Yatch Chartering Tips
Bareboat Charter - Information, Hints
and Tips
 Choosing
a Company
Charter companies vary from giants like Sunsail, with bases
worldwide and huge fleets at every base, to single-boat operations
run by one man. For charter abroad it is probably better to
go with one of the large companies or on a personal recommendation
from a friend. In the UK, a smaller company may offer better,
more personal service, more flexibility in dates and cheaper
prices. The large operators may, however, have newer boats
and a more reliable back-up service should anything go wrong.
From a personal point of view, we have received excellent
service from the small (currently four boats) company we usually
charter with in the UK and the boats have always been in good,
seaworthy condition. (Although this is not to say that nothing
has ever gone wrong - but this can happen with the newest
yatchs).
Some Questions to Ask
Do I have enough experience? Where can
I go?
Or, to put it in a nutshell, will the company charter the
boat to me? If you have limited experience, or this is your
first charter, this may be the deciding factor. The type of
yatch and nature of the cruising grounds will also influence
the charterer's decision. Some companies may limit your cruising
area if you lack experience. Friends of ours started their
chartering career many years ago and quickly got the bit between
their teeth. Anchored in the Outer Hebrides and idly reading
the charter agreement, the skipper discovered that they were
over 100 miles outside their permitted charter area. Luckily
no one spotted them and the boat was returned without incident
. . . but we recommend that you are quite clear as to the
limits of your charter area. If you lack experience and/or
confidence, consider a flotilla for your first charter.
How big a boat do we need?
If you are party animals and have lots of friends, a 40ft
eight or ten berth boat can be very affordable and will provide
exhilarating sailing. If, however, you would like to get away
for a romantic cruise with your significant other, then you
will be looking at a much smaller yatch if you want to keep
the price down. Small may mean fewer extras, but not less
seaworthy - 25ft yatchs have crossed the Atlantic and sailed
round the world.
What facilities do we need?
Can you live without hot water? Cabin heating? Is a furling
headsail essential, do you care if there is a spinnaker on
board or not? Do you need an outboard for the tender, or are
you prepared to row? Again, smaller companies with older boats
may offer cheaper deals for those prepared to 'rough it' a
bit. You should never compromise on essential equipment, however,
and if the company does it may be breaking the law. (See below).
Safety Equipment and Coding
All yatchs for charter in UK waters should be coded according
to DTI regulations. These govern minimum safety provisions
such as position and accessibility of seacocks, gas system,
non-flammable upholstery, provision of liferaft, fire extinguishers
and much more. Any reputable charterer will only operate coded
boats. Each yatch is coded for a certain number of people,
and should not be chartered to a larger group. The code also
specifies usage. Category 2, for example, is up to 60 miles
from a safe haven, while category 3 only permits operation
up to 20 miles from a safe haven. If in doubt about the coding
of your yatch, ask the charterer. In ther UK this is governed
by the
Deposit, Insurance, Accidental Damage,
Breakdown etc.
You will usually be asked to put down a refundable deposit;
make sure you understand what this covers. The boat should
be insured for any accidental damage or total loss - you are
advised to check the extent of the insurance cover before
chartering - but the deposit may be covering an excess payable
on any claim and will usually be retained if you damage the
boat through your own negligence or if items from the inventory
are missing. The deposit or part of it may also be retained
to cover fuel used and not replaced, or to cover cleaning
of the boat which was not satisfactorily carried out by the
charterer before leaving the boat. You may also lose your
deposit or be subject to other financial penalties if you
fail to return the boat on time for any reason other than
mechanical failure or to ensure the safety of the vessel (eg
reluctance to endure a long beat to windward in bad weather).
You might also want to check how long it will take for your
deposit to be returned. Some companies will only take a signed
credit card authorisation which will not be used if not required,
others have been known to take a cheque and actually deposit
it in their company bank account.
It is always worth asking your charterer
what will happen in the event of mechanical failure in terms
of rapidness of response, refund policy etc. Unless your name
is Victor Meldrew there is no point in assuming that everything
that can go wrong will - but a little reassurance from your
charterer at the beginning can go a long way if things start
to assume a pearlike disposition on some remote island.
The Handover
A charter yatch handover will usually take about an hour.
You should be as familiar with the vessel as possible before
putting to sea. As a minimum you and at least one other member
of the crew should be shown:
The location and safe operation of all the
safety equipment including liferaft location and deployment,
fire extinguisher location and operation, lifejackets and
safety harnesses, location of first aid kit(s), boltcroppers
and emergency tiller
The safe operation of the cooking and heating systems
Correct operation of the heads
The location of all seacocks and emergency bungs
Engine operation and regular checks
Operation of the VHF system including mayday instructions.
Location of backup VHS (if there is one)
The location and operation of all the instruments, including
the GPS
The location of all charts and pilot books
The location and operation of all the halliards, winches,
reefing lines and other sail controls
The anchoring system(s)
Any other systems peculiar to that vessel or not covered above
Don't be afraid to ask questions if there is anything you
are not sure of or want to know more about. The charter company
would prefer you to feel 100% confident before you take their
boat out. You may, for example, want to ask about sail plan
for various windspeeds and directions on that particular boat.
If you are not familiar with the cruising ground, the charterer
will probably have local knowledge about some of your intended
destinations and will usually be delighted to share this with
you.
A Few Handy Things to Take
 Wet
weather jacket and trousers - always. Some companies will
hire these to you if you don't have your own, but don't assume
there will be any on board. Decent waterproofs are essential
all year round in UK waters.
Wellies - yatching wellies have tight tops to stop water getting
in if you go overboard, and deck-gripping non-marking soles.
Wellies come pretty near the top of a 'must get' list for
people contemplating cruising in the UK.
Deck shoes or non-slip, non-marking trainers.
Handheld GPS if you have one. Virtually all charter yatchs
will have a fixed GPS, but a backup is handy if the electrics
go down and can be used in the cockpit if there is no repeater.
Spare batteries.
Your own looseleaf log sheets or logbook so you have a record
of your cruise. We use sheets photocopied from the Seafile,
and prefer to keep a log on these and transfer it to the ships'
log and our personal logbooks at the end of the voyage.
Mobile phone - indispensible for a quick chat with the charter
company if there is something you don't understand, or a slight
problem. You can also use it to reserve a table at your favourite
restaurant, enquire about berth availability at a busy marina
or even - if you must - keep in touch with the folks back
home. Keep it somewhere secure - nearly every yatchsman I
have met has lost a mobile overboard from a shirt pocket.
Don't underestimate the sun, even in the UK - take plenty
of high-factor sun cream. A floppy hat is highly recommended,
especially if you are balding. A woolly hat for colder days
is also good.
A waterproof bag for taking stuff ashore in the dinghy can
be useful.
Kitchen roll - indispensable for all sorts of mopping up operations.
Newspaper - we usually buy one when we go ashore not so much
to read as to use for drying the cabin sole after a wet passage
to windward. Sunday papers are best for this.
A roll of electrical tape. (There should be one on board,
but you might not find it). Useful for all sorts of things
including wrapping round noisy halliards when all else has
failed.
A few clothes pegs and a tea towel. (There is usually one
on board, but you never know).
Enjoy Yourself
If you have any other useful information you think should
be on this page, or any charter anecdotes to pass on, please
e-mail us and we will consider it for inclusion (with acknowledgement
or anonymously, whichever you prefer). Our final advice is
to get out there and do it - bareboat charter is 90% of the
fun without the ongoing responsibility and financial headache
of boat ownership. It is generally reckoned that it is cheaper
to charter up to six weeks of the year than own your own boat!
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