Sailing the Caribbean or taking a cruise along coastal waters elsewhere can be a memorable experience. Knowing whether you are ready to skipper your own excursion or whether you need an experienced captain or crew is the first step. For those who are ready to skipper a sailing vessel, bareboating can be the perfect solution. For sailors who are not quite ready to skipper expeditions, a charter that provides a captain may be a better option. Doing so may add to safety and comfort of the passengers and crew.
What are the Advantages of Bareboating?
In bareboating, a skipper rents a vessel from another owner. Usually, the rental is arranged and managed by a company that handles maintenance and repairs. In many cases, the charter company may provide other services, as well. Such services may include outfitting the vessel with food and other supplies or providing sailing lessons.
Bareboating has additional advantages, as well. In most cases, bareboating means that maintenance of the boat is someone else’s responsibility. The bareboat skipper does not need to tie up capital as owner of the boat or in slip rental fees. In addition, insurance is typically included in the cost of the charter or is available for nominal fees. Finally, the bareboat sailor need not stick close to home. Bareboat charters are available in many locations around the world. Bareboat operations are available locally and in exotic locales such as Baja California, Croatia, Mallorca, and the British Virgin Islands.
What Does a Boater Need to Know Before Chartering a Yacht?
Before chartering a boat, skippers should ask some questions about their own abilities as a sailor and about the charter company. The Marine and Boating Technologies Website offers several questions for the potential bareboater to ask before making a decision. Of course, it is important for all boaters to know the rules of the road, as explained by the United States Coast Guard. It may be useful to check with the Better Business Bureau in the area where you plan to charter to determine whether the company from which you plan to charter a boat is reputable or not.
A number of helpful articles are available to assist sailors in deciding whether bareboating is a good fit or to assist with selecting a destination or equipment. Once the sailor has selected a reputable company, checked out skippering skills, and set a destination, the only step left is to choose the date and book a charter. Local destinations and exotic locales are possible for the bareboat sailor who is willing to do some research and take a few sailing lessons.
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