that has defined this city for two millennia. If you want the sanitized version, go to the beach and buy a watered-down mojito. But if you want to actually feel the hull cut through the chop, you head to Port Olímpic. Specifically, you look for Second Hand Skipper.

For years, Port Olímpic was a place of ill repute—a neon-soaked gauntlet of bad nightclubs and even worse decisions. But Barcelona is finally reclaiming its waterfront. The clubs are gone, replaced by what the suits call the 'Blue Economy.' It’s a fancy term for people who actually give a damn about the sea. In the middle of this transformation sits Second Hand Skipper, a nautical hub that feels more like a workshop than a tourist office. This isn't where you go for a 'booze cruise' with a hundred other people wearing neon sunglasses. This is where you go when you want a skipper who knows the difference between a jib and a genoa and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty.

Located along the Moll de Mestral, Second Hand Skipper operates in that beautiful, gritty intersection of boat brokerage and adventure. The 'Second Hand' part of the name is a badge of honor. It’s about the circular economy of the sea—reusing gear, fixing what’s broken, and respecting the craft. They buy and sell boats, sure, but for the traveler, they are the keys to the city’s liquid backyard. Whether you’re looking for a private boat charter in Barcelona or a seasoned deckhand to show you how to actually handle a line, this is the real deal.

Stepping onto one of their vessels, you immediately notice the lack of pretension. The teak might be weathered, the winches might have a bit of character, but the engines hum with the confidence of a machine that’s been cared for by someone who actually sails. As you pull away from the dock, the noise of the city—the scooters, the shouting, the endless construction—begins to fade. You pass the jagged, unfinished spires of the Sagrada Família and the gleaming copper fish of Frank Gehry, and suddenly, you’re in the blue.

This is the best boat rental Barcelona has to offer for the person who hates being a 'tourist.' You can opt for a sunset sail where the sky turns the color of a bruised plum, or a half-day excursion where you can drop anchor and dive into the cold, clear water of the Mediterranean. There is no script here. There is no pre-recorded tour guide telling you lies about Columbus. It’s just you, the wind, and a skipper who probably has more stories than a library and twice the scars.

Is it for everyone? No. If you need white-glove service and a crew in matching polos, go somewhere else. But if you want to understand why people have been obsessed with this coastline since the Romans, you need to get on the water with people who live for it. Second Hand Skipper is a reminder that even in a city as polished as modern Barcelona, you can still find a bit of salt, a bit of grit, and a whole lot of soul if you know which wharf to walk down.