Unless you are very comfortable with this individual, I would be very wary of chartering my boat to someone else who does not own a bolt in it and doesn't intend to. By that I mean he may or may not care what condition the vessel is returned in. I have only chartered twice in the Caribbean, but, like a rental car, we were responsible for returning the boat with a full fuel tank. I would suggest that if you go ahead with this charter, what ever insurance arrangement you make, ensure you get a cash deposit equivalent to the insurance deductible from the fellow you charter to. Otherwise you may get stuck with an insurance claim where you pay the deductible and I am sure that will exceed any revenue from the charter. Not to mention the possible tax implications of putting your boat out for hire. Just my .02 cents worth.

Aaarrgh. Many issues to contend with.

Let's start with insurance...your insurance probably won't permit any commercial use, and any policy that would allow it will be very expensive. Then there's the wear and tear, and the potential for damage that won't appear until a year or two after the contract has terminated...hours on the engine, sail wear, rock hits, and many other issues that could be hidden until later.

With over a hundred Catalina 36s available on yachtworld, why doen't the guy find financing and get his own boat. Hey, there's an idea: if he's a good credit risk (and you wouldn't want to charter to him if he weren't) why not become his financing source, using his new boat as collateral?

I would rather rent out my wife, I may offer my boat to someone I know( maybe my wife) but, when money is involved I am suspect.

PS: I checked with my wife, purchasing a boat would likely be cheaper.

It's funny about boats. We've done many, many house exchanges and think nothing of loaning out our house and cars in those swaps. Got to see a lot of Europe while we were doing them.

That said, I wouldn't loan my boat out any more than Steve said, for very good reasons. Damage and knowing how to use the systems on the boat.

In all the years I've had our boat, there is only one friend who's used my boat when I wasn't here. Only one. And I can only think of one or two others who would qualify. That includes all the locals here who have the same boat.

Insurance and all that aside, I'd be verrry leery of doing it.

It irritates me when boat service people step on my boat to put a flyer in my hatchboards, so I'm probably not the one to ask. You didn't mention how many weeks he wants the boat or whether it would be a one week deal. Either way, the problems with insurance, personal liability (his passenger falls off and drowns, family sues you, etc) make this sort of deal untenable for me. Consider that by doing this, you are actually starting a business. List all the pros & cons based on that premise.

Mike

I haven't chartered our boat, but we do have "minority" partners who purchase a small share of the boat and for a monthly fee get to use the boat a set amount every month. Part of the risk is that they are listed on the insurance as part owners and if there is ever an insurance claim the check is made out in their name as well as mine. That happened one time for a substantial amount (in five figures), but it was no problem. So far, it's worked out great.

If they simply put up a deposit, then the boat is considered a charter boat and the insurance goes up something like five times over.

I would be VERY Careful. Working as a Maritime Investigator for a Marine Underwriters I have seen many accidents happen. I would contact your carrier or underwriter before even thinking about it.
As far as chartering in the south, which we do every year I have never heard of the owners paying for fuel. You get the vessel wet, but you replace what you use.

JUST be careful, nobody knows your boat like you do. Regardless of how well he knows the C 36. You know the old saying "IF IT CAN GO WRONG IT WILL GO WRONG"

Just my input :cool: