In the United States, there are many pastimes that people enjoy. Watching sports, barbecuing on the weekends, and boating. Boating is becoming a bigger recreational activity for many Americans, with boat sales rising by four percent in 2018 alone.
Buying boats can get to be expensive though. Luckily, there are other options you can take to enjoy your family and friends on a boat on the water, such as renting or chartering a boat.
Here is a simple guide on how to rent or charter a boat.
Renting vs. Chartering
The first step is to figure out the difference between renting and chartering a boat and therefore choosing the best one for your intended purpose.
Renting a boat is just that. You get the boat and nothing more; you act as your own captain and need to bring your provisions to make the experience worthwhile. Normally renting is for the day, but houseboats can be rented per week.
Charter a Boat
Chartering works a bit differently than renting and usually deal with larger yachts that you may live on for more than a week. However, you can charter for specific experiences or events.
Bareboat Charter
Bareboat chartering works almost the same as renting. However, if you are the acting captain of the vessel, most charter companies will require a ‘boater resume’ to act as proof that you have experience driving a boat like the one you intend to charter.
Aside from that, bareboat chartering works the same; you have to provision the boat yourself.
Crewed Charter
Unlike renting, a crewed charter comes with a captain and crew/staff that you hire to operate the boat: this includes equipping it with food, cooking and cleaning.
You can charter these for specific occasions or for long term travel. Some you can charter for hours on the day for parties.
There are companies that handle the particulars of hiring the captain and crew and stock the vessel for your specific needs. This can come in handy especially when traveling in foreign countries where you may not understand the language.
Cabin Charter
A cabin charter is an option when you don’t want to rent the entire boat. You can share it with others. You get to enjoy the vessel with a captain and full staff, and is great when you have a group of indecisive friends.
The only downside is sharing the vessel with people you don’t know. But its a great way to get to know new people.
Inshore vs. Offshore
Inshore means boating on lakes. These are usually great for family outings; the waves are calmer and make for a more relaxing time. However, if you are into more sportfishing, you want offshore chartering.
Maybe not the best for family activities, but offshore, especially blue water fishing, is something to consider if you are looking for that kind of thrill. Be sure to do more research about sport fishing if you’d like to know more.
Enjoy Your Experience
Whether you rent or charter a boat, be sure to research your uses and pick the right one. Boating is a great experience for the family or just for friends to have fun out on the water.
Join in on the festivities with boating, its an experience you’ll never forget
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