Bareboating charter – tips and tricks

So, you decided on a bareboat charter. Great choice! While the crewed charter is much more relaxing and carefree, bareboating is far more adventurous because when you choose a bareboat charter, you got the entire trip in your hands. But before you rent a boat, there are some things you need to know first.

What licenses do I need to have?

Well, it depends on the country. For instance, in Croatia and Italy, you will need to have a valid nautical license and a VHF license. In Italy, an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) will be accepted.

You will need a valid international sailing license in Greece and assisting crew member with some boating experience who is at least 18 years old, but you are not required to have a VHF license.

In France, it depends if you choose a sailboat or motorboat. If you decide on a sailboat, you don't need to have a license as long you have a CV full of sail experience. And for a motorboat, you will need a valid license.

Wherever you go, always have your papers and documents with you for police of port authority control. They usually check boating and VHF license, boat documents, crew list, and yours and your crew IDs.

And when should I go?

If it's your first time sailing, maybe it would be better for you to avoid July and August because of crowded marinas. In the Mediterranean, April, May, June, September, and October also have lovely weather for sailing and not so much crowd.

The budget

The first thing you need to do is to choose a boat of your preference.  You can choose between a sailboat, motorboat, and a catamaran. The price depends on the boat, how long the charter will be, and the season of renting. Prices are lower in the preseason and postseason.

APA - Advance Provisioning Allowance is the deposit for additional expenses. Usually, APA is 30% of the rental price, but it could be more if the yacht burns a lot of fuel or if you are planning to cruise for more than 4 hours a day. APA also covers the costs of fuel, taxes, food, and drinks, etc. If you don't use APA, it will be returned to you at the cruise end and, if the expenses exceed the APA, you will be expected to cover the rest of them.

Fuel - several elements affect fuel consumption. Different vessels consume different amounts of fuel:

Let's not forget that you can also sail on catamarans and sailboats, so you can save a significant amount of fuel. Logically, the consumption also depends on the time you spend cruising. Also, be careful when refueling. Inboards usually take diesel and outboards engines petrol or gasoline.  To be sure, double-check that information at the charter check-in.

Anchoring and mooring fees

Before you drop your anchor, be sure to check navigational charts and guides. Keep in mind wind, depth, currents, permissions, and proximity to land so you can find the best place for anchorage.

If you plan to spend a night or even a couple of days in some marinas, you must keep in mind mooring fees. The fees depend on where you are mooring, the size (length and beam) of the boat, the season, and how long you stay. For instance, mooring for a boat around 12 m long will cost you 50 euros to 110 euros, and that's the price from June to September. For the rest of the year, prices are lower, around 60 euros per day. Keep in mind that prices for catamarans are usually 50% to 80% higher than for mono-hulls.

Safety is important

Check for the safety equipment when you check-in. The top five most essential pieces of safety equipment on the boat are:

• life jackets and wearable personal flotation devices (PFDs)
• Throwable flotation devices
• Fire extinguishers
• Visual signaling devices
• Sound signaling devices

It is always a good idea to wear life jackets during sailing (especially for kids). It is also useful to know first aid. Accidents can happen, and it is good to know how to deal with them, but emergency services are just a call away in a case of a greater emergency.

Stay alert about your surroundings

Make sure your boat is always at a safe distance from other vessels and swimmers. For instance, in Croatia, powerboats cannot plane within 300 meters of the coast or might get a fine between 1,000 to 15,000 kuna, which is 130 to 2,000 euros.

Be prepared and plan your activities

Plan your vacation route before you get on board. And also, it is good to have a backup plan if the weather conditions are not good. Check nautical maps for safe coves (if the marina is not close) so you can hide from the bad weather.

The great thing with the bareboat charter is that you can choose wherever you want to go. That is an excellent chance to visit small towns, restaurants, wineries, family farms, and buying at the local markets. You can also plan some activities, like scuba diving, SUPing, snorkeling, or maybe hiking or bicycling through islands.

Wine and Dine

Now that you are on vacation, you don't want only to prepare your meals on the boat, but you also wish to visit charming restaurants and try local cuisine. Try to avoid tourist traps; it might be a good idea to ask locals for restaurant recommendations, they always have the best information about local food and wine. But be careful with the alcohol. You can always try a glass or two of local wine but don't overdo it.

Now that you have all the essential information, the only thing left for you is to rent a boat and sail into a new adventure.

How to charter a yacht with GetBoat

GetBoat uses a smart system to monitor the best deals in yacht charters and boat rentals around the world. We scan the marinas and negotiate with charter companies on your behalf to get the best prices. You just need to tell us which experience you’d like, and we’ll do the rest providing you with several suitable options to choose from. Leave a request now, and we’ll get the perfect boat for your next vacation at sea.