diff --git a/server/src/routes/boatRoutes.routes.ts b/server/src/routes/boatRoutes.routes.ts
index a6902d1b1bafbb93df9f28cb8af8b5b9b27f8532..e5d1f2e42d1806acf4f0ad6b937c07781fe17ef8 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/boatRoutes.routes.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/boatRoutes.routes.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ boatsRouter.post(
   body("name").not().isEmpty(),
   body("boattype").not().isEmpty(),
   body("status").not().isEmpty() && body("status").isIn([1, 0]),
-  body("tags").not().isEmpty() && body("tags").isArray(),
+  body("tags").if(body("tags").exists()).isArray(), //optional tags field
   handleValidationResult,
   validateToken,
   boatControllers.createBoat
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ boatsRouter.patch(
   body("name").if(body("name").exists()).not().isEmpty(),
   body("boattype").if(body("boattype").exists()).not().isEmpty(),
   body("status").if(body("status").exists()).not().isEmpty().isIn([1, 0]),
-  body("tags").if(body("tags").exists()).not().isEmpty().isArray(),
+  body("tags").if(body("tags").exists()).isArray(),
   handleValidationResult,
   validateToken,
   boatControllers.updateBoatById