Story by Chrystal Young / January 29, 2018
Read the contract! How many times in your life have you just clicked the box that says: “I have read and understood these terms” without ever reading or understanding them? Granted, most of the stuff in these documents is legalese but there are also some important details that you need to pay attention to when chartering a boat.
Such as, what time you have access to the boat, what time you need to be back at the dock, what time you need to be off the boat, what the hull insurance includes and what it does not include. If you have any questions, ask before you sign the contract. Especially before you pay the balance or step on the boat. You really don’t want any surprises after you spent a week having a great time sailing.
Snorkel gear: masks, snorkels and fins take up a lot of real estate in your luggage. Find out if the charter company provides those items. However, if you are a snorkel connoisseur, you might want to bring your own mask and snorkel and then borrow the fins from the base. The snorkeling gear available at the base is probably well seasoned, if you know what I mean.
Communication: The VHF radio on the boat is your primary source of communication but it’s limited in range. Some charter companies provide simple phones to contact the base if needed (as well as contact you), some companies refer you to a vendor who will offer a free phone for basic services but pay for extras, some companies leave you hanging.
More and more often there are international data plans available for you to stay connected anywhere. For instance, on a recent charter in Greece, one of our crew members had international “free” data with T-Mobile and was able to get access everywhere we went. Check with your mobile provider because we have also had a guest who went bankrupt when she got the bill for the photos she uploaded on FaceBook while sailing in St. Vincent.
Cruising Guides: Most charter companies will provide a cruising guide. This is a great resource for local knowledge of anchorages as well as services. It will provide VHF hailing channels for services and activities.
Recharging Electronics: Be aware of outlet requirements on board. European versus American. You might need a 12-volt plug and an inverter. Also, if the boat doesn’t have a generator, you will probably not be able to recharge your devices away from shore power. Please note that it is not recommended to run your generator while under way due to wave action.
Don’t be the low hanging fruit. In other words, lock up your boat/dinghy, don’t flash your riches, anchor behind the fleet, leave a lot of lights on at night and be aware of your surroundings. Most of the places you visit will be welcoming and friendly but there is always the one guy!
What if things go wrong? Charter boats are used by a variety of people. Some know what they are doing, some do not. Usually, the boats are turned around the same day you bring them back so there is not a lot of time to fix things, especially if the previous charterer did not disclose a problem, don’t be that guy. If you have a problem with the boat, let the company know as soon as possible. Boats in general have issues, charter boats in principle will always have issues.
If the problem can’t be resolved over the phone and it is preventing you from going anywhere, often they can send someone out. The charter companies have contacts all over the cruising ground to fix things. Will this ruin your vacation? Maybe. Maybe not.
Don’t expect the company to issue a refund or comp you in any way unless there is a major issue that could not be resolved in a reasonable amount of time. Read your contract to find out if they have any type of guarantee for performance of the yacht you charter. The more reputable companies will work with you, the not-so-reputable ones will take your money and run. If you can’t resolve an issue with the local charter base manager, go to the next level of management before you complain on social media. Give them a chance to make it right.
Provisioning: Most charter companies offer a provisioning service but it will cost you. If you factor in the time it takes to shop and taxi fare, it might be worth it. Make a meal plan and a shopping list ahead of time. Small islands ship in most of their supplies so don’t expect to find everything you want. Be ready for substitutions. That’s all part of the charm. Breakfast, lunches and snacks on board are a good start. You will want to enjoy the local cuisine and culture of the area by dining out. Have a back-up plan for dinner on board in case the bay you are anchoring in for the night does not have any services, or during low season when shops are closed.
Aside from the “Sail Fast, Live Slow” t-shirt or hat from Foxy’s, consider local spices or candies. Sea salt from Union Island in the Grenadines, Erica’s Hot Sauce from St. Vincent or organic chocolate from Grenada make great gifts. Buy any alcohol at the duty free shop to ensure that it is airport approved. If it’s over proof, it will be confiscated. Besides, what else are you going to do while waiting for your flight. Some shops even offer free tastings.
Insects & other creatures: Keep uninvited guests off the boat by disposing of any cardboard before you leave the dock. Mosquitos are not much of a problem while under way or at anchor with a breeze. But, when you go ashore, carry your bug repellent with you. If you forget, even the local rum shacks have a spare bottle behind the bar. Sand fleas on the beach are especially a nuisance. Keep fruits covered with a towel to prevent flies. Also, be aware that if you leave your sliding door open at night, bats are known to sneak in and eat your bananas. What a mess!
Check review sites such as Trip Advisor or sailing forums. Some companies will greet you at the airport with a rum punch or a welcome bottle of spirits. Other companies will leave a note on the door with a pile of sheets on the bunk. (Hint: tie a knot in the corner of the sheet to make a custom fit.) When reading reviews, toss out the best & the worst and read between the lines.
Your team delivered on every mark. You’ve got an amazing broker in Mark Wattrus and I’m confident you will have continued success moving forward together. He was available 24/7 whenever I had questions. We had a great initial visit on the boat and his marketing plan and photos were superb
I bought a yacht that I had never seen. I did this because I trusted my broker Andrew Holland. It was not an easy job for Andrew, as I am an experienced boat builder and owner of previous yachts, but work in West Africa. Imagine how hard it was to communicate what I was looking for. Andrew came up with exactly what I wanted. He dealt with time delays, all my questions at odd hours, and was there for the survey. He reported honestly and professionally. After buying the yacht, I arrived at the boat on a Sunday night, after dark, after travelling from West Africa to the Caribbean, and found it was better than expected. He never pulled punches and made me aware of shortfalls. I expected to spend my one month leave working on the boat, but actually spent less than one week, and was able to spend 3 weeks sailing – wonderful bonus.
Thank you Andrew for putting up with all my questions, all my worries and all my crazy out of the time zone concerns – you were totally professional, but also I know that if and when we meet up, it will be like a friend finally meeting. You are always welcome on Aseka.
Outstanding company with professional subject matter experts. If I were to buy or sell cruising sailboat, particularly a catamaran, Andrew would be my go to broker.
I have been sailing since I was a child and attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy. But when my wife and I began the process of purchasing an ocean cruising/racing catamaran, I realized that this is a world unto itself. Obviously, we needed to find someone knowledgeable to help us make an informed decision. More importantly, we needed someone honest and willing to put our interests before his or her own. I was lucky to work with Phil Berman at The Multihull Company. He repeatedly shunned the fast buck, choosing instead to work the long road to connect us with the “perfect boat”. I would be glad to recommend Phil and his company to anyone planning to purchase or sell a performance sailing machine.
Andrew Hodgdon was our broker when we bought our 2018 Lagoon 450F in Antigua in April 2922. He provided great service and was very attentive to our needs. We would highly recommend Andrew and the Multihull Company.
Successful relationships cannot exist without it. At The Multihull Company we base every relationship on a firm commitment to earning and retaining our client’s trust.
Advice of any kind is valuable only when grounded in hard-won expertise. It too, must be trustworthy. Trust and expertise define the heart and soul of The Multihull Company. We are a team of skilled professionals who thrive on providing expert, trustworthy advice and service to catamaran and trimaran sailors around the globe.
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