How do I restrict Bareboat Customers' use of...

[Falbala60]

Our cat will be chartered in Chesapeake Bay and Bahamas and we have a watermaker.

If I have no reason to disconnect the WM for Bahamas... I have a big concern about Chesapeake Bay ... where water is very bad and lot of marinas to fill up.
For sure in Chesapeake Bay charterer will clog your membrane.
In Bahamas, mainly Marsh Harbour make us feared to leave on... maybe I will develop a way to stop it.

Like others proposed ... Thru-hull locked, a hidden switch... and be sure the membrane as been flushed and filled with protector.

[Falbala60]

From what I know ... after you made a flush for the membrane.
Need to be done after 3 days not operating... plus one month period when locked.

[rabbi]

Watermaker can be trouble in charter i guess. They have to be run frequently, or pickled & stored to keep them healthy.
Otherwise I'd guess you need a new membrane or two per season.

A locked thru-hull alone doesn't work. Charterers may run the WM dry for a few hours before noticing it doesn't produce anything.
Hidden switch... Some charterers may still find it.
Disconnected device? Wouldn't take long for a charterer to connect it.
Hour meter doesn't stop anyone from using the WM.


I would either use a keyed switch, or maybe even better: make a length of wire at the WM removeable with connectors at the end. That way no one without the matching extension cord can get electricity to the WM.

[Flagman101]

Just charge a premium as not many bareboat come with a water maker.
It will pay for itself

[Redpcx]

Could you tell us the name of the agency and the boat name?
I would like to preserve your boat's equipment by NOT ever using your boat.

But seriously, water saver aerators and showerheads will lower consumption while allowing proper use of the plumbing. An Instant Off in the galley will help.

[jimbunyard]

Put an hourmeter on it and charge for any usage over 'X'/day, with a refundable deposit based on usage after the charter.

[rabbi]

Originally Posted by Redpcx

Could you tell us the name of the agency and the boat name?
I would like to preserve your boat's equipment by NOT ever using your boat.

No clue why you are bitching about the OP decision not to include the watermaker.
If an owner decides he doesn't want to give some equipment to you its his decision. Unless he lists the boat including watermaker, then of course he has to deliver.

Most charter boat owners have stuff on / for their boats that they don't give to charter crews. Steiner binoculars, expensive PFDs, expensive handheld VHFs and AIS MOBs, etc
And that is perfectly OK.


Most watermakers are very sturdy units, hard to break. But its very very easy to ruin the membrane, which does not necessarily show immediately.
I'd charge each charter crew 50% of a membrane - or disable it.


But then I will never charter my boat. It just isn't worth it.

[spearfish3]

I wouldn't put a boat in charter with equipment I didn't want used. If I was the charter and found equipment disabled after the boat was advertised with the equipment, I would be quite mad. Depending on the length of the charter, a water maker may be something that I would want or require depending on the location.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by spearfish3

I wouldn't put a boat in charter with equipment I didn't want used. If I was the charter and found equipment disabled after the boat was advertised with the equipment, I would be quite mad. Depending on the length of the charter, a water maker may be something that I would want or require depending on the location.

I suspect that the boat will not be listed as having a watermaker.

[Cuvee]

Originally Posted by Miss Magic

We are placing our Sail Cat into a charter fleet and this particular boat has a water maker of which we want restricted use while under charter. Any ideas on how to do so? Thank you.

Two considerations:
- Without a watermaker your charter clients will be going to a marina dock every 3-4 days to fill water. There will be many more docking 'opportunities' for them to ding your boat.

- Depending on the size of the boat and the charter location, watermakers have become a standard (and expected) feature on upscale charter boats

Our boat is in charter for its 3rd season in the Virgin Islands with a watermaker available to the clients. So far no problems. We also ran it in the Chesapeake for a summer, but we do have an upstream diatomaceous earth media filter which saves the downstream smaller micron filters from clogging.