Can anyone recommend any small companies operating bareboat or possible skippered charter in the Caribbean? We're in the UK but looking to charter for a week or two somewhere there this year. For bareboat c. 36ft, crewed around 50ft. All suggestions appreciated! Thanks, Richard
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Dennis Thomas
Try eBare.com
I've used "Sail Abaco" in the Bahamas and "Trawlers in Paradise" in the BVI's. Both are listed on this site.
I've used "Sail Abaco" in the Bahamas and "Trawlers in Paradise" in the BVI's. Both are listed on this site.
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David
Charters
TMM in Road Town, Tortola, BVI is very good. Small with personal service at it's best. Good track record. I have chartered with them for six years and never disappointed. I noticed on their site that they are running some specials.
TMM in Road Town, Tortola, BVI is very good. Small with personal service at it's best. Good track record. I have chartered with them for six years and never disappointed. I noticed on their site that they are running some specials.
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jay
Try NorthSouth
We had a 38' Benteau Bareboat from NorthSouth with no complaints. They have older more affordable boats at a good rate. Just don't expect a brand new Moorings boat! Luck! Jay
We had a 38' Benteau Bareboat from NorthSouth with no complaints. They have older more affordable boats at a good rate. Just don't expect a brand new Moorings boat! Luck! Jay
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Randy Schweitzer
Benefits of a charter broker
Richard, Use a charter broker to ask you 20-30 questions to narrow the choices of budget, age, experience, interest, explaining economical choices for boats
Richard, Use a charter broker to ask you 20-30 questions to narrow the choices of budget, age, experience, interest, explaining economical choices for boats
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Barry
Charter Broker Not for Me
I tried the charter broker route. Then I did my own research (easily done on line) and got a much better deal. I used Tradewinds. No one could get near their price. The boats and service were great. Look for special deals and discounts on line. They even got me 30% off my airfare. Barry
I tried the charter broker route. Then I did my own research (easily done on line) and got a much better deal. I used Tradewinds. No one could get near their price. The boats and service were great. Look for special deals and discounts on line. They even got me 30% off my airfare. Barry
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Jay Meyer
Tortola
We have used TMM in Tortolla twice with good luck both times. My wife and I took the 460 out one week and last year the 450. Boats were in sound shape and when we had a refig problem a chase boat met us by sunset that day after we had anchored. Very good service. They have ads in most of the sail mags or go to Click here: sailtmm.com
We have used TMM in Tortolla twice with good luck both times. My wife and I took the 460 out one week and last year the 450. Boats were in sound shape and when we had a refig problem a chase boat met us by sunset that day after we had anchored. Very good service. They have ads in most of the sail mags or go to Click here: sailtmm.com
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Dan
TMM and the Fort Burt Hotel
I can endorse Jay and David. TMM was great and knowledgeable. I took a Lagoon410 with 4 couples. I recommend the Fort Burt Hotel, overlooking your boats, and the Roti Palace for genuine roti. Say "HI" to Strawberry and order the lobster dinner ahead on Jost VanDyke. I want to go back soon.
I can endorse Jay and David. TMM was great and knowledgeable. I took a Lagoon410 with 4 couples. I recommend the Fort Burt Hotel, overlooking your boats, and the Roti Palace for genuine roti. Say "HI" to Strawberry and order the lobster dinner ahead on Jost VanDyke. I want to go back soon.
Sunsail
I chartered bareboat with Sunsail in Antigua a couple of years ago and it was a good experience. Although Sunsail is a huge company, the base in Antigua was cozy and well run. I'm pretty sure they will do a crewed charter. Skippers are also available on a per-day basis if you want a little local experience before pushing off on your own. The only thing to bear in mind with Antigua is that the wind is strong and steady, so seas can be large once you get out from under the lee of the island. If you prefer more relaxed sailing, there are other Sunsail bases throughout the BVI and eastern Caribbean. Sunsail's US website is www.sunsailusa.com. Since Sunsail is a UK company, I'd be surprised if they didn't have a website just for UK sailors, with prices in pounds. Good luck and happy sailing. Peter H 23 "Raven"
I chartered bareboat with Sunsail in Antigua a couple of years ago and it was a good experience. Although Sunsail is a huge company, the base in Antigua was cozy and well run. I'm pretty sure they will do a crewed charter. Skippers are also available on a per-day basis if you want a little local experience before pushing off on your own. The only thing to bear in mind with Antigua is that the wind is strong and steady, so seas can be large once you get out from under the lee of the island. If you prefer more relaxed sailing, there are other Sunsail bases throughout the BVI and eastern Caribbean. Sunsail's US website is www.sunsailusa.com. Since Sunsail is a UK company, I'd be surprised if they didn't have a website just for UK sailors, with prices in pounds. Good luck and happy sailing. Peter H 23 "Raven"
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Lori
Tropic Island Yacht Mgmt
I've used Tropic Island Yacht Management in Maya cove twice. (Also Conch Charters with okay results). I heard about Tropic Island through Boat/US (they have a broker svc also). I was pleased with our experience. It isn't the large fleet experience you see with Moorings, etc, but it's also a LOT cheaper. Don't miss the Baths. Have fun!
I've used Tropic Island Yacht Management in Maya cove twice. (Also Conch Charters with okay results). I heard about Tropic Island through Boat/US (they have a broker svc also). I was pleased with our experience. It isn't the large fleet experience you see with Moorings, etc, but it's also a LOT cheaper. Don't miss the Baths. Have fun!
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Matt
Leaving March 30 for bvi charter
I am leaving out March 30 - April 7th on a 42 foot Catalina chartered from Provalor Yacht Charters out of Tortola. They are real reasonable ($1400.00 for 7 days). I will let you know how it goes.
I am leaving out March 30 - April 7th on a 42 foot Catalina chartered from Provalor Yacht Charters out of Tortola. They are real reasonable ($1400.00 for 7 days). I will let you know how it goes.
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Les Murray
Just got back from BVI
I just returned from BVI. I chartered from Sunsail on an older ('99) Jeanneau 424. Sunsail was great, the boat was pretty good (needed new sails and the autopilot was broken), and the sailing was perfect. Would I go with them again? Probably. The Jeanneau was pretty nice and held 12 people at one point. It was a bit rocky at anchor in the wind. Seemed to roam more than others at anchor. If you go to the BVI, you have to check out Monkey Point on Guana Island. Best snorkeling in the whole region. Enjoy your trip. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
I just returned from BVI. I chartered from Sunsail on an older ('99) Jeanneau 424. Sunsail was great, the boat was pretty good (needed new sails and the autopilot was broken), and the sailing was perfect. Would I go with them again? Probably. The Jeanneau was pretty nice and held 12 people at one point. It was a bit rocky at anchor in the wind. Seemed to roam more than others at anchor. If you go to the BVI, you have to check out Monkey Point on Guana Island. Best snorkeling in the whole region. Enjoy your trip. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
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Walt Remele
Owner
Richard, As the owner of a B361 in service with SunYacht/Stardust/Sunsail for close to 2 years I can tell you that, yes, you will spend less money with smaller charter companies in the BVI's. With either SunSail or Moorings you will receive a bareboat in very good shape and have a great response to any problems encountered. The question for you to answer is how do you want to spend your vacation? Most of the time you pay for what you get. At any rate, if you have never been to the BVI's, don't miss it! Great place, lot's to do and see, easy sailing. Hope you decide to visit! Walt Remele J Shammah
Richard, As the owner of a B361 in service with SunYacht/Stardust/Sunsail for close to 2 years I can tell you that, yes, you will spend less money with smaller charter companies in the BVI's. With either SunSail or Moorings you will receive a bareboat in very good shape and have a great response to any problems encountered. The question for you to answer is how do you want to spend your vacation? Most of the time you pay for what you get. At any rate, if you have never been to the BVI's, don't miss it! Great place, lot's to do and see, easy sailing. Hope you decide to visit! Walt Remele J Shammah
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Kevin Whalen
Depends on what you want to spend
I've chartered in the BVI several times. Decided how much you want to/ or can spend. Best Charters I've had on the cheap end have been from BVI Yacht Charters and Conch Charters. In both cases I had worn but well maintained boats and friendly staff. Move to the expensive end you can go Moorings. Sunsail and TMM are good Medium priced companies. This year I'm using Horizon which has a BVI base.(I'm sailing out of Grenada). After you pick one or two in your price range post a message again I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions. By the way the comment that says "be sure to see Monkey Point" is very true. It is the best snorkeling I've seen. The reef is better the most reef's I've dove on. Kevin Whalen
I've chartered in the BVI several times. Decided how much you want to/ or can spend. Best Charters I've had on the cheap end have been from BVI Yacht Charters and Conch Charters. In both cases I had worn but well maintained boats and friendly staff. Move to the expensive end you can go Moorings. Sunsail and TMM are good Medium priced companies. This year I'm using Horizon which has a BVI base.(I'm sailing out of Grenada). After you pick one or two in your price range post a message again I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions. By the way the comment that says "be sure to see Monkey Point" is very true. It is the best snorkeling I've seen. The reef is better the most reef's I've dove on. Kevin Whalen
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Bill Krause
Conch
Just got back from my 2nd trip through Conchcharters.com. Great price $2600 for 10 days on a "98" Benneteau 405. Boat was in great shape, clean etc. and staff very friendly. "Saba Rock" on Virgin Gorda offering free water (up to 250 gal.) and a free bag of ice if you use their mooring buoy ($20).
Just got back from my 2nd trip through Conchcharters.com. Great price $2600 for 10 days on a "98" Benneteau 405. Boat was in great shape, clean etc. and staff very friendly. "Saba Rock" on Virgin Gorda offering free water (up to 250 gal.) and a free bag of ice if you use their mooring buoy ($20).
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Dan Lucas
"TheMooring"- 45' Cat /Best we have used
Sailed the BVI's and Abaco's in last two years. Used "the Moorings" both times. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR .. PERIOD!!! Also Have several friend who chartered 41 mono-hull from "The Moorings", with no problems, however two couples that own boats slipped on my dock at the lake chartered from "The Mooring" and had problems with the fresh water system, heads and motor. The boat was an older boat, they chose this boat because it was cheaper. "older the boat -the more the problems" Get the best you can afford - take no short cuts. GOOD LUCK AND SMOOTH SAILING
Sailed the BVI's and Abaco's in last two years. Used "the Moorings" both times. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR .. PERIOD!!! Also Have several friend who chartered 41 mono-hull from "The Moorings", with no problems, however two couples that own boats slipped on my dock at the lake chartered from "The Mooring" and had problems with the fresh water system, heads and motor. The boat was an older boat, they chose this boat because it was cheaper. "older the boat -the more the problems" Get the best you can afford - take no short cuts. GOOD LUCK AND SMOOTH SAILING
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Bill Ebling
Conch..Great Price..But
We bare-boated with Conch three or four years ago. We rented an older 32’ O-Day that was not maintained well. Sails were stretched out, the house battery was shot and only allowed one cabin light to burn for about an hour each night, and then there was that waste system! The waste system clogged 3/4 of the way through our charter. They would not come out to our boat and told us to come back in. I spent a half a day returning to Road Town. Back in Road Town they claimed that we clogged the system and were going to hit us with a big charge for a major waste system overhaul. That would take some undetermined amount of time. They could start perhaps the next day. They had no other boat to put us in. I spent the remainder of that day of our vacation removing sanitation hoses and banging pounds of Calcium deposit crystals out of the hoses to avoid the charge. The only clog in the hoses were from the "calcium" deposit rocks. Obviously they did not just appear on our watch. Even with this evidence they refused to give us any relief for the lost day we spent maintaining their boat. We arrived in the BVI's a week after that crazy back winded hurricane that moved from west to east (can't remember its name, Henry??) just south of the BVI’s and then went on to hit the eastern leewards hard. A couple that had arrived for their Conch vacation the week before us just before the hurricane were out less than one day when Conch pulled them back in for storm. They had to put themselves up in a Road Town hotel at their own expense during the week of their charter. They did not get any further use of the their boat but I believe they said that they were required to pay the full price for the term of their charter. At the time I understand that Conch did not give them any relief from their contract. Legally in the right, but not good business practice. It appears from other posts that Conch has changed, but at that time of our rental their attitude appeared to be "stick it to the customer" and do just enough maintenance on their fleet to keep them afloat. Bill Ebling Yesterday’s Dream 1985 31’ Hull# 31395 Crab Alley Bay, Kent Island MD
We bare-boated with Conch three or four years ago. We rented an older 32’ O-Day that was not maintained well. Sails were stretched out, the house battery was shot and only allowed one cabin light to burn for about an hour each night, and then there was that waste system! The waste system clogged 3/4 of the way through our charter. They would not come out to our boat and told us to come back in. I spent a half a day returning to Road Town. Back in Road Town they claimed that we clogged the system and were going to hit us with a big charge for a major waste system overhaul. That would take some undetermined amount of time. They could start perhaps the next day. They had no other boat to put us in. I spent the remainder of that day of our vacation removing sanitation hoses and banging pounds of Calcium deposit crystals out of the hoses to avoid the charge. The only clog in the hoses were from the "calcium" deposit rocks. Obviously they did not just appear on our watch. Even with this evidence they refused to give us any relief for the lost day we spent maintaining their boat. We arrived in the BVI's a week after that crazy back winded hurricane that moved from west to east (can't remember its name, Henry??) just south of the BVI’s and then went on to hit the eastern leewards hard. A couple that had arrived for their Conch vacation the week before us just before the hurricane were out less than one day when Conch pulled them back in for storm. They had to put themselves up in a Road Town hotel at their own expense during the week of their charter. They did not get any further use of the their boat but I believe they said that they were required to pay the full price for the term of their charter. At the time I understand that Conch did not give them any relief from their contract. Legally in the right, but not good business practice. It appears from other posts that Conch has changed, but at that time of our rental their attitude appeared to be "stick it to the customer" and do just enough maintenance on their fleet to keep them afloat. Bill Ebling Yesterday’s Dream 1985 31’ Hull# 31395 Crab Alley Bay, Kent Island MD
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Merrill Mant
Try Footloose
I suggest that you give Footloose a try. They are a division of the Moorings. In our opinion, they try extremely hard to surpass the customer service of their parent company and succeed!! Having chartered with the Moorings twice and Footloose twice, our next charter will be with Footloose. They are a pleasure to business with and the plus is that in the event of a mechanical problem they have the full resources of the Moorings at thier disposal. Whatever your choice ... enjoy the trip! Merrill Mant S/V Ambition Hunter 335
I suggest that you give Footloose a try. They are a division of the Moorings. In our opinion, they try extremely hard to surpass the customer service of their parent company and succeed!! Having chartered with the Moorings twice and Footloose twice, our next charter will be with Footloose. They are a pleasure to business with and the plus is that in the event of a mechanical problem they have the full resources of the Moorings at thier disposal. Whatever your choice ... enjoy the trip! Merrill Mant S/V Ambition Hunter 335
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c garvey
BVI Yacht Charters
bviyachtcharters.com Bare boat charter with a Beneteau 43 in March 2001 out of Tortola, great wind, great weather. An older boat that had been through some charter seasons before, but it was much cheaper that Moorings, or SunSail. We didn't provision, we will next time. Enjoy.
bviyachtcharters.com Bare boat charter with a Beneteau 43 in March 2001 out of Tortola, great wind, great weather. An older boat that had been through some charter seasons before, but it was much cheaper that Moorings, or SunSail. We didn't provision, we will next time. Enjoy.
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Lee M Farrall
Bareboat Charter
Try Pro-Valor Charters in Beef Island, Tortola, BVI. They look after my Catalena 42 and have the lowest charter rates in the BVI. Phone # 403 282 8569. Ask for Brain Fennell. They have yacht from 40 to 50 feet.
Try Pro-Valor Charters in Beef Island, Tortola, BVI. They look after my Catalena 42 and have the lowest charter rates in the BVI. Phone # 403 282 8569. Ask for Brain Fennell. They have yacht from 40 to 50 feet.
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