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As is true of most yacht charter firms around the world,
Aventura's yachts are owned by private owners who place them in our fleet for
charter management. We're often asked about this program, and a few of the
answers are given below. If you're interested in more information than is here,
just email us at , give us your contact
info and specific questions, if any, and we'll get back to you.
Q: Is Aventura
currently seeking boats for its fleet?
A: Yes - Aventura
is always looking for a few good boats.
Q: What basic
equipment must a boat have to be in the Aventura fleet?
A: Aventura only
accepts 27' to 50' sailboats with inboard diesel auxiliary engines (no
gasoline and no
outboards);
wheel steering (no tillers); fiberglass construction (no wood,
ferrocement, etc.); and roller-furling headsails. All boats must have all
Coast Guard and Aventura-required equipment: life jackets, horn, VHF radio, etc.
We can go over the whole list with you. Beyond that, Aventura's boats must be
modern, late model boats which we feel will fit well in our fleet. The
decision to accept a boat for the fleet is strictly up to Aventura.
Q: What size
boats are most popular?
A: Unquestionably,
boats in the 30' to 32' range get chartered most. However, we do have larger
boats, and some of those get a lot of charters, too.
Q: I'm thinking
about buying a boat to place in the Aventura fleet. Should I talk with Aventura
before I buy?
A: Yes, by all
means. There may be a boat for sale in our fleet which would be perfect for you,
and which we know will charter well. Beyond that, we may be able to give advice about boats and equipment which we know perform well (or poorly) due
to our experience with them. Tell us what you have in mind, and we may be able
to make some great suggestions that save you a lot of trouble.
Q: Will I lose
access to my boat if I place it in the Aventura fleet?
A: You retain full
access to your boat, and can use it as much as you like. If there are specific
times when you want to use your boat, please call the office and let us know so
we can make sure we do not have your boat chartered then. If you want to use
your boat, and we already have a charter booked on it, you have the option of
asking us to move the charterer to another boat, or keeping the charter (and the
income from it) and not using your boat at that time.
Q: What
expenses is the owner responsible for if he places his boat in the Aventura
fleet?
A: The owner
remains responsible for slip rental costs, basic insurance (Aventura maintains
an umbrella liability policy), maintenance on the boat, monthly cleaning fees,
and any loan payments or upgrades to the boat.
Q: What if a
charterer damages my boat?
A: The charterer
is responsible for any damage to your boat, but is covered by insurance for
major damage beyond a deductible amount. Aventura will make arrangements to
repair any damage as soon as we know it exists, unless you ask us not to. Damage
by charterers is typically gelcoat "dings," and occasionally a lost piece of
equipment like a boat hook. Major damage by a charterer is extremely rare.
Q: Will I make
a profit on my boat if I place it in the Aventura fleet?
A: It's unlikely,
but we hear it has happened. Each boat is different and each owner's financial
situation is different. We feel charter ownership is a means of defraying some
costs of owning a boat while giving up time on it that you would not use anyway.
We do not guarantee any number of charter days per year, or any amount of income
per year.
Q: I cannot get
a slip for my boat for another three years. If I place my boat in the Aventura
fleet, can Aventura get me a slip sooner?
A: Often, the
answer is yes, but there are no guarantees. Aventura has a small number of slips under
its control, and may be able to make one available to you very quickly. Many
owners do place their boats in the Aventura fleet while waiting for their own
slip.
Want more
information, or have some specific questions not answered here? Just email
us at info@aventurasailing.com, and we'll get back to you. Thanks for
considering Aventura!
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