Blocking Dates#

Need to close for holidays, maintenance, or private events? RecSystems offers several ways to block dates (sometimes called blackout dates) from being booked, depending on your needs.

Choosing the Right Method#

Unit Downtime#

Best for: Holidays, maintenance, private events, weather closures

Unit Downtime is the primary way to block specific dates for specific units. It creates a maintenance booking that blocks availability.

How to Schedule Downtime#

1. Go to Account Info → Unit Downtime
2. Click Schedule Downtime
3. Select the unit and quantity to block
4. Choose a downtime type (Holiday, Maintenance, Private Event, etc.)
5. Set start and end dates/times
6. Add optional notes
7. Click Schedule Downtime

Downtime Types#

Example: Holiday Closure#

To close a pontoon boat for July 4th:

1. Go to Account Info → Unit Downtime
2. Click Schedule Downtime
3. Select the pontoon boat
4. Choose Private Event / Owner (or create a Holiday note)
5. Set July 4 as start and end date
6. Check All day
7. Add note: Independence Day closure
8. Save

For full details, see Unit Downtime.

Recurring Closures#

Best for: Always closed on certain days (e.g., Mondays)

Use timeslot day-of-week settings to block recurring days.

How to Set Recurring Closures#

1. Go to Account → Timeslots in the navbar
2. Edit the timeslot
3. In Available Days, uncheck the days you want closed
4. Save

Example: Always Closed Mondays#

1. Edit your timeslot
2. Uncheck Monday
3. Save

All units using this timeslot will now be unavailable on Mondays.

Seasonal Closures#

Best for: Off-season periods (e.g., November through March)

Use timeslot seasonal dates to set when a timeslot is active.

How to Set Seasonal Closures#

1. Go to Account → Timeslots in the navbar
2. Edit the timeslot
3. Set Valid From to your season start (e.g., April 1)
4. Set Valid Through to your season end (e.g., October 31)
5. Save

Example: Summer-Only Operation#

1. Edit your timeslot
2. Set Valid From: May 1
3. Set Valid Through: September 30
4. Save

Units using this timeslot will only be bookable May through September.

Managing Blocked Dates#

Viewing Blocked Dates#

• Downtime: Account Info → Unit Downtime shows all scheduled downtime
• Day-of-Week: Check timeslot settings
• Seasonal: Check timeslot valid date range

Removing Blocked Dates#

• Downtime: Go to Account Info → Unit Downtime, find the entry, click Remove
• Day-of-Week: Edit timeslot, check the day again
• Seasonal: Edit timeslot, expand the valid date range

Existing Bookings#

Important: Blocking dates does NOT cancel existing bookings.

If you have bookings on dates you're blocking:

1. Review bookings — Check calendar for conflicts
2. Contact customers — Reach out to affected bookings
3. Offer alternatives — Different dates or refunds
4. Cancel if needed — Process cancellations separately

Best Practices#

Plan Ahead#

• Schedule holiday downtime at the start of the year
• Block maintenance periods early
• Communicate closures to customers

Use the Right Method#

• One-time closures → Unit Downtime
• Weekly patterns → Day-of-Week settings
• Seasonal patterns → Timeslot valid dates

Document Everything#

• Add notes when scheduling downtime
• Record why dates are blocked
• Review and update annually

Related Articles:

• Understanding Availability
• Setting Rental Schedules
• Unit Downtime