Offsetting costs through charter

Many owners place their yacht into charter when they are not using her, to help offset the cost of keeping her. Done with clear eyes, it is one of the smarter decisions in ownership. Done with the wrong expectations, it disappoints.

What is realistic

Let us be honest about the numbers, because few are. Charter income rarely covers the full cost of ownership. What it can do — for the right yacht, well managed and well marketed — is meaningfully defray the running costs. Think of it as cost mitigation, not profit. An owner who expects the yacht to pay for herself will be let down; one who expects charter to soften the annual bill usually is not.

What makes a yacht charter-attractive

• Size and layout that suit a charter party — generous, sociable space and good guest cabins
• A professional, personable crew, which charter guests remember above almost anything else
• Condition and presentation kept to a high standard, season after season
• A desirable cruising area — the Mediterranean in summer, the Caribbean in winter
• A name and reputation that gives charterers confidence

What it asks of you

Charter is a commitment, not a switch you flick. It means professional crew, proper management, marketing, the wear that comes with use, and giving up some availability in peak weeks — the very weeks you may want her yourself. For most owners the trade is worth it. It should be entered knowingly.

Where we come in

This is where ownership meets what we do. Sailyachts presents charter yachts to a global audience of owners, charterers and enthusiasts — the people most likely to book, and to value a yacht properly. If you are considering charter, reaching the right audience is the difference between a full season and an empty one.