Ready to Jump in with BothFeet

[BothFeet]

I'm 49 and have sailed for 37 years, owned a couple small boats (up to Catalina 22), worked in the charter industry and sailed/worked on/maintained A LOT then (80's: 19 Cape Dory, Morgan 50, Cheoy Lee ketch, etc), and have chartered up to 48 Leopard cat and am comfortable single handing in strong breeze/gale. I've begun selling off businesses and extraneous assets with the intent to buy a larger blue water cat. I've read most of the books/guides/bibles and "kinda" know what I want. Well, at least I know that I want to do a long term charter so I can further develop my list of "must have's" (ie: water maker, washer dryer, etc). Also, the long term charter is to allow my wife to test drive the lifestyle. She's worried about where she will get her spa treatments! I will be buying USED.

Manufactures I like (not a complete list):
Fountaine Pajot
Gunboat
Lagoon
Outremer
Robertson and Caine

Length: 45-60ft

Does anyone have suggestions on locating long term charters for these vessels? I am familiar with a couple websites that purport to offer them (ie: longtermcharters.com). Preferably I'd like to work directly with an owner. How about an owner who is looking to sale? Anybody???

Thanks,
Scott

[scook1]

Welcome aboard Bothfeet. Can you provide some information about where geographically you are looking for a charter? US? Europe?

Scook

[BothFeet]

I'm flexible. I know BVI and some other Caribbean waters, and am located east coast US. I'm happy to charter wherever. I'd have to study the legalities of purchasing a foreign flagged vessel, etc, but regarding the charter I'm game. That's what lawyers are for...

[Certeza]

I'm very interested in this topic as well. My problem is that the boats I'm interested in are more difficult to find in general, so arranging a long term charter will be tough. Anyway, from what I can see, the advertised long-term bareboats will cost about 1/3-ish what you would normally pay for a weekly charter, but still about 2X-ish what you'd be out to own the boat in the end including depreciation/maintenance.

Seems to me like a decent way to test the lifestyle for a couple months. Essentially you're talking about a lease option, which are incredibly common for terrestrial homes, but not sure about boats. Interested in following what you do.

[captain58sailin]

Welcome to the forum.