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Knowing how to charter a boat can change your life, it makes taking the family, clients or colleagues out for a sailing trip that bit more amazing because you are in charge.

That said chartering a boat for the first time can be a daunting task and you don’t want to pitch up at the charter company and look like an idiot when they say you can’t take the boat you’ve booked out..

Here’s what you need to know before you get down to that charter company..

Qualifications / Experience
On a par with actually being able to pay for the boat is your ability to sail it..

You should always check what qualifications they require, this can vary but is usually as follows:

• A sailing qualification: RYA Day Skipper / Intermediate Coastal Cruising
• Experience of skippering a yacht of similar size in similar conditions

Catch 22: I don’t have skippering experience
One of the questions I get asked most often on this subject is ‘How do I get the experience needed if I don’t have a boat and can’t charter on’.

If you lie to a charter company, damage the boat and they find out you lied about your ‘experience’ then you could be in for a big bill so that options out of the window. Especially as you are probably more likely to have problems first time skippering..

Solution:

• Find a friend or instructor who has experience that you trust
• Explain to the charter company that you don’t have experience skippering out of the classroom but you want to charter as the skipper and that your friend will be 1st mate and will shadow you to make sure everything is safe.
• Go sailing and bring back the boat without damage..

This is very common and is how a lot of sailors make the transition and answers the hardest bit of how to charter a boat.

Questions to ask a boat charter company
Plenty of lessons I’ve learnt chartering over the years, these are the ones which I find most important..

To make sure that you’re not embarrassed when you get there:

• What qualifications/experience do you require? (Confirm this in writing/email)
• Where am I able to take the boat (So you don’t over-promise to your crew)
• What sort of charts do you have on-board (So you can navigate to where you want to go..)
• What deposit is required and how can I pay it
• What’s your refund policy encase of bad weather?

On them and the boat:

• How long have you been running?
• How old is the boat I’m thinking about chartering?
• When was it last re-fitted/serviced
• Do you have any exiting clients I could talk to as a reference?
• What safety equipment is on board

Get it as audio, Saild.com Podcast: How to Charter a Boat


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