Taking a Private Boat Vacation

A few weeks ago my kids and I were watching House Hunters on Vacation when the family had the normal choice of which of three places to stay in for a week. Only one of the choices was non-traditional. Instead of a house it was a large yacht -- complete with its own crew (two people, I believe). We all immediately said how cool the ship was and that we would pick it if the choice was ours. So we were happy when the family selected it as well.

Given that experience, I was interested to read Smart Money's take on private boat vacations. The basic idea is that people rent boats -- either with or without a crew -- and spend their vacations on them instead of in a hotel.

I actually considered this option as I've looked at our Caribbean vacation. It might be something we do one day, but I think the cruise will work better for now. Why? Because the "renting a ship" idea is:

• More expensive


• Limits what you can do (you have fewer choices of non-boating activities)


• Won't get to as many of the islands we'd like to see

That said, there are a lot of pros to renting your own boat (and crew -- I wouldn't rent just the boat since I know little about boating) such as flexibility to go where you want when you want, a week on the water (CLOSE to the water -- not like on a cruise liner), and so forth. In addition, with the poor economy Smart Money says that boat operators are more willing to negotiate, making this a more reasonable option price-wise.

Has anyone ever taken a boat vacation (or looked at doing so)? What did/didn't you like about it? Any tips for the rest of us?

Comments

[Jonathan]

I have not done this and have no tips, but this is totally my dream. I'm looking to get a sailing certification soon, and want to rent boats locally for recreation thereafter, but I'd absolutely love to go spend a week or 2 sailing the Caribbean in a 40-foot boat once I get some experience.

[The Calculator Dude]

Vacationing on a boat? Count me in!! This sounds great!

[Mike]

A friend did this. Four families on a nice boat on a fishing-oriented trip somewhere in either northern Minnesota or Canada (if I remember correctly). They LOVED it.

I believe that he said it came out at about the same cost as a cabin on a lake in the same area.

[KH]

I did this! In the 1990's out in Seattle, I rented a large sailboat with 7 other graduate students for a week. We sailed up into the Straits of Juan de Fuca (Canada) and back. I think the rental cost was something about $800 per person--around $6500 in 1991.

It was really an adventure, but looking back now I think we were not aware of the potential dangers! I'm not sure I would do this again.

The Straits are really beautiful but are also home to major shipping traffic that smaller craft have to avoid, thousands of tiny islands and shoals, channels and currents that make navigation treacherous, and water that is very cold making survival problematic if you capsize. Also storms are common. A couple of my friends were experienced sailors and I guess they had some charts and things and had thought it through--I sure didn't--I was just along for the ride.

But we had a problem with the boat's motor not being in good condition--typical rental I guess. The motor failed altogether one night as we were trying to navigate against the wind around a point, during a storm. We couldn't make it around the point, or to any harbor, with just sails in the gale, so we dropped anchor and, after waiting in the dark for about 4 hours on a bucking boat in 30 foot seas for the storm to die down (it didn't), we finally had to radio for rescue by the coast guard. Thankfully the radio worked at least and they came and towed us in to safety. Besides the danger it put us in, it took us 2 days to get the motor repaired before we could going again.

If I ever did this again, it better be a really new boat! Hiring at least one crew member with the boat would be a good idea too.

[Cherleen @ yesiamcheap]

I have not tried to rent a boat, but I have been on both Caribbean and Bahamas cruises. I don't go for too much adventure so I think I would prefer it rather than the boat experience.

[Roxanne]

Hi

Regarding the boat vacation article, I had heard some things several year ago, that may be worth noting:

(First my background is from San Diego, California and several people charter boats (with crews) and travel Baja) (Apparently, there are lots of storms and boats get lost/destroyed //people missing all the time)

-Of course, plan your itinerary, and study the weather patterns for the journey and the time of the year;
-Get references from Charter operators (I don't know how you would do this, perhaps there is a licensing bureau and word of mouth) and determine if they are truly qualified to perform the journey;
-Become familiar with territorial boundaries, if traveling in waters that are foreign;
-Try to find out about pirate activity in the area of intended travel;
-Notify a good friend and/or attorney about the trip and itinerary, should you not be heard from and check in and out with them;
-Take time and research travel in the area, ask around, there have got to be societies or clubs that frequent the travel and get information about your intended journey;
-Find out about food storage and quantity of food and water, medications, and other;
-Get ready to have a good time.