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For the uninitiated, Bareboat charter does not (necessarily) mean a bunch of naked people sailing a boat together! "Bareboating" refers to chartering a yacht which you sail yourself.
When you rent a car, you must produce a valid driver's license. While you don't need a license or certificate to charter most Bareboats in the world, you do need to show a considerable amount of skill and experience in order to be allowed to operate the yacht by yourself. Otherwise you will need a captain to help you. In some areas of the world including some European countries, you do need a sailing license in order to charter.
Most bareboats are from 30 to 50 feet (10 to 15 meters) in length and you can charter a conventional single hulled yacht (Monohull), a Catamaran or a Powerboat. Sailing yachts are far more popular, and common, than powerboats.
Bareboats come equipped with everything needed to operate them, from kitchen utensils to towels, sheets and bedding. Almost all bareboat companies provide you with a dinghy and some also provide an outboard engine at no charge. Other companies offer it as an optional extra. Some Bareboats have generators, air conditioning, microwave ovens and TVs but most do not. Nor do they have extra gadgets and "toys" such as kayaks, windsurfers (unless rented separately) or outboards powerful enough to pull a water-skier. Such amenities are only found on crewed yachts or in some cases as paid extras.
If you have not chartered before, you might want to consider using a charter agent to help you select a suitable company. The expertise of a good agent can be helpful to you as the agent can assist you with information (such as charts and pilot books) on the area you want to sail in and can back you up if problems arise.
When chartering a boat for your vacation, we strongly recommend that you work with a reputable bareboat company rather than an individual. Dealing with a stranger you have never met and chartering a boat you have never seen can be somewhat risky, particularly when you will be asked for payment in advance.
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Yachts
