What are thoughts about boat swapping? Seems to me trading boats for a week or two between folks in the NE, Florida, Pacific NW, or Med. might be an inexpensive way to sail another part of the world. Esp. if folks trade their own size/type of boat, they would already know it's quirks. That would avoid the chartering problems.
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Possible Resources
Try a search in www.google.com and enter "boat exchange sail" and check out the hits (link below). Or narrow the search with other words. Given what I've seen with charterers I'm not sure I'd want to loan my boat out. This summer an "experienced" sailor almost tore the keel of a brand new Catalina 40 near Westview. He even saw the reef on the chart before he hit it. But then I know an owner who motored back to his slip with this shrill "noise" in the cockpit. The advantage of dealing with another owner vice a renter/charterer is one can converse about experience and abilities. Certainly a real plus would be to optomize the use of the boat for better times of the year. We'd be able to head south in December and the southerners could come up here in August - on second thought....
Try a search in www.google.com and enter "boat exchange sail" and check out the hits (link below). Or narrow the search with other words. Given what I've seen with charterers I'm not sure I'd want to loan my boat out. This summer an "experienced" sailor almost tore the keel of a brand new Catalina 40 near Westview. He even saw the reef on the chart before he hit it. But then I know an owner who motored back to his slip with this shrill "noise" in the cockpit. The advantage of dealing with another owner vice a renter/charterer is one can converse about experience and abilities. Certainly a real plus would be to optomize the use of the boat for better times of the year. We'd be able to head south in December and the southerners could come up here in August - on second thought....
Swapping
One of the best ways to swap would be for you to trade with someone who has a boat in charter. My Hunter 410 is leased to Sunsail. I get more owner time than I can normally use. If you look in the classified section of Sail or Charter World you will see ads by people who have excess time for sale. The way the program works is you can use your time on your boat or any available boat at any base in the world. You can check availability for Sunsail on line at www.Sunsail.com. I have always been treated, along with my guests, like an owner of the company. When I go aboard the boat is clean, with loads of fresh linens, fueled, and ready to sail. They provide me with charts and a briefing for the area. If there is any problem they send a boat to fix it so there is not a delay in our charter. They are always there for weather updates and to provide inside advice on the area. While most people worry about the upkeep and security of their boat my only worry is where are we going to drop the hook tonight. They even direct deposit the check each month so when I return from a charter the money is in the bank. I have owned several sailboats and even lost one to Hugo. This is the only way to own a boat. I have sailed some of the finest sailboats in the best waters in the world and I am so happy to be the owner of a Hunter. You only notice the details when you spend weeks on other boats. If I didn't presently own a Hunter I certainly would after sailing the others.
One of the best ways to swap would be for you to trade with someone who has a boat in charter. My Hunter 410 is leased to Sunsail. I get more owner time than I can normally use. If you look in the classified section of Sail or Charter World you will see ads by people who have excess time for sale. The way the program works is you can use your time on your boat or any available boat at any base in the world. You can check availability for Sunsail on line at www.Sunsail.com. I have always been treated, along with my guests, like an owner of the company. When I go aboard the boat is clean, with loads of fresh linens, fueled, and ready to sail. They provide me with charts and a briefing for the area. If there is any problem they send a boat to fix it so there is not a delay in our charter. They are always there for weather updates and to provide inside advice on the area. While most people worry about the upkeep and security of their boat my only worry is where are we going to drop the hook tonight. They even direct deposit the check each month so when I return from a charter the money is in the bank. I have owned several sailboats and even lost one to Hugo. This is the only way to own a boat. I have sailed some of the finest sailboats in the best waters in the world and I am so happy to be the owner of a Hunter. You only notice the details when you spend weeks on other boats. If I didn't presently own a Hunter I certainly would after sailing the others.
Interested
I am interested in the prospect of swapping and have looked casually at a couple of sites. I have a well equiped 1983 H34 near Annapolis and have thought if I could find an experienced owner wanting to trade it might work. The problems inherent include getting the insurance to cover that person, in my case it is Boat US and they require some info on past experience etc to add a captain. I guess there is already a way given that it is being done. I owned my previous boat as a partnership and swapped use of the boat freely. In general the pluses far out weighed the minuses. On the other hand, they were all owners with me while a swap would mean handing over my boat to someone that might not be too invested. I guess I would want to know them fairly well which would mean a thorough check and some extended communication. Diane, if you are interested in talking about a swap to this area let me know at eswift3@aol.com.
I am interested in the prospect of swapping and have looked casually at a couple of sites. I have a well equiped 1983 H34 near Annapolis and have thought if I could find an experienced owner wanting to trade it might work. The problems inherent include getting the insurance to cover that person, in my case it is Boat US and they require some info on past experience etc to add a captain. I guess there is already a way given that it is being done. I owned my previous boat as a partnership and swapped use of the boat freely. In general the pluses far out weighed the minuses. On the other hand, they were all owners with me while a swap would mean handing over my boat to someone that might not be too invested. I guess I would want to know them fairly well which would mean a thorough check and some extended communication. Diane, if you are interested in talking about a swap to this area let me know at eswift3@aol.com.
Insurance
Eric, My insurance is through St. Paul group via West Marine. According to my policy anyone that I designate as an authorized operator is covered to captain the boat. The only caveat is that it cannot be a "paid" or "rental" type of situation. I wonder if a "swap" would be considered compensation?
Eric, My insurance is through St. Paul group via West Marine. According to my policy anyone that I designate as an authorized operator is covered to captain the boat. The only caveat is that it cannot be a "paid" or "rental" type of situation. I wonder if a "swap" would be considered compensation?
Here's the link
Here's a link to a sailboat exchange program. I have inquired about some but never got a response. Maybe some of you can get a swap out of the deal.
Here's a link to a sailboat exchange program. I have inquired about some but never got a response. Maybe some of you can get a swap out of the deal.
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