Chartering your boat

[MD7]

Hello all

I'm planning to spend the next year or two as a charter captain on board our new sailing yacht.
Of course, finding clients will be a very important aspect of this plan.
I'm thinking to work out with a charter company to get started, since I have no client base to exploit. I know they take up to 30% of the revenue but I also heard there's room for negotiation.
We'll be doing summers in the Med and winters in the Caribbean.

I'm looking for advice on good/bad companies, how to reach out to them, what to look out for and if there's a website like airbnb (but for boats) where you can make your own listing. And what is a normal charter commission for a 50ft S/Y with captain

Any advice is welcome!

[sailormed]

I have a neighbour here in the harbour on the french riviera He (and many others) use specialised websites. I will try and find the site he uses.

Edit: website in french samboat.fr

[MD7]

Thank you very much!

[sailormed]

With these search words in our friend g...le you get more sites doing private charter in France:
"location bateau particulier a particulier site:.fr"

[psk125]

You have the licenses needed to serve as paid Captain in both the Med and Carib?

[contrail]

Not to mention work permits, trade licenses, etc? You might check with the Charter Yacht Society of the BVI for more specific information. Most privately owned charter boats work through charter brokers, for whom the standard commission is 15%. The Charter Yacht Society of the BVI is hosting a Virtual Show this November, instead of their usual "in person" show, so you could show your boat in that, and you could do that from anywhere you wish. The brokers who are "attending" will be the ones you will want to work with in the Caribbean. Best of luck.

[MD7]

Originally Posted by psk125

You have the licenses needed to serve as paid Captain in both the Med and Carib?

Not yet, working on that. Our flag state is Belgium so I need to apply to the rules of the STCW convention. A master 200GT degree should do for this ship.

[MD7]

Originally Posted by contrail

Not to mention work permits, trade licenses, etc? You might check with the Charter Yacht Society of the BVI for more specific information. Most privately owned charter boats work through charter brokers, for whom the standard commission is 15%. The Charter Yacht Society of the BVI is hosting a Virtual Show this November, instead of their usual "in person" show, so you could show your boat in that, and you could do that from anywhere you wish. The brokers who are "attending" will be the ones you will want to work with in the Caribbean. Best of luck.

Thank you very much. I will definitely contact them.