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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Jennifer Aimee]
#164549
06/26/2018 09:44 AM
06/26/2018 09:44 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 348 Pittsburgh, PA
Schwendy
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 348
Pittsburgh, PA
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If the price is the same, leave out of St. Thomas! That will save a ton of money in ferry costs for 15 people. Your cost for the boat should be free for organizing that many. As in, have them all pay slightly more to cover you! This year planning for six has been an absolute nightmare for me as far as collecting money. My other two couples still owe me for the provision order and we leave in 25 days. I told them the boat will not leave the dock with them on it until I have the money in hand. Don't get in a position of collecting during or after the trip! Last charter one couple waited until the last day of the trip to give me their share for the boat envelope which we use for moorings, fuel, water, ice and trash. I reminded, bugged them every day and just got "oh yeah, yeah, I'll get that to you". Only downside to leaving out of St. Thomas in your situation as I understand is you would be on the boat with the owner as captain? I don't think I'd like that. Not with a group that large. I'd rather have a captain supplied by the charter company. That way if you got someone you really didn't like for some reason you could swap out. Owners have more rules and could be particular about things since it's their boat!
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Jennifer Aimee]
#164585
06/26/2018 01:10 PM
06/26/2018 01:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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I don't think there's any issue going with a broker, but I'd want to know if those 2 Captain's/owners have worked together. That would be my only concern. If you go direct with a charter company, they are giving you 2 hired captains who very likely know each other.
Matt
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Jennifer Aimee]
#164603
06/26/2018 07:08 PM
06/26/2018 07:08 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 330 Hilton Head, SC
Steve27
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 330
Hilton Head, SC
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Ok as far as collecting money as you go is a horrible idea. Here is how I have always run our charters. We charter the Moorings 514 Powercat. I take the total cost of the boat and divide it by 8 people and give them till 70 days prior to leaving the dock to pay that in full. People that pay are committed and are serious. Be firm on the payment schedule. I tell them from there very beginning that they must have $250 in $20 bills payable at the dock. This is $100 for fuel and $150 for food. I tell them from the beginning that if they don't have this then the boat can not leave because we will not have food or fuel. Any provisioning ahead of time is taken out of this kitty. I always provide receipts for any provisions prior. As I am checking out the boat the others go shopping with the food money to finish provisions. I pay mooring balls and trash out of this kitty set up. At the end we take whatever money is left over and go out and have a big dinner and drinks. As far as flights, hotel and ferry cost, I put that on each individual. I layout everything prior so there are no surprises. Remember you will have to feed your Captain and house him in one of the bunks along with tip. So don't forget about the incidentals that come with chartering with a Captain. This is why we bareboat!
Cruising the local waters here in SC and GA. Love the BVIs and miss the Tradewinds!
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Steve27]
#164613
06/26/2018 09:25 PM
06/26/2018 09:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,427 New Jersey, USA
DanS
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,427
New Jersey, USA
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I tell them from the very beginning that they must have $250 in $20 bills payable at the dock. Is this a trick? Dan
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: DanS]
#164615
06/26/2018 10:10 PM
06/26/2018 10:10 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 465 Chicago
YachtReprise
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 465
Chicago
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I tell them from the very beginning that they must have $250 in $20 bills payable at the dock. Is this a trick? Dan HeHe. When I ran a charterboat, a hundred years ago, we had lots of 'tandem' charters. The brokers knew, or would ask, who we were comfortable with as our tandem boat. Things ran like clockwork, because I knew the other captain's policies about anchoring, rafting, guest use of the equipment, etc. - and he/she knew mine. No lengthy discussions required. If price is comparable, I'd definitely go with a broker. No additional cost to you, and the boats will have been cared for as an owner would care for his boat. I'd also not be afraid to take a cook. I know it's more pricey, but when considering the total cost of the trip - it's a really worthwhile luxury. You can reduce costs by indicating how many days/nights you'd like to eat ashore. You also have an opportunity, through a broker, to match the vibe of your group with the vibe of the boat's crew. For example, we didn't take 'party-ers' - but preferred active, adventurous types. Other captains did party-ers well. The brokers knew that.
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Jennifer Aimee]
#164639
06/27/2018 09:16 AM
06/27/2018 09:16 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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I'd take a guess at Fred's comment regarding collect as you go along to mean collecting as you book the boat and every other step along the way. This is what we've typically done. I got the group confirmed, figured out the price and had everyone send me money - typically before anything was booked. Once on the trip, we'd share costs and I kept a spreadsheet of what everyone spent and could tell how much anyone couple/person owed or was owed. Usually we got it all worked out to near even in the end so little money was exchange. Just had different people pay the mooring fees and other bills as we went along.
Matt
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Jennifer Aimee]
#164646
06/27/2018 11:09 AM
06/27/2018 11:09 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 348 Pittsburgh, PA
Schwendy
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 348
Pittsburgh, PA
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I have tried all of these methods and my conclusion is there is no perfect solution. When I booked my upcoming trip I had one couple confirmed and they said they had a second couple. I booked the charter during a week that fit their schedule not mine. The day I booked I get a call that the "other" couple is out. A month later the first couple filed for divorce. I also held off booking until very late because the first couple lost his job and I waited until he found another. After several months of contacting every friend I have to get a second couple, even offering the trip for free, I finally found one. I told them they can go for free but have to get their personal expenses, flights and boat expenses. They are vegans so the provisioning has been a pain in the a@@. My friend getting divorced found a date but now I have to pick her up 2 days into the charter, rearranging schedules. Not to mention, our week is now Christmas in July. The first couple wants to eat out every day, the vegans want to eat on the boat every meal. I sent out a 30 page extremely detailed guide I spent hours putting together. Everything from tying knots to what clothes to bring, itinerary, pictures and video of the boat, you name it! I am 23 days out and still getting questions like how much are we going to sail? It's a power cat. Oh it's a catamaran? Do we have to get water taxis if we want to go ashore? No, we have a dingy! My point is that it DOES NOT MATTER how firm and clear you are with money deadlines or anything else, they won't care or take the time to read or listen. It's infuriating to me that I put in so much time planning and taking care of every single detail, all they have to do is set their alarm clock to go to the airport and no respect or consideration is given. Man keeping a spreadsheet??? That seems like a nightmare! I told my crew they can send me a check for the remaining expenses ahead of the trip to make saving/budgeting easier on them or they can hand me cash when we are at the STT airport or step on the boat but it's not leaving the dock with them on it until all money is in my hand. I am determined to find better friends or a better system next year.
Last edited by Schwendy; 06/27/2018 11:10 AM.
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Jennifer Aimee]
#164686
06/27/2018 04:56 PM
06/27/2018 04:56 PM
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4 Roswell, GA
Jennifer Aimee
OP
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4
Roswell, GA
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Thanks everyone. This trip is for my middle daughter's graduation so it is close friends and family that are going - my oldest and her husband, my parents, my sister and brother in law, etc. I trust they will all get along and will pay in a timely manner. We have sailed the BVI several times but always as guests on my aunt and uncle's boat so this is new ground for me. Of course I also feel the pressure of making sure everyone is comfortable in whatever boats we decide upon. Your input has been helpful and I absolutely appreciate all of it!
We would love to do an all inclusive (meals included) but anticipate that other than breakfast and a few lunches we will be eating off of the boat most days. The cost just didn't make sense for us.
Jenny
Last edited by Jennifer Aimee; 06/27/2018 04:56 PM.
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Jennifer Aimee]
#164749
06/28/2018 04:19 PM
06/28/2018 04:19 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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Moorings 4800 or 5000 or similar would work great for you. Each has a spot for a Captain and still gives you 4 cabins per boat.
Matt
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Re: Charter Company or Broker - captained boat
[Re: Jennifer Aimee]
#164893
07/01/2018 03:20 PM
07/01/2018 03:20 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 45 PA , BVI, USVI
cheezler
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 45
PA , BVI, USVI
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Hey Jennifer! I just returned from a "two cat cruise" in the BVI on June 18. Like your trip, this was a big high school graduation trip for my son, all family and friends. 17 people, 2 cats. We chartered both Helia 44's (4c/4h) from Virgin Islands Yacht Charters in Compass Point Marina which is on the East End of St. Thomas near Red Hook. I used to charter in the BVI, flying in to St. Thomas and doing the taxi/ferry/taxi cluster to a charter base in Tortola. Now it's a 25 min taxi ride to the boat, and the next morning we were in Great Harbor JVD in the customs office in about 2 hrs. Spent the afternoon at Soggy Dollar. pm me if you want more info.
"Waitress, I need two more Boat Drinks"
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