| A crewed yacht charter is a fabulous vacation | | | | machinery, and create mildew and mold. Even on a 50 |
| whether with your family, or friends, as this venue | | | | - 60' yacht being offered for crewed charter, there |
| offers a full service customized floating hotel and | | | | should be two full time crew on board to provide the |
| restaurant that you take with you, to explore some of | | | | service for charter, of course, but to also, in between |
| the nicest cruising locations worldwide, and is offered in | | | | charters, constantly maintain and clean from bow to |
| a wide range of budgets from moderate to luxury for | | | | stern. On the exterior, the hull should constantly be |
| virtually every pocketbook. | | | | washed, polished or painted, teak cleaned or |
| What doesn't look great on the internet? Particularly | | | | re-varnished, any chrome or stainless polished, and |
| photos of lovely destinations, such as Tahiti, Portofino, | | | | fabrics cleaned or replaced if needed. On the interior, |
| Santorini, St. Barths, Nantucket, Sawyer Glacier, Cabo | | | | all systems should be constantly maintained and |
| San Lucas, and Harbor Island, all of which are great | | | | cleaned, the engine room should be spotless, wood |
| cruising locations. Can you find information about and | | | | should be polished, painted or oiled, all upholstery and |
| photos of options available for crewed charter on the | | | | carpeting cleaned or replaced if needed, mold and |
| internet? Sure, but what you see and read on the | | | | mildew eradicated, and even the tiniest corner should |
| internet may not be what you find on arrival for your | | | | be cleaned, with a toothbrush and cotton swab if |
| dream nautical vacation. Check the internet for initial | | | | necessary. |
| research, however always finalize your charter with a | | | | Anything spilled or dropped in the interior always ends |
| qualified Yacht Charter Broker for the following | | | | up in the bilge, creating an odor or possibly clogging a |
| reasons. | | | | strainer, so constant interior cleaning is essential. And, |
| Reason #1: Regulations and insurance | | | | of course, all interior goods, such as linens, towels, |
| The wary charter client should know that there is no | | | | cutlery, and dishes, should be fresh and clean, having |
| minimum safety or licensing requirements with which | | | | been replaced when worn. A smaller 50' vessel that |
| an Owner must comply in order to advertise his yacht | | | | charters for less money than a larger 150' vessel |
| for crewed charter on the internet. Neither is Hull | | | | should still look just as clean and fresh. An older vessel |
| insurance nor is a Captain's license required. | | | | should look just as clean and fresh as a newer vessel. |
| What happens to you as the unsuspecting Charterer? | | | | A lower budget vessel should look just as clean and |
| You may end up chartering uninsured and might even | | | | fresh as a higher budget vessel. No matter what the |
| be liable. Or, if not in compliance with required safety | | | | charter budget, nothing offered crewed charter is |
| and licensing requirements, it could be an illegal charter, | | | | worth spending a penny, much less thousands of |
| which could invalidate the hull insurance coverage. | | | | pennies, if not clean and fresh. |
| Most countries, to which a vessel is flagged, called the | | | | The color brochure and photos shown on the internet |
| flag state, have safety and crew licensing | | | | advertising for crewed charter may have photos |
| requirements with which an Owner offering his vessel | | | | taken when the boat was brand new, and just |
| for crewed charter must comply. The Owner and | | | | launched. That same boat photographed and shown |
| crew should research to assure that the safety | | | | on the web when just launched, factory fresh, may, if |
| requirements and crew licensing requirements are | | | | not maintained properly, look and even smell |
| being met for the flag state. Is there anyone in each | | | | considerably differently one year later. A qualified |
| flag state checking to make sure all are in compliance? | | | | Yacht Charter Broker will keep abreast of the |
| Not necessarily, or if there is a government agency | | | | maintenance of all yachts offered for crewed charter. |
| checking on safety and licensing compliance, the | | | | Reason #3: Charter Crew |
| manpower needed may be stretched too thin for | | | | The crew offered for the crewed charter is very |
| adequate review. | | | | important as well, as the Charterer will be living on |
| A qualified Yacht Charter Broker, will check that the | | | | board with the crew for the duration of the charter. |
| Owner has his vessel in compliance with the flag state | | | | Crew should be as well maintained as the yacht, in a |
| safety regulations, and that the crew are in compliance | | | | sense. Often crews, on a crewed charter, are wearing |
| with the flag state licensing requirements, and supply a | | | | a crew uniform, which should be neat and clean. The |
| charter contract that requires the Owner and crew to | | | | state of the crew uniform can also be a hint as to the |
| be in compliance with all safety and licensing | | | | professional level of the crew. Crew should be well |
| regulations necessary and for the yacht to be insured. | | | | trained and competent. If food is offered, the service |
| Reason #2: Charter Yacht Maintenance | | | | should be top notch, and the food should be at the |
| Anyone familiar with yachting is aware that nothing | | | | advertised gourmet level using fresh ingredients and |
| can go downhill faster than a vessel floating on salt or | | | | good presentation. Interior service can be relaxed or |
| fresh water that is not maintained. One of the biggest | | | | equivalent to 5 star hotel services, depending on the |
| issues is odor. Whether from something unsanitary in | | | | size of the vessel and the service level advertised. A |
| the bilge, mildew, mold, or even spilled fuel, all odors on | | | | qualified Yacht Charter Broker will check to assure |
| board are generally due to poor maintenance and can | | | | that the charter crew on board are well versed in |
| ruin your charter vacation. | | | | proper charter service, present well, and are friendly |
| Any vessel in a tropical or warm charter location is | | | | and hospitable. |
| sitting and baking under the hot sun. The sun can fade | | | | Certainly look on the internet for crewed charter |
| hull paint, cause a powdery film on the hull surface, | | | | information, however book your charter with a qualified |
| cause varnish to peel, and cause upholstery, awnings | | | | Yacht Charter Broker who knows the latest up to |
| and sails, if a sailboat, to fade and the fibers to | | | | date information on legalities, insurance, maintenance |
| weaken. Water, salt or fresh, can cause some hulls to | | | | and crew. |
| rust, cause damage to any of the interior or exterior | | | | |