Last year we chartered a Beneteau 393 in the BVI's.. Sunsail and their support staff were superb. We would like to know if the smaller charter companies in the BVI's offer better value (lower costs) for similarly equipped vessels. Merry Christmas to all!
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worlds worst experience; NORTHSOUTH
i have been biting my tongue on these guys for 356 days. my wife has compiled a complete journal of the misadventures and misrepresentations. if the bvi wasnt paradise it would have been a complete nightmare. in 9 days it will be a year from the time i requested a response from the owner, after that i may post the chronicles. merry christmas mike
i have been biting my tongue on these guys for 356 days. my wife has compiled a complete journal of the misadventures and misrepresentations. if the bvi wasnt paradise it would have been a complete nightmare. in 9 days it will be a year from the time i requested a response from the owner, after that i may post the chronicles. merry christmas mike
Footloose and Conch Charters
Are two lower cost charterers. We chartered with both of them last year and this year. Footloose boats are older boats retired from Moorings service. We chartered a 36 ft. Benny from them last year. Had no problems with the boat and it had most of the goodies like auto pilot..everything worked. Staff was OK but probably not up to the standard of Sunsail. Conch boats are even older boats (ours was a 1998 or something) there were several things that didn't work on the boat like the auto pilot and knot meter - but the boat sailed. The staff was friendly and helpful and we had no major problems with the boat.
Are two lower cost charterers. We chartered with both of them last year and this year. Footloose boats are older boats retired from Moorings service. We chartered a 36 ft. Benny from them last year. Had no problems with the boat and it had most of the goodies like auto pilot..everything worked. Staff was OK but probably not up to the standard of Sunsail. Conch boats are even older boats (ours was a 1998 or something) there were several things that didn't work on the boat like the auto pilot and knot meter - but the boat sailed. The staff was friendly and helpful and we had no major problems with the boat.
Horizon Yacht Charters
Personal service was OK, but boat maintenance was immaculate. I couldn't believe how clean and properly working EVERYTHING was on that boat, and it convinced me that if I were to put a boat into charter service as an absentee owner, it would be with Horizon. Noteworthy that on the same trip, I made the exact opposite decision about Sunsail. I know nothing first hand about their people, but better than half of the boats I saw on the waters under the Sunsail banner were being operated by idiots. The number of hull-crinding groundings on sand, coral, rocks, etc, either at anchor or underway, was astonishing (not to mention the manner that the topsides and cabins were trashed by renters with no regard for their vessel). No way would I own a boat that was once a Sunsail charter vessel (similar to "No way would I own a vehicle that started life as a rental car"), and I would hesitate to take one out just because of the treatment they seem to tolerate by chartering to those types of "sailors".
Personal service was OK, but boat maintenance was immaculate. I couldn't believe how clean and properly working EVERYTHING was on that boat, and it convinced me that if I were to put a boat into charter service as an absentee owner, it would be with Horizon. Noteworthy that on the same trip, I made the exact opposite decision about Sunsail. I know nothing first hand about their people, but better than half of the boats I saw on the waters under the Sunsail banner were being operated by idiots. The number of hull-crinding groundings on sand, coral, rocks, etc, either at anchor or underway, was astonishing (not to mention the manner that the topsides and cabins were trashed by renters with no regard for their vessel). No way would I own a boat that was once a Sunsail charter vessel (similar to "No way would I own a vehicle that started life as a rental car"), and I would hesitate to take one out just because of the treatment they seem to tolerate by chartering to those types of "sailors".
Geez, Mike, I don't work for Sunsail
but could you please explain how any chartering company would know ahead of time: "...the treatment they seem to tolerate by chartering to those types of "sailors"??? Do they only rent to idiots? What's the qualifying exam like?
How do other companies select the "better" skippers? Or was your post just an observation that you wouldn't select that company because the week you were there some of their boats appeared to be undergoing some tortuous treatment? That said, how do you know other weeks and other companies don't suffer the same neglect?
but could you please explain how any chartering company would know ahead of time: "...the treatment they seem to tolerate by chartering to those types of "sailors"??? Do they only rent to idiots? What's the qualifying exam like?
How do other companies select the "better" skippers? Or was your post just an observation that you wouldn't select that company because the week you were there some of their boats appeared to be undergoing some tortuous treatment? That said, how do you know other weeks and other companies don't suffer the same neglect?
Here's another vote against North/South
Mike, I've got to second your opinion of North/South. Have posted some of our experience with them here in the past. Our trip was a six-week charter in 1993, and the decison to go with them was made largely on financial grounds. As others have said, you get what you pay for, and that's what we got - not much! We've chartered many times before and since with other companies in many locations. Most have been wonderful, and one other experience in Gulf coast of Florida was a disaster after being hit by lightening! I'd say, if at all possible, stick with the companies that have later model boats with full support. You'll pay a little more for it, but it will be worth it.
Mike, I've got to second your opinion of North/South. Have posted some of our experience with them here in the past. Our trip was a six-week charter in 1993, and the decison to go with them was made largely on financial grounds. As others have said, you get what you pay for, and that's what we got - not much! We've chartered many times before and since with other companies in many locations. Most have been wonderful, and one other experience in Gulf coast of Florida was a disaster after being hit by lightening! I'd say, if at all possible, stick with the companies that have later model boats with full support. You'll pay a little more for it, but it will be worth it.
Stu, I've got two responses
First, every charter company that I've dealt with has checked credentials, asked me to demonstrate that I know how to safely operate a boat and return it in good shape, and generally acted as though they were protecting their asset (the boat). They can and do develop a capacity to size up the customer. Not too terribly different from hotels that can figure out whether that group of well-dressed young gentlemen are actually an out-of-town fraternity with farm animals stashed in their luggage. Second, and more specifically pertinent, during the week in question it was in fact two regattas assembled and supervised by Sunsail employees that were running amok. So even if they did not have knowledge ahead of time, they had their own eyes and ears, and that is what causes it to stick out in my mind - the fact that the ongoing damage to the boats was being witnessed by the very people charged with protecting those assets. Perhaps it is simply the nature of some regattas, but I had the fortune of watching the "festivities" (i.e., mass groundings in and around Anegada lagoon) from the bar at the Anegada Reef Hotel, and locals assured me that this was not an unusual situation when it came to Sunsail-flagged vessels, solo or in groups. I don't know that similar things don't routinely happen at other charter companies, but I am fairly certain, based on first-hand inspection of vessels at Horizon that they don't happen routinely with Horizon boats, or the folks at Horizon are REALLY good at repairing the damage. Thus, my opinion is that you have a good chance of getting a sound boat from Horizon, and a not-so-good chance of getting the same from Sunsail.
First, every charter company that I've dealt with has checked credentials, asked me to demonstrate that I know how to safely operate a boat and return it in good shape, and generally acted as though they were protecting their asset (the boat). They can and do develop a capacity to size up the customer. Not too terribly different from hotels that can figure out whether that group of well-dressed young gentlemen are actually an out-of-town fraternity with farm animals stashed in their luggage. Second, and more specifically pertinent, during the week in question it was in fact two regattas assembled and supervised by Sunsail employees that were running amok. So even if they did not have knowledge ahead of time, they had their own eyes and ears, and that is what causes it to stick out in my mind - the fact that the ongoing damage to the boats was being witnessed by the very people charged with protecting those assets. Perhaps it is simply the nature of some regattas, but I had the fortune of watching the "festivities" (i.e., mass groundings in and around Anegada lagoon) from the bar at the Anegada Reef Hotel, and locals assured me that this was not an unusual situation when it came to Sunsail-flagged vessels, solo or in groups. I don't know that similar things don't routinely happen at other charter companies, but I am fairly certain, based on first-hand inspection of vessels at Horizon that they don't happen routinely with Horizon boats, or the folks at Horizon are REALLY good at repairing the damage. Thus, my opinion is that you have a good chance of getting a sound boat from Horizon, and a not-so-good chance of getting the same from Sunsail.
Horizon
Just back from a week on a 46' Bavaria from Horizon at Nanny Quay on Tortola, BVI. Staff were very professional and the boat was immaculate.
Just back from a week on a 46' Bavaria from Horizon at Nanny Quay on Tortola, BVI. Staff were very professional and the boat was immaculate.
TMM 2x
I have used TMM 2x and Moorings 3x in the past (another company 1x, but won't make any comments on them). Except for newer boats, Moorings was fine. Sunsail, you have to watch their scheduling - it may cost you extra. TMM has been the same service but the boats are a bit older. You can get one that's tired if you choose an older one. Look online at them. For this reason, you will always pay more at Moorings or Sunsail. If you want to accept a boat that is nice & clean, seaworthy, but may require a minimal fix then look at TMM.
I have used TMM 2x and Moorings 3x in the past (another company 1x, but won't make any comments on them). Except for newer boats, Moorings was fine. Sunsail, you have to watch their scheduling - it may cost you extra. TMM has been the same service but the boats are a bit older. You can get one that's tired if you choose an older one. Look online at them. For this reason, you will always pay more at Moorings or Sunsail. If you want to accept a boat that is nice & clean, seaworthy, but may require a minimal fix then look at TMM.
Conch Charters
We used Conch Charters 1 year ago. The boat was clean and all equipment work as it was suppose to. The staff at Conch were great. They did their very best to meet any needs that we had. We would use Conch Charters again. We were very happy with them. Tom
We used Conch Charters 1 year ago. The boat was clean and all equipment work as it was suppose to. The staff at Conch were great. They did their very best to meet any needs that we had. We would use Conch Charters again. We were very happy with them. Tom
Another Horizon satisfied customer
I don't know about cheaper-but maybe better! We are planning to return and will go back with Horizon
I don't know about cheaper-but maybe better! We are planning to return and will go back with Horizon
Bare Boat
I've developed a relationship with Moorings and Sunsail (under the same parent company now) because I like the repeat customer discounts and my bare boat charters are usually NOT the BVI. Between them these two companies have bases that cover the world.
I've developed a relationship with Moorings and Sunsail (under the same parent company now) because I like the repeat customer discounts and my bare boat charters are usually NOT the BVI. Between them these two companies have bases that cover the world.
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