renting instead of buying

[bvisailing32]

As a U.S.C.G. LIC. Captain, 100 tons, and upgraded to 500 tons near coastal ( 5th) issue, renew every five years. and working for sailing clubs for over 25 years, all I can tell you is how it works out here in southern California.

you join the sailing club. Fees vary, and you pay for the vessel each time that you use it. Also some sailing clubs have sailing credits, and dues. They also offer sailing instruction to qualify to use their vessels for new to sailing members.

The sailing credits accumulate each month and if you do not sail for a while, you can use those sailing credits to pay for the daily, weekly rate. Not all sailing clubs have sailing credits. Some you pay a minor monthly non refundable fee, and just pay for the boat usage.

You cannot take out passengers for hire and have your own charter business using their boats.


With you license, I am not aware of what type that is , you could sail for pleasure, and work at the sailing club part time as a lic captain, and take out charters or teach lessons. No out lay of cash on your part.

Other rental programs that would allow you to live on board, and take out passengers for hire we are not aware of. But apparently other posters have helped with that.


As to the damage in the Caribbean, it is very extensive, and I mean bad.
The people have no home, or damage homes, or roofs blown off, they have no running water, or electricity, no plumbing, having a hard time getting food, no jobs, and hotels seriously damaged, beach bars gone, , docks, charter boats are damaged or sunk. To restore all that may take a very, very, long time period.

The advice of another poster to stand by for a while, it could be months to years, might be the best advice .

However, there could be boat owners who have had their vessels weather the impact of the hurricanes, and just want out, they are done. That
situation may be an opportunity to pick up the kind of vessel that you are looking for.


Personally, we do sail the Caribbean, and especially the BVI, and just seeing the devastation, and the living conditions on video is tearing our hearts out. We are holding off bare boating in the BVI until 2019. Even then, it will depend on the recovery .


Due to those hurricanes, and the season is not over, the sailing lifestyle that we are all used to in the Caribbean has changed. And, we all will have to wait and see how the recovery will evolve.

Of course that is our own personal feelings and attitudes . As to you purchasing a 40 plus foot cat, or trying to rent one, that is a personal decision that also involves a lot of different elements, location, berthing, maintenance, down payment, boat payment, Capt., licenses and permits for sailing for hire, and even finding marinas that allow live aboards.

All quite challenging......

And all we want to do is sail, and have fun and adventures.

[Augi]

Totally agree with BandB. Unless you plan to live aboard or spend at least 3-4 months a year sailing, chartering is far cheaper. Especially if your time is flexible. For example if you can sail in Croatia about now or in the late spring you can rent a boat similar to what you were considering buying for about $2000 a week. The weather and wind are better in Croatia just before and after high season. Plus it is less crowded.

[alansmith]

With all due respect to some of the posts....you loved all the good times in the Carib. when life was easy and people were there to provide you anything your heart desired. Now parts of the Carib. are a huge mess and you want to withhold your business? May I ask those posters how do they think all of this mess will be repaired without tourism dollars that they count on almost exclusively? If they ever needed help...would it not be this season? I think if they have anything that floats ....our business should not be with held due to infrastructure problems. Just sayin'