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Chartering a Yacht
A great way to enjoy sailing without the
year-round costs and worries of boat
ownership
is to rent or charter a boat when you
need
it, for example for a vacation in the
Caribbean.
Plus, by chartering the boat there,
you save
the time of positioning your boat from
your
home port to your destination.
Because of the advantages to yacht
chartering,
there are many options available. Here
are
some considerations to help you narrow
down
your choices:
- Type of charter or rental - do you want to
charter a boat fully equipped and
with crew,
a fully provisioned boat that you
will sail,
or a bareboat. Each has its advantages
and
disadvantages.
- crewed - the most expensive approach, crewed
charters are for guests that wish to enjoy
the travel without the effort. A crewed yacht
comes complete with a skipper, crew, and
provisions. They will take you where you
want to go, feed you, and handle all the
onboard chores.
- skippered - for sailors with limited experience
in sailing or the destination, a skippered
charter provides an experience captain to
manage the boat on your behalf, often for
no more than their salary and food. However,
such a charter obviously requires one cabin
to be dedicated for the captain's use.
- bareboat - cost of a bareboat is the least,
but then you have to put in the time for
everything from shopping for provisions and
stocking the boat to piloting, operating,
and maintaining the boat. Bareboat trips
are best for the experienced sailor and require
evidence of appropriate experience before
a charter agreement is signed.
- Type of boat - charter companies over a wide
selection of types and sizes of boats. Choose
from sail, power, and luxury yachts.
- Location - popular locations are the Bahamas,
Caribbean, Florida, the Mediterranean, and
the South Pacific.
- Activities - depending on the type of boat,
charter, and boat size, the charter may include
gear for activities ranging from snorkeling
to jet skiing.
Finally, before you sign, get
references
from previous customers. While most
large
charter companies use well maintained,
nearly
new boats, some of the smaller charter
companies
use older fleets and may not maintain
them
well. |
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