I have a
Monohull in the Moorings program that just had it's last day in the Moorings yesterday and will be spending one more year in the footloose program. I was just on it a few days ago.
My
boat certainly has had more hard use than it would have had not in
charter, and has a few more dings,
water stains on the
interior teak, etc. However, I feel they have kept it in sail ready condition as promised. The list of
maintenance they provide me each year is quite extensive. It's certainly needs less attention that most boats I've looked at
for sale from private individuals who have often let many issues build up by the time they sell the boat. I feel I could sail it back to the States as is without any worries and probably will do just that next year.
In my opinion the
money saved by having no maintenance, no
insurance and no
storage more than makes up for any extra depreciation. Add to that a 40+% guaranteed
income and it's clearly been much, much more affordable than owning a boat not in
charter. Even though it's the most expensive boat I've ever purchased, the cost of
ownership has been the least of any boat I've ever owned (4 cruising boats)
If I had the disposable
income to
trade into a
catamaran with them for my next boat, I'd do it in a heart beat. The problem I'm running into as one a tighter
budget is that the cost of their entry level boats has gone up from under 120K to about 200K.
If you would normally charter a similar boat for more than 2 weeks per year, I think charter management is likely a better option. If you would buy a similar boat and only sail it 8 weeks a year, I think charter management is likely a better option. However, if you would otherwise buy a boat costing a fraction as much or want to sail it more often, the trade-offs become less clear.
An added bonus, more difficult to measure financially is the benefit of not having to worry about maintenance or spend time working on the boat. Just show up in a wonderful cruising
destination and go cruising that day.
Feel free to message me if you have any other questions.
P.S. - While my boat is in Tortola it is a U.S. registered yacht. The cruising
permit is covered in the owner's time or turn around time fee.
P.P.S - I should add that I purchased my boat before the Moorings was purchased by what is now Tui
Marine, owner's of Sunsail. So far, I have not noted any appreciable difference in how my boat has been managed as a result, but can't speak to future changes.
- Dave