A Beginner’s Guide to Bareboat Yacht Charters
Last Updated on July 31, 2023 by Boatsetter Team
Booking bareboat yacht charters is much like renting a car for your vacation. During the trip, you essentially take ownership and choose your trip’s itinerary. You replenish the car’s fuel tank when necessary and fill the inside with everything you’ll need for an enjoyable trip. You also keep the car neat and tidy so the cleanup crew doesn’t have to sweat it while they prep the car for the next rental client. Bareboat yacht charters operate in much the same way, with a few distinctive differences. Here are several easy-to-follow guidelines that will help you handle your charter with confidence.
Bareboat Yacht Charters: A How To Guide
First, pinpoint the type of boat that suits your style, while keeping the purpose of your charter (and your budget) in mind. Decide how many guests you’d like to invite aboard, as that also influences your boat choice.
If you’re a confirmed sailor, decide whether a relaxing day sail or weekend sailing trip sounds like a better match. For either one, a nice small-to-medium-sized coastal cruising sailboat should provide nice accommodations at a reasonable price. For longer trips, consider a larger vessel with additional creature comforts.
On the powerboat side, decide whether you want to putter around nearby lake or coastal waters, soaking up the sun while you try to outsmart the fish. Or, maybe you’d rather spend the day (or weekend) on a go-fast boat with twin engines, screaming across the water for the sheer thrill of it. As an added bonus, some higher-speed powerboats also feature basic cooking, sleeping, and bathroom facilities, making them a good option for weekend trips as well.
Check Out Safety, Navigational & Recreational Gear
Your charter boat’s gear list should include all mandatory safety and navigational equipment, based on United States Coast Guard requirements for the vessel’s size and purpose. If your vacation plans include activities such as tubing or sailboarding, note whether the yacht contains those recreational toys. If not, determine whether the vessel has sufficient space to safely store those larger items.
It is also important to note that you should have the required boating know-how for the boat you rent and a certain level of understanding of the waterways you plan to set sail in. Boating safety should always be top of mind even for the most seasoned boaters.
Create Your Food and Supplies Provisioning List
All bareboat yacht charters operate under the same premise: the charter guest (you) will bring the food and staples needed for your trip. Yes, you might find some paper towels or bath tissue tucked aboard, but that won’t be true on every boat. So, err on the side of caution, and pack your own snacks, menu ingredients (if applicable), and non-perishable goods.
Before you visualize gourmet-quality meals aboard, however, keep two things in mind. First, you’re on vacation, and you don’t want to spend the entire trip trapped in the galley, making meals or doing KP duty. In other words, Keep It Simple.
Also, determine if your charter boat has a refrigerator (and the fridge’s storage capacity), before buying huge quantities of perishable groceries. If you’ll depend on a cooler, be realistic about its capacity, along with your ability to replenish the ice.
Get Those Bareboat Yacht Charters Underway
So, now you’re itching to explore the world of bareboat yacht charters. To get the ball rolling, check out Boatsetter, the premier boat sharing company, that makes it simple for boaters to connect with local boat owners. You can rent a privately owned sailboat or powerboat near your home port, and reserve a licensed Coast Guard captain if you choose.
Best of all, Boatsetter’s boats are available in desirable coastal ports and on scenic lakes throughout the world.
Hop aboard with Boatsetter, and book your bareboat yacht charter now!
Boatsetter empowers people to explore with confidence by showing them a world of possibility on the water. Rent a boat, list your boat, or become a Boatsetter captain today.
