Charter member?

[newly anonymous]

a confession

Next summer, a couple weeks after I get back from crewing a Wylie 65 to Hawaii in the Pacific Cup, Wonderblond and I will be chartering a trawler up in the Gulf Islands of Canada for our 25th anniversary cruise.

 

[al ingersoll]

an awful experience in the bvi

the last time i chartered in the virgin islands, i chartered a 51 footer from caribbean yacht charters and it was a bad enough experience to nearly sour me on ever doing it again, although i had several good previous charters from other charter companies the checkout was haphazard, the channel out of the marina was strewn with debris, the maintenance on the boat was the worst i ever saw, and the responses by the home office to calls for help was lousy

 

[Doug T.]

Re: Awful BVI

Al,So, please -- help us out! What charter company was it? What kind of boat? What channel?I just got back from the BVI's and had a great time.

 

[Paul Akers]

To Doug - Awful charter

Unfortunately, you had a poor experience. I have met people who have also had poor experiences. It pays to do your homework. Ask around from experienced charterers. See who has been there multiple times. Ask for recommendations. No one will recommend a poor experience. There are quite a few fly-by-night operations down there. I've seen them and I've experienced them. I've made 5 charters down there, and I know who I will use next time. We had one poor one - it will never happen again. The best bargain (pricewise) WILL NOT be your best deal. Please don't let one poor experience ruin the opportunity to try it again and learn how great it can be.

 

[Sy Schiffman]

You Betcha'!

As a really GREAT vacation we bareboat out of the BVI. We choose boats that will accommodate the group going......Both monohulls and catamarans. We've chartered in the French West Indies also, but find BVI the better choice.

 

[Arvel Q]

BVI's is not for Carnival Cruisers

I was the skipper on our Footloose Beneteau 510, and also first timer on a charter. The Scenario I thought was perfect. The crew was a great 1st mate (my wife) and 6 of my very best friends. I've boated with these people all of my adult life and Carnival cruised with them through out the Carribean on many vacations.The problem started right away though when we left port. The wind was a above 20 knots, and stayed that way that whole week. My wife and I just loved the boat and the sailing, but my friends I realized were all POWER BOATERS!... Their wifes I guess thought Shophie's Whole was suppose to be like Saint John or Cancun!...The People were great at Footloose,...they advise me next time to take two sailing friends and charter the 405...Legend 355"Absolutely"

 

[Rich]

Keys Charter

Chartered a H37.5 out of Key West.Best bet is to do a one way charter so you don't have to back track where you have already been. i.e. Miami to Key West or vice-versa. Keys are shallow which limits where you can go big time.Used FYC and they were fine.

 

[Warren Blanchard]

Charter Boat Owner

We put our H-460 in charter in the Bahamas after our H-376 was sunk in Hurricane Floyd as it passed directly over Abaco. Maybe we shouldn't have tried it again, but I guess I needed closure on the old boat.Would I recommend placing a boat in charter? It depends on a number of factors. You need a relatively thick skin to put up with the annoyances which come from letting other people use your boat and a sometimes inattentive or undermanned management staff. It's not much different than owning a vacation ski condo in a rental management pool, except you'll probably make a profit when you sell your ski condo!E-mail me for additional thoughts and details. If you care to, check out my website.

 

[Jean Gosse]

Chartering - Norfolk Broads

Last year (2000) we had a long weekend layover in England, so contacted a boatyard in Potter Heigham, England, and chartered a 30'gaff rigged sloop. Chartering is the perfect way to learn how the other half lives.We are accustomed to our 12' lug-rigged San Francisco Pelican, and a MacGregor26D. Both light and easy to handle.The Gaff was heavy to hoist, but easy to set once the throat hallyard was secured. There was a great sail spread up above the reed fields and the boat sailed beautifully. It had the weight to carry through tacking up-tide in a very narrow river.If we had had a third crew member we could have used the topsail, but weren't sure we could handle it in an emergency.Chartering is the best way to get acquainted with other boats.

 

[Jean Gosse]

Qualifications

This is a slightly different question, rather than another answer. What sort of qualifications/check out do charter owners or managers require. People write that they charter before owning? Charter boats much larger and heavier thsn they own?Do they really sail the boats? In the San Juans, we are frequently the only boat in sight actually sailing, not motoring along with the sails flapping.Just wondered.

 

[Doug T.]

To Paul

It wasn't me that had a bad BVI charter, it was Al (the message below mine). We used Pro Valor and they were pretty good (link below). Smaller outfit, older boats, but good prices and good service.In any event, you say you know who you're going to use next time... care to share that name with the rest of us?

 

[Doug T.]

Spinnakers?

From my limited experience, I haven't seen any charter outfits that offer boats with spinnaker gear. I guess I can understand that: inexperienced crew can really mess things up, and most chartering folks are just out to relax, not really sail....Still, I like the SAILING experience -- and I like to go fast! Does anyone know of any outfits that will provide boats with spinnaker gear to properly experienced crew? (Sym or asym.)

 

[Doug T.]

Spinnakers?

Whoops! Sorry for the duplicate message!

 

[Bob Campbell]

Charter experiences

We have been chartering since '86, long before we owned our own MacGregor 26X. Charter started with a "sailing school" week long class in BVI that resulted in a certificate to charter from the parent company and other charter fleets. Over the years we have generally chartered boats in the range of 36' to 45'. The smaller sizes (up to 40' when only two of us (my wife and I) were going. We have charterd in Florida, and most of the Caribbean Islands, including USVI, BVI, St Maarten, Antigua, St.Vincent the Grenadines, and Grenada. In 2000 we purchased a Hunter 410 in the Sunsail fleet. It is presently in BVI and will remain in the fleet until 2004. Have seen the boat three times (actually a lot more as she was featured in the Sunail brochure during her tenure in Turkey) but have only sailed on her once so far. She wasn't available the other times we have been down in the Caribbean. Next voyage is three weeks in May-June 2002. So far, the experience has been fine. We expect a significant amount of wear compared to a boat not in a charter program, and plan for a major refit when she comes out if we choose to keep her. So far, our three observations of our boat do not show any excessive damage or wear which would be considered unacceptable. Other possibilities are trade for another boat or sell and buy a new boat for our sailing activities. This will be determined in next year or so.

 

[Bob F]

Chartering in the Pacific NW-San Juans

My wife

 

[Paul Akers]

To Doug T.

I usually don't care to drop names, but I did take the big "M" 3 times. Twice was captained on a 51' and once I bareboated with my family on a 32'. Paid more, but had a wonderful experience. One other time on an older "M" 51' in another charter company and lost time due to repairs and cockroaches. Didn't pay so much, but we got what we paid for. The last time was on s 38' with TMM (oops, I dropped the name) and was satisfied with the boat and the experience. The boat was a bit tired (former "M" boat), but it was meticulous and I didn't loose any time. Now I just gotta plan when I'm going to go back. It almost cost more for airfare for the family than it does to charter the boat.

 

[Colin]

Charted several locations

Tried Cape Cod, Thousand Islands Chessapeke Bay, Florida Keys and North Channel. North Channel best by far, Water is warm and drinkable. Surroundings are beautiful and most anchorages still quiet. Always check your boat out prior to leaving the dock...especially the head!!!

 

[JULIAN HOOD]

Chartering, Made me an owner

I chartered 4 times in the BVI's before owning a boat. It gave me a chance to develop my passion for Sailing before owning. 3 of my charter experiences with CYOA out of ST. Thomas were great, but was unhappy when I used a different company, due to hurricane damage to CYOA's fleet. I can't wait to go back down their.

 

[Bill Manahan]

Charterd for 7 years

Chartered in the Carribean and at home. From 405 Beneteaus and 43 Hunters to 29 Hunters and Catalinas. Had to try them all before I bought the best!! 1997 Catalina 34 MKII

 

[Shawn Mangan]

Charter vs Ownership

I myself had the fortunate experience of taking some of my sailing instruction on a Hunter. I had been out on charters with other boats but found that I much prefered the design and layout of the Hunter. I had totaled up the potential costs of continiously chartering a boat and compared it with the cost of ownership. I then set out searching for the particular Hunter model (28.5). I could easily justify the cost for the boat and the slip rental. I use my boat an average of four days a week during the fall and winter, while the summer I can use it each and every day. I was fortunate to find a used 28.5 which the previous owner rarely used but made sure that it was continuiously and professionally maintained . My costs to date for the maintenance have been minimal and I have a wonderful weekend cruiser that I take pride in the ownership. I will charter larger Hunters in the future, but I anticipate that I may purchase a larger Hunter at some point.