Sailboat charter on STT

There used to be. Does anyone know if Fanfare Charters is still in business? They were at Latitude 18, and I think they moved over to the lagoon.

That would have been perfect - but looks like they are no longer in business.

Try VIP Yachts out of Compass Point Marina/Benner Bay. I'm not sure about their minimum rent/charter policy but call them and ask.
(866) VIP-YACHTS (outside US: 340-774-9224)
http://www.vipyachts.com/

VIP does not typically do daily rentals. Fanfare is no longer in business.

There are some smaller companies which rent small power boats. What are you looking for? Nothing you can keep and sleep on overnight.

I know a couple of captained boats that will do a one night charter.

Pamela

I am looking for a sailboat to charter/rent for a day to sail myself. I am an experienced sailor and really don't need or want to have a captain or anyone else on board, so I can get on with my quiet enjoyment, so to speak 🙂

Ideally something I could charter/rent 2-3 times a month for either a day (meaning without overnight sailing) or may be 2 days each. Size does not matter 🙂

Contact the St. Thomas Yacht Club. I'm sure someone there might have some helpful info.

"Ideally something I could charter/rent 2-3 times a month for either a day (meaning without overnight sailing) or may be 2 days each. Size does not matter"

OK br1K, you can`t be a woman!

What (other than John Jaccob) is wrong w/ CYOA?

Nothing is wrong with CYOA except they also charter for a minimum of 4-5 days (according to the website) and the smallest boat they have is Hunter 37' which is pretty darn big.

Contact the St. Thomas Yacht Club. I'm sure someone there might have some helpful info.

I am thinking about it. I heard that I would need 2 current members to recommend me to join or something of that nature.

There is a company in Cruz Bay that rents Hobie Cats.
Jay

Aside from CYOA - are there any other sailboat charters (bareboat, i.e. NO captain, just rent a boat) on STT? Something smaller perhaps, like "rent for a day" they way they do for powerboats?

In the past we chartered on Tortola. There are many bareboat companies there. I picked this website at random. Do a search for others.

http://www.b-v-i.com/Charter/daysails.htm

We chartered on Tortola - it works fine for the weekly charter. But it's a bit of a problem if I wanted to go for a daysail.

Strange that such an obvious business opportunity isn't taken by anyone. May be I should buy a couple of daysalers and start a rental 🙂 🙂

The reason most bareboat or crewed charter boats don't do daily rentals (i.e. overnights) is that there is a certain cost inherent in just leaving the dock. It takes a minimum of three days for our numbers to even begin to work without charging an enormous amount for the boat. We will do an overnighter. Have done one but the cost was to my mind incredibly high.

If you want a day boat - not spend the night - there are several good companies in Red Hook who will rent you a little motor boat.

Pamela
S/Y Catatonic

I prefer sailing - driving around in a little tub is ok, but just not fun enough.

I am sure there is a cost involved in any rental. That said, the cost of maintaining a small sailboat is higher than perhaps a same size open console powerboat, but is quite manageable. There are operators in other places successfully renting small sailboats by half/full day - even in places less suitable to sailing (like Florida Keys for example). They are not cheap, but they make the business work (and I am not looking for "cheap" anyway).

Anyway, this looks like theoretical discussion now - there is no business like that on St. Thomas right now, no matter how much I wish there were.

The reason most bareboat or crewed charter boats don't do daily rentals (i.e. overnights) is that there is a certain cost inherent in just leaving the dock. It takes a minimum of three days for our numbers to even begin to work without charging an enormous amount for the boat. We will do an overnighter. Have done one but the cost was to my mind incredibly high.

If you want a day boat - not spend the night - there are several good companies in Red Hook who will rent you a little motor boat.

Pamela
S/Y Catatonic

Did you try Island Yachts in RH? Nice little sailing yachts.

Pamela

Thanks - will try.

Did you try Island Yachts in RH? Nice little sailing yachts.

Pamela

Island Yachts - 4 day minimum too. Well, was worth trying.

Buy a few daysailing vessels - find a place to store them - get licensed - qualify your customers - get a chase boat and maintain engines on all your rentals - pay for some dock space - keep the vessels in good operating condition - advertise - pay staff to work on and clean boats - deal with the USCG and DPNR and NPS and CBP -- then COUNT the $$$ at the end of the month and tell us why no one does this as a business.

Don't forget your insurance. Your licensed Captain to check out the qualified customers. And then where to put them in a hurricane situation.

Pamela

You can say that about every single tourist or water related business on or off the island. Powerboat charters and others are no different in principle, they need all the same stuff (just read your list). So none of them are a golden mine, I suppose. That still does not make the business invalid - it works in other places and it certainly would have worked here.

Probably wouldn't make its owner instantly rich. However, neither do all those endless "sunset cruises with a captain and champagne" or "snorkel the St. John" rides and yet there are dozens (hundreds?) of them out there. I think it is mainly that "sunset charter" seems like an easy entry. One day a guy thinks: "Hey, I already have this old boat, let me use it to make money". If you were to make a business case, rentals would probably be no less, and may be more profitable.

Bottom line - there are boat rentals elsewhere, they work just fine so there is nothing wrong with the business concept as such. There isn't one here because no one wanted to open one yet. There are lots of other businesses not on STT - doesn't mean they won't work one day when a right person with entrepreneurial streak comes along (but no, that's not me - I have enough stuff going on 🙂 )

Buy a few daysailing vessels - find a place to store them - get licensed - qualify your customers - get a chase boat and maintain engines on all your rentals - pay for some dock space - keep the vessels in good operating condition - advertise - pay staff to work on and clean boats - deal with the USCG and DPNR and NPS and CBP -- then COUNT the $$$ at the end of the month and tell us why no one does this as a business.

I actually was seriously suggesting you [or someone ] try it - and agree with your assessment of it as a business.

I am thinking about it. I heard that I would need 2 current members to recommend me to join or something of that nature.

Nope, just have money in hand and you'll be good to go. BTW Latitude 18 has many Hobie Day rentals on the beach.

Isand Sol

br1k: What about buying one with a group? Spread around the cost and the use...