General Information On Bareboating a Sailboat or Powerboat in South Florida-Bahamas
The 411 on Bareboating power boats and sailing vessels from Miami
Yacht Charters
Bareboat charters or Bareboating give you ultimate freedom, by
being your own skipper. Choose a vessel to suit your personal requirements,and experience leve,l
plan your own itinerary and enjoy independent holidays with your family
or close friends, to a schedule of your own choosing. Skippers must
qualify first to charter one of our select vessels and
although a Coast Guard Captain’s License or Certificate is not
required, you must be 21 years of age and demonstrate you have previous
experience on vessel of similar or greater size and power. The Reservation Request must be completely filled out and faxed or emailed to our
office for review and approval by our bareboat
fleet coordinator(s). Our bareboat charter specialists are standing by to answer all your inquiries.
You as the Skipper
You must discuss your position with your family and friends in advance, preferably before you even book the holiday. Having chosen you as skipper, they have to understand that your word is LAW on board. If they cannot accept this then do not accept the position. If you are the only one with sailing experience, you can always accept the position of navigator, and let someone else be skipper.
It has to be understood that the skipper's authority is not only confined
to emergency situations where you are about to hit rocks (they will
certainly accept commands then) but have to cover all the mundane
daily tasks involved in living on board such as but not limited to
cleaning, anchoring, docking and engine and vessel maintenance to
mention some.
You are the crew - and you have to choose the Skipper
Again, an early decision is by far the best. If more than, one crewmember has sailing or power boating experience choose the one with the additional leadership skills rather, than the purely technical mariner. You should choose someone you respect and whose orders you will follow without question.
You hired a professional Skipper for your private bareboat charter
The option of hiring a professionally licensed Captain with local knowledge of area as well as much experience on vessel you are chartering is a popular and safe alternative to skippering vessel yourself part of the time or the entire time. This option will require a separate agreement between your employee (the hired Skipper) and yourself; the party renting the vessel for term. Our staff can help provide you with a list of qualified and friendly Skippers, first mates and cooks/chefs along with the required paperwork in order to make your bareboating experience a safe and smooth experience.
Where to go
South Florida, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas offer a vast variety
of destinations and flavors. Visit
our destinations section of our website for more information on
our most popular destinations for bareboat
and crewed charters. It is important to purchase local charts
and study as well as plan your itineraries. Our experienced staff Captains are very familiar with our destinations and would love to assist you with any navigation or itinerary planning questions.
What to bring with you
No matter where your charter destination may be, they have a number
of things in common: the sun, the sea and the fact that you will need
to live for the duration on a yacht. There are a few items you should
not forget to take with you, as they will make your life on board
easier and safer.
The first thing you must keep in mind is that you will not need tons
of clothes. Life on board is very casual and you will spend a lot of
your time in a swimming clothing, a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. The storage space on a yacht is extremely limited and really does
exclude a hard suitcase.
Therefore, I recommend that your personal luggage be carried in a strong duffel bag, large enough to carry all your needs. They come in two types - the old naval style kit bag, open at the top only and the type that has a side zip and a couple of carrying handles. Below are a list of recommended equipment and clothing.
Suggested clothing items to bring
· A pair(s) of light weight casual
trousers or jeans
· A pair(s0 of better trousers and a dressy shirt,
a dress, so that you can visit a club or casino, good class restaurant
or night spot - smart casual
· Sweatshirt or woolen sweater for the evenings
· Several cotton T-shirts
· Several pairs of loose fitting shorts or skirts
· A light weight long-sleeved shirt, particularly
if
you are prone to sun burn – cotton is best
· A light weight wind breaker jacket
· A waterproof jacket with a hood
· A tracksuit - for early morning or late
evening use
· Enough socks and underwear
· Several swimming outfits
· Large towels
· A pair of deck shoes (preferable) or rubber
soled running shoes
· A pair of sandals - for those with "sweaty"
feet !
· A wide brimmed sunhat, wide enough to cover
the face and neck
· Sunglasses -not forgetting the retaining
"string".
- Polarized are a safety must for being on the water-
· A water bottle or jug(s), for those shore excursions
· A day bag - for shore trips- to carry essentials
such as toilet requisites, cameras, etc
· 2 or 3 large plastic bags to separate
clean from dirty laundry
· Money belt
· Sewing kit needles, cottons, safety pins,
etc.
· Toiletries - soap, toothpaste, shaving foam,
wet hankies, etc
In addition to the above clothing and personal equipment, you should take:
· Camera (still or video) and a good supply
of films for both. You can not guarantee being able to buy your particular
brand locally. A good, strong, waterproof bag for your electronic
equipment. It is only too easy to get water ingress whilst yachting!
· A good supply of books, sketch pad, pen,
chessboard, pack of cards, etc
· Although the charter yacht will usually
be equipped with all the necessary navigation equipment,
experienced charterers often like to bring along their own binoculars,
handheld GPS and/or VHF. A Swiss army knife is also a useful tool
to have with you.
Provisions / Food & Drinks
It is a good idea to provision vessel with lots of water or beverages of choice, ice and non-perishable food items as well as snacks. More times than often, folks enjoy the food and spirits of local eateries and restaurants at destinations so it is not necessary to over stock the vessel and take up more space than needed in storage and coolers. You can find ice, popular beverages and basic food items in most marinas at destinations. Our charter specialist can assist you with provisioning your vessel.
Safety
· All yachts should be equipped with sufficient
numbers of life jackets, usually of a standard size. If you are
not standard size, or especially for small children it is wise to
bring your own Life Jackets. This situation needs to be carefully
clarified with your charter agent before you leave for your holiday.
· Personal medical supplies - make sure
you bring a sufficient quantity of drugs and medicines you are taking.
Drugs are not always known by the same name in all countries and
you may not be able to get fresh supplies. If you are worried then
take with you your doctors prescription to show to the local pharmacy
just in case.
Selecting a vessel
Choosing the perfect vessel for your getaway requires careful research
and knowledge. Let our knowledgeable and friendly staff assist you
with all inquiries you may have about the vessels in fleet,
sample itineraries and marina reservations or the booking process.
Free Quote and Information Service
Vessel Pricing
For vessel pricing and vessel specs please visit, our bareboat section on our site; and the current pricing can be found on each individual vessel page. If you have a question on a vessel spec or pricing that does not appear on page please contact our charter specialist right away for assistance.
What is expected and required from you
Bareboat Charters require the charterer, the skipper and the crew to comply with various regulations, some extracted from the laws of the destination country and others from the charter agencies. Failure to comply with these regulations could end up in a very unpleasant situation and/or forfeiture of all deposits and monies collected for charter.
Requirements & guidelines for visiting our close neighbors- The Bahamas
Bahamas Bound Bareboat Charters
Please note that the skipper and the crew are expected to comply with various fishing, Customs and Immigration Laws and Regulations when visiting the Bahamas as well as when returning to the U.S. Failure to comply with these regulations could end up in a very unpleasant situation, vessel confiscation and/or forfeiture of all deposits and monies collected for charter. Everyone onboard should have a valid U.S Passport and one other source of identification.
Bahamas Customs and Immigration Fees
$300.00 for up to four persons. Additional persons are $15.00 each. This payment must be paid to the Bahamas Customs and Immigration Office in CASH! - The fee cover all permits (cruising and fishing) and Immigration fees.
o While cruising you should respect the country's laws, as well
as the international naval laws and ethics.
o Bahamas require a Valid Passport all other documents need to check first with port authorities before arrival.
o You must always carry onboard your charter contract & Identifications–we
will provide you a copy.
o A crew list should always be at the disposal of local port-police
authorities, if you are asked to provide them one during your trip.
Post-Charter
Of special emphasis during the post-charter underwater inspection is the condition of the propeller blades which are a good indicator of contact with underwater objects, sandbars, etc. Please note that you are responsible for any damage that may occur to the vessel while it is under your custody and control. We will turn the boat to you clean, with fuel and water tanks FULL and you are expected to return the boat in same condition.
Post charter cleaning arrangements can be made with our cleaning service should you be short of time upon your arrival. The cost of basic cleaning (interior and exterior is $3.00 per foot)
A Rewarding and unforgettable experience for everyone
Bareboating a yacht with friends and family or just that special some one can provide everlasting memories and many laughs for years to come. Preparation is the key and our charter specialists will assist you with every step of the way. South Florida, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas offer year round destinations and excellent weather conditions. Our fleet is based in the Sea Isle Marina in Downtown Miami, facing Biscayne Bay. This location assures you a safe and protected embarkation area as well as home port/dock. Good luck and happy cruising.
Contact us for any special needs or for more information.
Call us at 305-223-3488, Toll-Free 1-866-978-5450, Fax 786-348-0047 or fill out our contact form for reservations and pricing information.
Our professionally crewed and bareboat charters serve South Florida, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.