Sailboat Tours

[Shep83]

Do any of you do sailing tours to subsidize your sailing addiction.
A friend and I were talking the other day and we started thinking about the possibillity of having the boat actually generate a little money.
There are a lot of power boat tours in this area but very few sailing tours.

 

[robertsapp]

At a minimum you'll need a Coast Guard captain's license to carry paying passengers, and be sure to check with your insurance company about using your boat for charter, I think you might be surprised at what it does to your rates.

 

[Shep83]

I have just learned that you can carry up to 6 passengers with an OUPV ((6 pack) license.

 

[KD3PC]

Shep

you are likely looking at $2K just for the 6-pk training and coast guard "stuff"/TWIC...IF you have the sea time...then there is the whole insurance thing...and liability....so in addition to the 6-pk you will likely need a good insurance agent, and a lawyer and an accountant on retainer, just in case some "customer" is an idiot, and any more they all are.

There are likely MANY 6-pk captains in your area who at one time or another had the idea to make money too.

 

[juslookin]

Ask around

Check around with some of the charter captains in your local area. They will be able to give you a good idea of what is required, and the hoops you will have to jump through. Even if they are power boaters, or fisherman types, the basics are going to be the same.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Don't be like this idiot, he killed a couple of charterees:

 

[Merlin Clark]

Check around with some of the charter captains in your local area. They will be able to give you a good idea of what is required, and the hoops you will have to jump through. Even if they are power boaters, or fisherman types, the basics are going to be the same.

Once they hear that you intend to try and become competition in a tough market I'm sure they'll be dying to lend a hand!

 

[zeehag]

must get the needed permissions and such ---especially if doing this out of country, as you may easily be put out of business by the locals.. be safe and have fun!!

 

[CaptChuck]

Shep - I take passengers out for a sails on Lake Erie. You will need a USCG Lic as others have noted. One thing I learned this past summer is if you have a "crew member" onboard they MUST be enrolled in a random drug program. I would also advise you to contact your local USCG station and talk to them about what they look for. Different USCG stations sometime read the regulations differently. Here is a link to a booklet the USCG provides explaining the requirements. www.uscg.mil/pvs/docs/upv_jobaid2011.pdf. I will be happy to discuss this off line with you if you have more questions.

 

[Vic H.]

Does it prove to be worthwhile? I'm considering a similar venture.

Thanks,
Vic H.

Shep - I take passengers out for a sails on Lake Erie. You will need a USCG Lic as others have noted. One thing I learned this past summer is if you have a "crew member" onboard they MUST be enrolled in a random drug program. I would also advise you to contact your local USCG station and talk to them about what they look for. Different USCG stations sometime read the regulations differently. Here is a link to a booklet the USCG provides explaining the requirements. www.uscg.mil/pvs/docs/upv_jobaid2011.pdf. I will be happy to discuss this off line with you if you have more questions.

 

[JohnShannon]

Why don't you rent the whole boat (timeshare it) instead? I know nothing about the insurance sitch, but you avoid the whole paying passenger problem.

 

[Rick Webb]

There may be Other Options to a Six Pax License

There is a launch Operators License not sure if that is the real name for it but check on that to see if it would satisfy your intent.

The other option is rules are different if you have no motor but I can’t imagine exactly how you would do it that way.

 

[Rick Webb]

Still Not Easy Nor Cheap

License Requirements

​

Limited OUPV ​

Limited Masters ​

Descripion​

Operate uninspected passenger vessels/launch (OUPV) carrying no more than six (6) passengers in a limited geographic area
Operate inspected passenger vessels/launch (OUPV) carrying seven (7) passengers or more in a limited geographic area

Age​

17 years of age
18 years of age

Sea Time ​

90 days (4+ hrs/day) of self-documented sea time, 90 days in the last three years
120 days (4+ hours/day) of self-documented sea time, 90 days in last three years

Application ​

Application Form
Application Form
Physical exam including eye exam
Physical exam including eye exam

​

Drug Test
Drug Test

• <LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #333333; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>USCG license application fee ($150)
• Applicants for a Launch Operator will also have to obtain their Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) card ($132.50)

 

[Freedom77]

Liability, Liability, Liability! Oh Did I Mention Liablility?

 

[Shep83]

Thanks for the Great Discussion

I am still researching this idea, and honestly it will be a good while before my boat is in good enough shape to actually take on passengers.

It would be a little extra motivation to actually fix it up nice as apposed to just making her sailable and having some fun...

As far as just renting goes, there are a lot of people doing that but only a couple places that are doing sailboat tours....
We have a lot of islands around and it seems like an easy thing to sell, sail out to an island for shelling etc. and sail back....

Tourist can play Pirate for a day with no hassles.....