A boat charter is a nice option for enjoying a vacation or special occasion on Florida waterways. If you’re considering chartering a boat in the Sunshine State, here’s what you need to know:
If you’ve been looking at your options before setting sail, you’ve probably considered the benefits of paying for a boat charter. Let’s dive deeper to understand why this is a comprehensive experience to relax on the water.
A boat charter implies hiring a vessel to use it for a defined period, from hours to weeks. What makes charters a distinctive experience is the level of services and amenities included, which can be and are not limited to staff, food, and beverages.
Boat charters work for different activities, whether you want to explore, relax, or celebrate.
When you charter a boat, you rent a vessel to control and use it for a period. Depending on your requirements, you can lease a bareboat charter (completely self-operated) or a charter with a crew to take care of navigation, controls, safety, and operations.
One of the highlights of chartering a boat is that, if you don’t have any boating education, you can let the professional staff handle the operations and have a stress-free, comfortable experience on the sea.
Boat charter and boat rental might sound like they’re the same. However, they provide two different sailing experiences. Check these nine key differences between chartering and renting a boat to choose which adapts better to your needs:
Chartering a boat means hiring a boat that usually includes customized services such as a crew, food, water mats, and floating toys.
Boat rentals often involve smaller vessels with no crew, in which the renter is responsible for the appropriate operation of the boat and the safety of everyone on board.
Compared to a standard rental, a boat charter provides a more comprehensive and seamless boating experience.
Your boating experience is key when deciding to charter or rent a boat.
In most cases, boat charters do not require any previous experience. Unless you choose a bareboat charter, the crew will manage every operational aspect. All you need to do is lay back and enjoy the trip.
When you rent a boat, you are paying to use that vessel. In this case, the person in charge of the operation must be familiar with navigation. If you’re renting a boat in Florida, you must possess a Boating Safety Education Identification Card that proves that you meet the safety requirements according to local laws.
The type of boats offered for chartering or renting may vary depending on features such as size and purpose.
Boat charter providers usually offer larger vessels such as larger sailboats, yachts, and mega yachts. These boats include amenities and spaces that enhance comfort for voyages and luxury experiences.
The rental plan involves personal watercraft, smaller yachts, and sailing boats. These are easier to operate for a few hours during short-term recreational activities.
Consider what commodities you’d like to have and the purpose of your navigation.
A boat rental includes the boat itself, navigation equipment, safety equipment such as personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and sometimes fuel for local routes.
On the other hand, charters offer a wide range of services depending on their category.
A crewed charter provides the highest level of comfort for you to relax and enjoy the holiday. These can be all-inclusive, meaning the fee covers food, drinks, water toys, and help for activities like watersports and itinerary customization.
The prices to charter or rent a boat in Florida vary depending on vessel length, location, services, season, and fuel cost.
The costs of chartering a boat in Florida can range from an average of $1,000 per day to thousands per day. The price depends on features like boat length and type and if it includes a captain, crew, and all-inclusive services.
Rental boat costs start at about $100 per hour for smaller vessels of about 45 feet in length, with a minimum hire time of three to four hours. It may increase to $1,200 per hour for larger, more luxurious yachts.
Regarding flexibility, boat charters and boat rentals offer different benefits.
Chartering a vessel is ideal for extended trips, comfort and luxury experiences, exploring remote destinations, care-free navigation, vacations, and personalized services.
Rental boats are ideal for spontaneous plans, day trips, watersports, and more affordable boating experiences, such as exploring local waterways or watching the sunset.
If you want a long-term adventure on waterways, boat charters are your choice. This service offers a more immersive boating experience, whether you spend a luxury vacation on the water or your explorer instinct takes you to distant destinations.
Instead, boat rental is the ideal fit for short trips. You can lease a vessel for 4 hours or a full-day experience for a quick getaway with your family and friends.
With dining areas, lounges, and enhanced overnight stays, boat charters are ideal for luxury plans.
Boat rentals are usually for spontaneous activities:
Once you’ve decided a boat charter adapts better to your needs, consider these tips before booking: