I'm currently working toward my 25 gross ton master's license. I'm throwing around the idea of trying to charter my 26 foot Oday. Does anyone have experience starting a charter business? Is it realistic to charter a boat of that size in RI? This would not be my main source of income, just a side project. Any info on this topic would be appreciated.
Starting a charter business
- Thread starter Mike8088
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Go for it.
Mike, There is a akipper in Urbanna,Va that charters out a smallish sailboat for day sails, and he stays as busy as he wants to stay. I think he charges $100 a person for 4 hours, with a minimum of 3 people. More for all day charters. Lots of folks won't or can't drop a Thousand dollars for a one day charter on a new Hunter or Beneteau, but still want to experience the pleasure, with someone else at the helm. Here's a link to another small charter out of Deltaville,Va. http://www.planetcharters.com/vacation/697
Mike, There is a akipper in Urbanna,Va that charters out a smallish sailboat for day sails, and he stays as busy as he wants to stay. I think he charges $100 a person for 4 hours, with a minimum of 3 people. More for all day charters. Lots of folks won't or can't drop a Thousand dollars for a one day charter on a new Hunter or Beneteau, but still want to experience the pleasure, with someone else at the helm. Here's a link to another small charter out of Deltaville,Va. http://www.planetcharters.com/vacation/697
Or this one
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatDetails.jsp?currency=USD&units=Feet¤cyid=100&boat_id=1558145&checked_boats=1558145&back=%2Fcore%2Flisting%2Fcache%2FsearchResults.jsp%3Fsm%3D3%26toLength%3D35%26cit%3Dtrue%26currencyid%3D100%26luom%3D126%26fromLength%3D35%26man%3Dericson%26slim%3Dquick&searchtype= Tim R.
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatDetails.jsp?currency=USD&units=Feet¤cyid=100&boat_id=1558145&checked_boats=1558145&back=%2Fcore%2Flisting%2Fcache%2FsearchResults.jsp%3Fsm%3D3%26toLength%3D35%26cit%3Dtrue%26currencyid%3D100%26luom%3D126%26fromLength%3D35%26man%3Dericson%26slim%3Dquick&searchtype= Tim R.
ran into the charter in Coconut Grove FL
I pciked up the local newpaper in Coconut grove, Miami...Florida...and saw this ad for a sialing charter on a 38'er or 42'er or somethign about that size. As i was walking back to the boat, I saw it, tied up next to the shrimp boats. Eventually, the owner showed up and I had the oppeotnity to question him about the business. He was a mechanic for a major airline. He made enough money from the charters to pay for the dockage and MINOR boat repairs. Other wise, he said it wasn't worth it (the work involved, whatever that was.) You won't get rich, but last year I made $1500 sailing lots of people and it paid for my dockage for the season. I will do the same this year, only expand it a bit. Funny story...had a regular on board who thought he was Captain Something or other. He couldn't sail for Sh_ _! but, thought he could. I let him take the helm, but always kept my eye on the boat, trim, him, and everything else. The lake was rough, with 8 footers. We went out about 3 miles to the crib and made way for the main entrance to the harbor. After passing the lighthouse, the breakwater (I call it a breakwall) did it's job and the waves went down to nothing...temporarily. We made way past the mouth, into the inner harbor. The wind was blowing pretty good, and as soon as we passed the breakwater, the boat healed over dramatically. We sailed into it as best we could, and soon had to tack because of the narrowness of the inner harbor. Then we went back to the breakwater and had to tack again, only sooner because our angle was less. The boat healed from one side to the other, FAST. Everyone held on and it was quite fun. I was laughing and almost in tears. Known as a wierd guy anyway, my cousin (a guest on board) had to know...what was so funny. Here goes. One of the regulars went to the head while we were on the lake. She came back up and said "It's kinda bouncy down there". I smiled. When we entered the calmer water, she told the other guest, a midget who could barely hold on to anything in the cockpit while we were healed over 30 degrees, "OK, now you can go to the bathroom." Mr. Captain Commander kept right on with his thing, and I knew we would be soon healing over from almost nothing to 30 degrees again. I knew nobody would get hurt as I heard the head door shut, which meant the midget was now seated and could push her feet against the very close opposite wall, thus wedging herself in quite safely. Well we healed this way, then that, then this way again. I told Mr. Commander to let up on the main and sail more off the wind, which brought her right up, allowing the bathroom guest to come out and up to the cockpit. My timing of her necessity was abit off. I thought she would take a little longer than she did, then, about that time when she was ready to exit and come up for air, we would be standing more upright. She said she did good, then all hell broke loose. Everytime she tried to pull her pants up, she bounced from one wall to the other and back again. And she was laughing about it! She came back two more times, both being in calmer winds, and enjoyed it as much as her very first time on a sailboat!
I pciked up the local newpaper in Coconut grove, Miami...Florida...and saw this ad for a sialing charter on a 38'er or 42'er or somethign about that size. As i was walking back to the boat, I saw it, tied up next to the shrimp boats. Eventually, the owner showed up and I had the oppeotnity to question him about the business. He was a mechanic for a major airline. He made enough money from the charters to pay for the dockage and MINOR boat repairs. Other wise, he said it wasn't worth it (the work involved, whatever that was.) You won't get rich, but last year I made $1500 sailing lots of people and it paid for my dockage for the season. I will do the same this year, only expand it a bit. Funny story...had a regular on board who thought he was Captain Something or other. He couldn't sail for Sh_ _! but, thought he could. I let him take the helm, but always kept my eye on the boat, trim, him, and everything else. The lake was rough, with 8 footers. We went out about 3 miles to the crib and made way for the main entrance to the harbor. After passing the lighthouse, the breakwater (I call it a breakwall) did it's job and the waves went down to nothing...temporarily. We made way past the mouth, into the inner harbor. The wind was blowing pretty good, and as soon as we passed the breakwater, the boat healed over dramatically. We sailed into it as best we could, and soon had to tack because of the narrowness of the inner harbor. Then we went back to the breakwater and had to tack again, only sooner because our angle was less. The boat healed from one side to the other, FAST. Everyone held on and it was quite fun. I was laughing and almost in tears. Known as a wierd guy anyway, my cousin (a guest on board) had to know...what was so funny. Here goes. One of the regulars went to the head while we were on the lake. She came back up and said "It's kinda bouncy down there". I smiled. When we entered the calmer water, she told the other guest, a midget who could barely hold on to anything in the cockpit while we were healed over 30 degrees, "OK, now you can go to the bathroom." Mr. Captain Commander kept right on with his thing, and I knew we would be soon healing over from almost nothing to 30 degrees again. I knew nobody would get hurt as I heard the head door shut, which meant the midget was now seated and could push her feet against the very close opposite wall, thus wedging herself in quite safely. Well we healed this way, then that, then this way again. I told Mr. Commander to let up on the main and sail more off the wind, which brought her right up, allowing the bathroom guest to come out and up to the cockpit. My timing of her necessity was abit off. I thought she would take a little longer than she did, then, about that time when she was ready to exit and come up for air, we would be standing more upright. She said she did good, then all hell broke loose. Everytime she tried to pull her pants up, she bounced from one wall to the other and back again. And she was laughing about it! She came back two more times, both being in calmer winds, and enjoyed it as much as her very first time on a sailboat!
Charter Boats
When I first bought my Boat (1988 Hunter Legend35) 6 years ago, The Charter group in Michigan City had 6 Boats in his Fleet. Knowing the Captains,they even helped check the Boat out before I bought it from a Private individual (Boat was never in charter before) It took me about 4 Weeks to get it up to Charter Specifications,and I originally thought my Boat was in Good condition. They helped make it Spotless. Being in Charter with them, everything had to be kept in Excellent Condition,and all the Safety requirements had to be Maintained. They kept the inside and outside clean also. I had the Boat in Charter for 3 Years. The first few years it made pretty good Money for me, enough to pay the Mortgage,insurance,and some net income. Then the Weather around here turned unseasonal. The Springs were a lot Cooler,and Summer brought quite a bit of No Wind situations and very hot. The Charter Boat Captains also had Instructional Classes for people who had never sailed before or were iffy. They had to prove they could Sail,and were given Certificates. Classes cost approx $300 and included on water training,and one overnight stay on the boat. Bottom line for me is that quite a few of the Charterers were just starting out. When the Charterers Bareboated, the Captains were not with them. The Charters were responsible for damage they created and damage they did do. You can be the Best Charter Boat Captain around,but you cant see whats happening when they're out there. I had to carry my own Insurance on the Boat which was 1 Million Liability,costing me about $1000 a Year,and the Fleet had Insurance also.
When I first bought my Boat (1988 Hunter Legend35) 6 years ago, The Charter group in Michigan City had 6 Boats in his Fleet. Knowing the Captains,they even helped check the Boat out before I bought it from a Private individual (Boat was never in charter before) It took me about 4 Weeks to get it up to Charter Specifications,and I originally thought my Boat was in Good condition. They helped make it Spotless. Being in Charter with them, everything had to be kept in Excellent Condition,and all the Safety requirements had to be Maintained. They kept the inside and outside clean also. I had the Boat in Charter for 3 Years. The first few years it made pretty good Money for me, enough to pay the Mortgage,insurance,and some net income. Then the Weather around here turned unseasonal. The Springs were a lot Cooler,and Summer brought quite a bit of No Wind situations and very hot. The Charter Boat Captains also had Instructional Classes for people who had never sailed before or were iffy. They had to prove they could Sail,and were given Certificates. Classes cost approx $300 and included on water training,and one overnight stay on the boat. Bottom line for me is that quite a few of the Charterers were just starting out. When the Charterers Bareboated, the Captains were not with them. The Charters were responsible for damage they created and damage they did do. You can be the Best Charter Boat Captain around,but you cant see whats happening when they're out there. I had to carry my own Insurance on the Boat which was 1 Million Liability,costing me about $1000 a Year,and the Fleet had Insurance also.
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