Chartering Qualifications?

[Bob]

To those of you who have chartered, what do the charter companies require from you as far as certifications, experience base, etc.. Or is it a pretty loosey goosey type of thing?It appears from reading some of the stories here, ANYBODY can rent a boat and head out. (Scary thought)Let me know of your experiences. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

[Bruce Hill]

What you need...

...is a sailing resume and a checkbook. Buy the additional insurance. We have rented from Sunsail and Moorings on Tortola, excellent operations, great vacation.

 

[Dakota Jim Russell]

Bruce is right

They will give you an orientation to the boat. By your questions and/or comments they can judge your knowledge of boats. If they have a question, they may require you to take a captain for half a day to check you out - and the test is general boat handling, sail trim, jibing, etc. Although I've sailed 20 years in boats to 43 feet, we will have a captain on our boat in Tahiti for half a day to brief us on the catamaran we are sailing. We've sailed a Hobie 18, but not a cat as large as 37 feet. To me its a good check out for me and I look forward to that.But do bring your check book. <grin>

 

[Wayne Estabrooks]

My Chartering experience / recommendations

I provided a resume and had experience coastal New England, Chesapeake Bay and the Carolinas. I provided the resume on their form, included copies of training certificated from courses with Coast Gaurd Aux and Power Squadron. They ask questions like how many times have you anchored etc. As others stated, it is important to pay attention when they are going over systems on the boat briefing. They can tell a lot about people this way. If you have not enough experience they will provide a captain for $100 to $150 per day. Well worth it. Dakota Jim has considerable chartering experience and I am a relative beginner at chartering. 2 Years ago we chartered a Hunter 410 in the BVI'sThis year with lots of info and advice from Dakota Jim, we just got back from chartering in the Leeward Is. We were on a new Beneteau 411. We circumnavigated St Martin / St Maarten, visited St Barts and Saba. We sailed toward St. Eustatius. Saba was an experience. No harbor, but they had moorings on the leeward side but high winds, 40 kts plus strong currents and swells. The Leeward Is are substantially more challenging than the BVI's . I recommend the BVI's for first time charterers. It is relatively easy and you will enjoy it. We found it much easier sailing in the BVI's than in New England or North Carolina waters. We chartered both times with Sunsail. Happy chartering.