Demise Bareboat Charter

What is a "Demise" Charter? "Demise" is maritime legal jargon that in the plainest language means the charterer is taking full financial and legal responsibility of the vessel while it is under his/her care. The owner of the yacht is thereby relinquishing all control of the valuable asset to you. The responsibility of taking a yacht worth somewhere between $60,000 and $1,000,000 into uncertain sea conditions is quite sobering. During all demise bareboat charters, the yacht is to be returned in the same condition it was taken. Any losses not covered under the yachts insurance are the charterers responsibility. And if you think about it, would you yourself want anything less if it were your boat?

Qualifications

Charter Companies require the boat returned in clean, good working order with no damage. There are very good certification courses offered by US Sailing, ASA, or RYA. However, the skills learned in these course must be practiced to be retained and matured. If you haven't been sailing in a year or more, the charter manager may request that you complete a sea-trial or even take a skipper for the first day or so of your charter to evaluate your competence and build your confidence. In our bareboat contract, we specify that the Skipper must also be able to maintain the boat as well. The systems on the yacht will not last as they should if not maintained properly. Sails must be covered, engines need oil, belts occasionally need tightening, water strainers need cleaning, batteries must stay charged properly, and a clean boat is a safe boat, etc. etc. It is your responsibility to yourself, the yacht owner, and your crew to notify the charter manager if you have any concerns about your ability to handle this responsibility.

Bareboat Orientation

During the first 2-4 hours of your charter, the charter manager will take you through a close inspection of the yacht. Think of this time as a crash course on all of the yacht's systems and idiosyncracies. This procedure is extremely important. If there is anything amiss about the boat that you can't live with, you should not accept delivery until these issues are addressed. The charter company will fix the issues or provide an agreeable remedy. Most bareboat contracts allow 24hrs to repair any issues that arise during your charter or orientation. A few reasonable examples: the starter doesn't turn over or engage consistently; the battery levels are low, the toilet doesn't flush, running lights don't work. In general, anything that violates federal regulations or potentially could endanger the vessel or its crew. As the manager goes through how to work each system, take some notes. It is very likely that you will not remember everything, but it is your responsibility to repair or replace anything you break through misuse (i.e. not following the specific instructions given you at checkout). Additionally, you are financially responsible to pay for any emergency chase calls resulting from misuse of the vessel or its systems.

This article is not meant to scare you away from a bareboat holiday, but to highlight the commitment you take on when you charter a yacht. We have hundreds of happy bareboaters each season whose charters go off without a hitch.

I look forward to meeting you soon for your bareboat holiday,

Jay Phillips

President and Director

360 Yachting