- Make sure you know exactly the year and condition of the boat. Have it in writing and make sure it’s clear in your contract. Add a clause that allows you to decline the boat or switch to another comparable boat the meets your approval.
- Be cautious of small chartering companies with low inventory. Bigger companies tend to have more inventory which means more choices for you, the consumer.
- Get a list of equipment in writing and approve the list prior to chartering.
- Make sure you get a boat that’s easy for you to sail. If you’re a beginner you may want a boat with electric winches, auto-pilot, GPS and Chart Plotter at the helm. An advanced sailor may want a boat with no automation; pick the boat that fits you.
- When you do a check out, make sure you go through each item and test it. If it does not work, make sure they fix it or give you another boat. Again, always make sure there are other boats, unless you completely trust the chartering company to deliver the boat you agreed upon. Be careful and thorough as it often takes a few days to notice the problems. Make sure your chartering contract covers you if the boat needs repairs. The company should both exchange the boat within 24 hours and, at their expense, put you up at an “equivalent to the boat rate” hotel. Most sailing charters can run $280 to $500 a day, so make sure you have a reimbursement agreement.
- Try to pay by credit card so you have a least some leverage to dispute or partially dispute the charges.
Contributed by Paul Harrison. http://wheresmyzen.com/caribbean-sailing-bvi-caribbean-yacht-charters-bvi-com