Search the internet for several charter companies that have fleets in the area up want to sail. There should be enough information on the websites to choose a boat that suits your needs. Among the main things to look for are the age of the fleet and the financial stability of the company. It’s not easy to determine the financial soundness of the charter company, so it’s best to handle that problem another way.
There are several ways you can lose your money when you charter a boat. One of the ways is the charter company goes out of business. For that reason, you should try to find a company that is both reputable and will allow you to put the deposit funds in an escrow account with the understanding that if the charter company cancels the trip, you will get your money back. They may not agree to that for Force Majeure reasons.
Another way to lose your money is if you cancel for any reason. Your protection for that is Cancellation Insurance. However, the acceptable reasons for that type of insurance paying are very limited.
The charter company will most likely require that you pay for insurance to cover any damage you do to the boat. When you inspect the boat upon taking possession of it, you should take pictures of any damage or other defects in the boat and point them out to the charter company.
It is also good to get the crew members share of the costs up front. It’s not unusual for people to get all excited about a trip and change their mind later. In fact, you should get your crew committed to the trip before you pick the boat. Once they are committed, pick a boat that suits your needs and talk with the charter company. If it’s available for your time frame and all the other matters are settled, get the crews share of the money and put the deposit on the boat. At that point, there is no backing out unless you want to lose your money.
When choosing a boat, be sure it has amenities that suit you and your crew. For example, depending on the time of the year and the wishes of your crew, you may want a boat with an air conditioner and generator. Sometimes bugs are a problem and you may want to take refuge in the boat. It can get pretty hot with the hatches closed and an ac would feel good.
