Second Tier BVI Charter Companies ?

[Lightfin]

We are considering purchasing a used catamaran (probably a Lagoon 380 or Lagoon 410) to place into charter service with a second tier BVI charter company (possibly Conch for example).

Does anyone here have experience or knowledge with or about any of these companies and/or of how well the arrangement has worked for you or a friend?

Thanks.

Bob

[sv_makai]

One of our cruising frineds with a sister boat to Makai bought theres from Sunsail. They have had it in the caribe for 3 years and still are sorting the jury rig repairs and replacing items that were not maintained.

The boat looked fine but had a rough life. In the end they have spent much more repairing and more time getting repairs than enjoying the crusing life.

When we purhcased our boat , we looked at the options and determine that a new boat was the way to go. Bigger hit upfront, but less outflow and agony on the back end. 2 sets of other friends who purchased a Catanas have both replaced the lower drive units with in the first year after purchase. That was a quick 2,500-3000 bucks.

Do the math and make sure that you fully understand all of the things that can go wrong or fail from hard charter use. Those boats are abused. We saw how rough they are treated when we spent 6 months in the windwards. Charter capital of the world!

[ssullivan]

I 2nd what Capt Bill from SV Makai said. Definitely do the math and read the contract with utmost scrutiny. Find any loophole and imagine that the event will happen.

Do nothing verbally, and get every tiny little thing in writing.