We are looking into chartering (bareboat) in the Caribbean and would like any advice on charter company's you may have had experience with (good or bad) and any other advice. We cruise the Chesapeake in the summer and want to charter next summer (2002).
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Bill Saint
Moorings A+
We chartered with the Moorings in the BVI, 3 years ago aboard a Beneatau 40cc. Experience was incredible, service by Moorings couldn't have been better. We had one incident when the shower pump died - one call to the service folks and they had it replaced while we toured Jost. The entire experience gave us great comfort in their ability and dedication to quality and service - this being our first charter experience. I will add that I was impressed by the SunSail base camp and would am curious from others how they rate. Good luck and I wish I were going again tomorrow!
We chartered with the Moorings in the BVI, 3 years ago aboard a Beneatau 40cc. Experience was incredible, service by Moorings couldn't have been better. We had one incident when the shower pump died - one call to the service folks and they had it replaced while we toured Jost. The entire experience gave us great comfort in their ability and dedication to quality and service - this being our first charter experience. I will add that I was impressed by the SunSail base camp and would am curious from others how they rate. Good luck and I wish I were going again tomorrow!
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Brian Pickton of BeneteauOwners.net
Chartering
Feb.15, 2001 Dear Ray, Recent surveys of charteriing experiences have shown 2 things: (1) You are much more likely to have a real good experience with the big two, Moorings and Sunsail, then with smaller companies. Although some of the smaller charterers do good work, others are more hit and miss. (2) Make sure you ask the age of the boat and don't accept a charter on a hull that is more than 4 years old. The boats are much more likely to suffer a breakdown after the first three years are under their belt. This applies to all boats, including The Moorings and Sunsail fleets, although these two have a very good reputation for fixing break downs. We've visited various charter fleet bases and Moorings and Sunsail always seem to be better organized with the boats generally better maintained. Here in St. Lucia besides The Moorings there is also a small fleet run by an outfit called DSL "Destination St. Lucia". The company is run by and caters principally to Germans and appears to be run with tutonic efficency - the boats appear to be well cared for and clean. I mention this just to offer an alternative to the big two. Fair Winds, Brian Pickton of BeneteauOwners.net, aboard The Legend, Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
Feb.15, 2001 Dear Ray, Recent surveys of charteriing experiences have shown 2 things: (1) You are much more likely to have a real good experience with the big two, Moorings and Sunsail, then with smaller companies. Although some of the smaller charterers do good work, others are more hit and miss. (2) Make sure you ask the age of the boat and don't accept a charter on a hull that is more than 4 years old. The boats are much more likely to suffer a breakdown after the first three years are under their belt. This applies to all boats, including The Moorings and Sunsail fleets, although these two have a very good reputation for fixing break downs. We've visited various charter fleet bases and Moorings and Sunsail always seem to be better organized with the boats generally better maintained. Here in St. Lucia besides The Moorings there is also a small fleet run by an outfit called DSL "Destination St. Lucia". The company is run by and caters principally to Germans and appears to be run with tutonic efficency - the boats appear to be well cared for and clean. I mention this just to offer an alternative to the big two. Fair Winds, Brian Pickton of BeneteauOwners.net, aboard The Legend, Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
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Murray
BVI Bulletin Board
If you want to find lots of information about chartering in BVI go to this bulletin board: http://www.traveltalkonline.com/wwwthreads/wwwthreads.pl and check out the 'British Virgin Island' section. It has been analysing charter companies for some time now. There are also several owners of charter boats and many nany xharterers answering questions about companies and BVI anchorages, etc. I have found it invaluable source of info. You can post questions and will receive answers almost immediately. It has a search feature that is great for finding info regarding any particular topic. Please register to get the full benefit of the board but it is not required.
If you want to find lots of information about chartering in BVI go to this bulletin board: http://www.traveltalkonline.com/wwwthreads/wwwthreads.pl and check out the 'British Virgin Island' section. It has been analysing charter companies for some time now. There are also several owners of charter boats and many nany xharterers answering questions about companies and BVI anchorages, etc. I have found it invaluable source of info. You can post questions and will receive answers almost immediately. It has a search feature that is great for finding info regarding any particular topic. Please register to get the full benefit of the board but it is not required.
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Robert O'Brien
Stardust, Tradewinds
We just returned from a one week charter in the BVI's. We used Stardust this year, and chartered a 1 year old Jeanneau 453. The boat was in excellent shape and gave us no problems. However, I found Stardust's base operations and reservation folks to be a bit disorganized. We had some issues getting our mechanical checkout completed and obtaining a dinghy prior to our departure, and we noted other folks departing the same day had issues with provisioning, boat readiness and getting water tanks filled. Last year we used Tradewinds in the BVI's, and I was pleased by the level of personal service and attention given to us at the base. We chartered a 1 year old Hunter 410, and the boat again was flawless. Tradewinds has a wider variety of boat ages than the Moorings (who apparently send their old boats to Footloose), but if you can charter a newer boat from Tradewinds I highly recommend them. Like a previous responder, I believe you are significantly better off chartering a newer boat.
We just returned from a one week charter in the BVI's. We used Stardust this year, and chartered a 1 year old Jeanneau 453. The boat was in excellent shape and gave us no problems. However, I found Stardust's base operations and reservation folks to be a bit disorganized. We had some issues getting our mechanical checkout completed and obtaining a dinghy prior to our departure, and we noted other folks departing the same day had issues with provisioning, boat readiness and getting water tanks filled. Last year we used Tradewinds in the BVI's, and I was pleased by the level of personal service and attention given to us at the base. We chartered a 1 year old Hunter 410, and the boat again was flawless. Tradewinds has a wider variety of boat ages than the Moorings (who apparently send their old boats to Footloose), but if you can charter a newer boat from Tradewinds I highly recommend them. Like a previous responder, I believe you are significantly better off chartering a newer boat.
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Jim Russell
Mooring 7 times - and going for an 8th
Used Moorings in the BVI, St. Martin (2), Martinique, and Grenada (3). All quality operations. This fall its on to the Moorings in Tahiti . . . Obviously I'm a satisfied customer.
Used Moorings in the BVI, St. Martin (2), Martinique, and Grenada (3). All quality operations. This fall its on to the Moorings in Tahiti . . . Obviously I'm a satisfied customer.
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Barry
Doesn't Get Any Better than TRADEWINDS
Nobody beats their prices. Service and boats are great. Outstanding deals available on their website. Free night sleep aboard when you arrive. Closest charter company to the airport in Tortola. Free ice. Excellent Carib inflatables with Yamaha motors. Ther own travel agents for flights is unbeatable. I found the big name outfit prices to be double what I paid. Barry
Nobody beats their prices. Service and boats are great. Outstanding deals available on their website. Free night sleep aboard when you arrive. Closest charter company to the airport in Tortola. Free ice. Excellent Carib inflatables with Yamaha motors. Ther own travel agents for flights is unbeatable. I found the big name outfit prices to be double what I paid. Barry
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Ike Cook
Footloose
We chartered from Footloose a year ago. They're a sister company of Moorings, basically everything is the same except the boats are 5 and 6 years old instead of 1 or 2 years old. We chartered a Beneteau 505 out of Roadtown, Tortola (BVI's). What an amazing week. Footloose saved us approximately $200/person over Moorings.
We chartered from Footloose a year ago. They're a sister company of Moorings, basically everything is the same except the boats are 5 and 6 years old instead of 1 or 2 years old. We chartered a Beneteau 505 out of Roadtown, Tortola (BVI's). What an amazing week. Footloose saved us approximately $200/person over Moorings.
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Les Murray
Don't use Fanfare Charters out of St. Thomas
I just chartered for a few days with Fanfare Charters out of Red Hook, St. Thomas. I used them because I was not looking for a week long charter and they were the only ones I could find that did day to day charters. The boats were very old (mine was an 84 Hunter) and poorly maintained. I motored more than I wanted to because the winches would slip under load. Also, we lost a half a day due to a bad ground connection where we lost all electrical power and had to sail back to port and get them to fix it. We also found that the level of service was not very consistent and they were not very organized. HTH. Les Murray C-36 Ceilidh
I just chartered for a few days with Fanfare Charters out of Red Hook, St. Thomas. I used them because I was not looking for a week long charter and they were the only ones I could find that did day to day charters. The boats were very old (mine was an 84 Hunter) and poorly maintained. I motored more than I wanted to because the winches would slip under load. Also, we lost a half a day due to a bad ground connection where we lost all electrical power and had to sail back to port and get them to fix it. We also found that the level of service was not very consistent and they were not very organized. HTH. Les Murray C-36 Ceilidh
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Mark Johnson
Mooring twice....
Once in BVI's and once in Grenada. Both very good experiences, no problems what so ever. 2/16/01 we are departing to BVI's once again, but are sailing with Sunsail. I'll let you know how thing went after we get back.
Once in BVI's and once in Grenada. Both very good experiences, no problems what so ever. 2/16/01 we are departing to BVI's once again, but are sailing with Sunsail. I'll let you know how thing went after we get back.
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Ray keenan
Thanks
Thanks everyone.. I have plenty of time, to plan, but I know once the weather turns we will be cruising the Bay and won't think much about this... and Mark, I would appreciate it if you let me know how SunSail was. That is one that I have been pretty interested in.
Thanks everyone.. I have plenty of time, to plan, but I know once the weather turns we will be cruising the Bay and won't think much about this... and Mark, I would appreciate it if you let me know how SunSail was. That is one that I have been pretty interested in.
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Steve W.
Tradewinds has been the most responsive by far
in helping arrange our 2 week charter in early June. They were patient with all my stupid questions and we ended up with a new Beneteau 331 for 11 nites, including a free sleepover for $1650.00. checkout their website at www.tradewindyachts.com My neighbor has used then 7 times and never a problem. Good Luck.
in helping arrange our 2 week charter in early June. They were patient with all my stupid questions and we ended up with a new Beneteau 331 for 11 nites, including a free sleepover for $1650.00. checkout their website at www.tradewindyachts.com My neighbor has used then 7 times and never a problem. Good Luck.
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