How to become a bareboat charter

[SeaBreezy]

My boyfriend and I own a 1998 PDQ sailing catamaran that we recently fixed up. We are interested in possibly bareboat chartering for a few months of the year. Any advice on how to get started? Hire a management company? Create an LLC? Not really sure where to begin, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

[ChrisJHC]

It would really help if you told us where you are planning to do this as the requirements are very jurisdiction-specific.

Also, just to clarify, you are planning to charter out your own boat?

[SeaBreezy]

Thanks for the response. We are looking to charter in Florida or Long Island, NY for just a couple months of the year and yes, it is our own boat.

[belizesailor]

Note that "bareboat" means without captain or crew. Basically just renting the boat only to someone.

Is that your intention?

[SeaBreezy]

Yup, that is our intention

[slugsgomoo]

Aside from any local/etc restrictions you need to dig into, PDQ's are Canadian right? If that's the case I'd assume you'd need to file for a Jones Act waiver before you get too far into the process.

[grantmc]

I'd suggest that you'd be best to find a charter company in the area you're interested in and talk to them. Many firms will include owner boats in their fleet. Such firms are usually well qualified to do the promotion and find customers. Issues of breakage, anchorage, wear and tear, insurance, hire agreements, plus provisioning and cleaning, also verifying the hirers credentials are within their expertise. They can even provide skippers and extra gear (eg. dive or fishing equipment), when required.

Just a heads up. Your boat may be too old to be included in a charter fleet. Insurance will be an issue.

[Pandor]

https://www.boatsetter.com/

This would be your simplest way.