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Start a charter company with 1 yacht and hire you?

Discussion in 'Yacht Captains' started by Drifter, May 21, 2023.

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  1. Drifter, May 21, 2023
    #1
    Drifter

    Drifter Member

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    Is it foolish to daydream of starting my own charter company with 1 power cat or sailing cat and hiring you and possibly a chef/mate to run the charters? What are the advantages/disadvantages? What is a usual, customary and reasonable financial arrangement? What size crew quarters are needed? What percentage of charters want both a captain and a chef? How many weeks per year does the average caribbean/bahamas charter rent? Bareboats not permitted. Are insurance rates realistic for this type of arrangement? What are your opinions and experiences of fractional yacht ownership? Or should I just join with one of the established companies even though they take a considerable cut? I appreciate your experiences.
    Last edited: May 21, 2023
  2. Ken Bracewell, May 21, 2023
    #2
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    How much of a cut do the traditional charter companies take? I personally don't think the economics are going to be there for you to make money. But you can certainly offset a good portion of the owning expenses. That being said, the size operation you are asking about it outside the realm of my expertise.
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  3. Drifter, May 21, 2023
    #3
    Drifter

    Drifter Member

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    Making money would be nice but I am mostly interested in paying the expenses and having a few weeks aboard. I'm just wondering if captains would prefer/more job security/more income/more benefits/ more freedom to charter for independents or for the name brand chain charters.
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  4. Ken Bracewell, May 21, 2023
    #4
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    In my opinion independent boats offer a more personal touch than the charter fleets of the mainstream locations (BVI for example) which offer both non-crewed or crewed charters. But I also believe that you can put your boat in the fleet with your own crew too.
    Since I don't know much about, say the Moorings, I will tell you how traditional charter management works.

    You would find a charter management company that you like, such as Fraser or Northrop & Johnson, or perhaps a smaller independent firm (I'll PM you a contact). That firm would handle advertising and marketing, as well as holding funds and organizing contracts, and charges 5% of all charters for those services. Charter clients will generally use a broker, who helps to find a boat and crew that suit their needs and personality. The brokers make 15%. So all in, you will pay 20% of each charter to the brokers and management.
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  5. Pascal, May 21, 2023
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    First thing you need to look at is what the market is for the type of boat you are considering. You said power or sailing cat but wither are vague. Are you talking about a 45-50 footer similar to what large fleets are offering? If so I don’t think there is much of a market for an independent boat. Price is key in that market.

    if considering larger cats, like 70 ish power cats, then yes it could work and you will cover some of the operating expenses. Make money? No… get a return on the “investment”? No…

    the key to chartering such a boat is to have a crew experienced with such charter operation, ideally known to brokers. The biggest factor in a charter is the crew, not the boat.

    running a good charter operation isn’t cheap. Insurance is more expensive… in the Bahamas you have to pay for the annual charter license and inspection… the boat has to be in top shape cosmetically and mechanically. All the soft goods (upholstery, towels, linens etc) have to be top quality.

    these are just a few things but again it really depends on the type of boat and market.

    PS we ve ran charters on 70 thru 116 MYs for almost 15 years, mostly in the Bahamas and sofl. Non private use only.
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  6. Drifter, May 21, 2023
    #6
    Drifter

    Drifter Member

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    I was thinking 55ish foot cat with 4 BR and the 2 nose BR. Is there more guest demand for sail to save $ on fuel and go slow or do they prefer to get there fast and pay for fuel? Do most guests want to fish and have it prepared? Thanks so much for the info about crew quality. What makes a popular crew? Food and drink quality, customer service, discretion? Does the average guest prefer to engage and be entertained by the crew or prefer the crew be invisible? Do guests expect crew to have a tour guide level of knowledge of local areas?

    If I was to keep it in south Florida, where do guests like to go and what activities do they prefer?
    Last edited: May 21, 2023
  7. Pascal, May 21, 2023
    #7
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    A small boat isn’t going to be very formal so there will be a lot of interaction between guests and crew which is why crew personality is important. knowing the area, the right places to take guests to and yes being part tour guide is part of the job.

    food is important on a charter but can be challenging on a 50 footer. Difficult to have a chef due to limited crew accommodation. I don’t think we ve ever had a guest fishing and asking us to cook their catch as we ve never done fishing charters.

    from our experience, pretty much all our guests wanted some interaction. Again not talking 200’ super yachts but 70-116’. In fact 90% of our business was repeat customers, many of them having become friends over the years and who we still get together with when the my visit Miami or when we travel close to where they live.

    charter cruising grounds are limit in sofl. The keys are ok but don’t have any decent beaches or sandbars. Tricky with deepe draft although that won’t be an issue with a catamaran. The Bahamas is where it s at, especially the exumas and to some extend Eleuthera or the Abacos. Guests have to fly there as crossing from Florida can be a problem due to weather.
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  8. Drifter, May 21, 2023
    #8
    Drifter

    Drifter Member

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    Do you think a 4 cabin catamaran using 1 cabin for a husband and wife captain and chef would work or are the remaining 3BR not enough? Power or sail?