Does anybody have any experience with Captains Compass "Two Oceans"? We have her booked in November and are wondering what she is like.

Thanks!!

We chartered "Two Oceans" in April 2012. The boat was fine. Roomy enough for sure with comfortable berths. Take a forward berth, the ventilation was much better, our aft berth was pleasant enough but our daughter had a nice steady breeze in the forward cabin. We had a hired Captain and gave her the owners side because we wanted the three of us together. In light winds the boat was very hard to get through the wind and tacking was challenging to say the least, once the winds were up, not a problem. We had some unusually light winds at the beginning of our trip (5-8 kts) and then some very strong winds (above 25 that kept us in The Bight for two nights - which was not a problem with 9 nights on the boat!) I know there are plenty that would reef and go in those winds but we were taking the advise of our Captain and were fine with the decision. Other than a hard time tacking in light winds the sailing performance was good, not a speed demon but easy to manage and winches and lines in places that worked well. There was an electric winch for the main halyard, if it's still working it made raising the main very easy. I'm not sure if it's still the case but the table in the saloon was removed (the pedestal was stowed and the top was resting on the floor.) I can not remember why it was this way or why we didn't set it up and leave it up, I know we set it up once but I'm sorry I don't remember the details. The head in the port side had a sticky pump but a little oil (we used corn oil on the advise of the Captain) kept it manageable. The shower nozzle on the swim step broke on day two but I assume Brent has replaced it by now. We looked for one at two different supply places and didn't find one, needed to be ordered. Some of the latches were loose (on the aft port door in particular) and we stuck folded up paper in the door to keep it from rattling. No big issues with the boat, check to see that the bottom has been cleaned recently before you head out. Oh, there was an issue with the fridge (or maybe freezer - something electrical) but Brent knew before we left and a chase boat meet us at our first stop of Cooper to have it repaired. Both the fridge and freezer worked well after the fix. It was nice that we didn't have to wait at the dock for the repair seeing it was being taken care of the first day of our charter. If I think of anything else I will add it later. We enjoyed the boat and would charter her again.

Capt. Mike, be aware that Bendt does not allow chart plotter or autopilot, if this is an issue. Personally it would be a deal breaker for me.

Geez Evan, get your facts correct.

He does have chart plotters at the helm, which can be used. I am not sure of the specific layout of this boat, but on the mono there is ALSO a chart plotter at the nav station which we were told not to use. That DOES NOT MEAN he doesn't allow chart plotter usage!

Please Evan, do not insist on propragating incorrect info. You have an axe to grind about the autopilot, and that's your perogative.

To the OP, ASK BRENT about the chart plotter & autopilot, do not listen to sail2wind

geez fedup, there was an entire thread about this, lighten up.
I have nothing against Brendt or Captains Compass. No axes to grind either, just stating what I read directly from his guests. To each his own. I like auto pilot and would not charter a boat without it.

When I learned how to sail, Chart plotters didn't exist, we had Loran A, and I was my dads auto pilot.

I don't really care about a chart plotter or auto pilot, I charter a boat so I can sail not to watch "otto". Just too easy to get complacent.

Besides, if we get lost, we pull in somewhere and ask directions.

We were on a Voyage 50 last year, it had all the whistles and bells, turned on the chart plotter to see our speed coming back from Anegada, got excited when we hit 11.9, screaming beam reach, but that was it.

Mike

Friends chartered a 38ish cat (Athena?) from CC. They were allowed to use the chart plotter. However, upon their return, Brent looked at the GPS tracks and determined my friends had been to White Bay. They had, for lunch, and readily admitted that. Brett then insisted he had told them that White Bay was redlined at all times. Both husband and wife insist that he had said they were not to overnight there. They have chartered in the BVI at least 10 times, are both CG Captains, have owned 4 sailboats of their own, and were eminently qualified to enter White Bay for lunch. Brent then told them that because of their transgression, they would not be allowed to charter from CC again. The freezer on their boat did not work for the entire charter. It is starting to sound like there are pre charter issues with all the CC boats. So, needless to say, Captain's Compass does not get my endorsement.

The Freezer on the Athena 38 (worst charter boat ever) has been dodgy for a long time. Boots the mechanic can't seem to find the leak and just comes to charge it every couple days. But my info could be old.

But I will say, NO one can clean a boat like Brent does and when it breaks down (not if) he will race out and and throw money at you to keep you happy.

His boats are more like your boat at home, they all have issues and you pay less and deal with issues. You can pay more and have less risk of issues. Just depends on your budget. But personally I would pay more to just not deal with Brents very odd personality.

I don't know, I deal with all kinds of people at work and in life and did not find Brent's personality to be very odd. A little high strung maybe but he did nothing that would make me avoid chartering from him again if it was the right boat at the right time.

Never heard of a charter company redlining White Bay. Easy entrance with markers, easy anchoring or moorings. Do any other company's redline it?

The Moorings red-lines White Bay.
Same with CYOA.

I'm sorry that your friends feel that they did not get the correct information, but I have chartered from Brent for many years and his contracts always say:

THE YACHT is limited to the waters of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) excluding all Red Areas on the chart provided by CC, Anegada, White Bay JVD, and St. Croix.

Either your friends don't know how to read, didn't look at the provided chart, or tried to pull a fast one and got caught. Oh well, it looks like everyone is happier that he won't charter to them again, if they want to go to White Bay they should find a company that will let them. I would have liked to see them run aground and then try to fight it and see how far they got.

IMHO, Brent's boats are cheaper than most because he doesn't allow charterers to do things that may cause damage, and White Bay traditionally has been one of those places. He will allow Anegada if you have been there before, have good waypoints and Walker's approach chart, and the weather is good, and whether he feels you have the skill - it's all up to him, and he has the final say.

White Bay has been red-lined by other charter companies in the past, but I have no recent knowledge if other companies still red-line it or not.

I guess it depends on what "red-lining" means. I've chartered with the Moorings for 20 years, They do provide a chart with areas marked in red, but (and I have asked Moorings personnel) they are marked in red to make you aware that possible problems may exist in those areas, and to use caution, not that you can't go there. I have never been given a list of areas that are "off-limits" nor told of one.

If it is in the contract, and something happens, it doesn't matter "what you were told"....

Read your contracts!

Nice.... You hide up there anonymously in Toronto, throw mean spirited accusations at people you never met, and expect us to give any credence to your opinion.
If my friends had been trying to "pull a fast one", they would have just erased the track from the GPS. By your own admission, Brent makes exceptions to his contracts (see your comments about Anegada). They both reiterate that when they asked, Brent told them they could not overnight there. Ergo, they felt they had permission to make a lunch stop. They were, even with the broken equipment before the charter started, prepared to charter with CC again. There was no damage to the boat, in fact they fixed a number of things that had been broken. They were then very surprised to find that they had been redlined.
The entire tone of your message stinks, ANON. I would turn my back on you if only you had nerve enough to tell us who you are.

Complain to TTOL - they are the ones that allow anonymous postings. I have quoted every contract I have signed with Brent, so I have no problems... I don't know you or your friends, and standing behind a "name" on the internet gives you no more credence then my IP address does... so hah!

Seems to me, that regardless of what the contract says and what he said, that this was simply a mis-communication and no harm was done. They didn't try to hide it and it seems a bit harsh they were cut off. Had they handled it differently, I could understand it.

Wow, didn't expect this... Next time I will ask "Does anybody have any PERSONAL experience with Captains Compass "Two Oceans"? Please label opinions and hearsay as opinions and hearsay.

I don't care about who did what to who, and I have had several conversations with Brent, I read and even signed his contract, I know what I am in for, I even know where I am going, except...

How is the actual boat? Floating? Right side up? Most of the systems work? Can I cook, sleep, dive, drink, repeat?

Thank you! Much appreciated! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" />

Oceans 2 was our 3rd charter with Brent. We had her last year, April 2012. Older, well maintained, very good refrig.Number of minor cosmetic issues. One or two minor mechanical issues (engine compartment secondary fan bearing and a head that would not hold prime).Boat was spotless on arrival. Electrical and batteries no issues. No water or fuel issues. Older but very good dinghy. Had 2 blade props which made underpowered motoring, they were to be replaced for 2012-13, Brent disclosed this to us. No issues that slowed us down or cut into our vacation. Do you have specific concerns? PM me if you wish.