What is a Boat Charter? + Difference Between Boat Rentals

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:

Understanding Boat Charters

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.

What is a Charter Boat?

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.

What does it mean to charter a boat?

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 vs. Boat Rental: Key differences

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:

Definition

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.

Experience Needed

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.

Types of Boats

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.

Services Included

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.

• Bareboat charters: These include only the boat. You operate the vessel and are responsible for navigating and on-board tasks. Compared to boat rental, a bareboat charter often requires more experience because it requires operating more complex vessels for more time.

• Skippered charters: On this type of charter, you hire a boat with a captain responsible for operating the ship. This charter is your option if you lack boating experience or prefer to leave the navigation to a professional.

• Crewed charters: These include a full-time crew on board that will take care of sailing, maintenance, safety, meals, and other activities and services.

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. 

Cost

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.

Flexibility

Regarding flexibility, boat charters and boat rentals offer different benefits.

• Duration: If you want a short, spontaneous plan, renting a vessel is a faster way to get on the water. For longer planned voyages, boat charters provide more comfort and space for relaxation.

• Itinerary: Renting a boat allows you to plan your itinerary on the go. However, remember that boat rentals often have specific zones and time restrictions. If you charter a boat, you have more chances to customize your itinerary to cover a wide range of activities and explore other destinations.

• Booking: Rental boats are often available in the marinas. Signing a rental agreement can be as simple as complying with the local laws and safety requirements. As for charters, they tend to be in specific locations, and reservations are made with weeks or months of anticipation.

Ideal For

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.

Duration

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.

Popular use cases

With dining areas, lounges, and enhanced overnight stays, boat charters are ideal for luxury plans.

• Special occasions: Luxury vessels offer memorable settings for birthday parties, weddings, family reunions, honeymoons, or corporate events. In these scenarios, boat charters provide a smooth environment where you and your loved ones can get comfortable and let the staff handle everything regarding the boat.

• Vacations: Maybe you’d like a temporary home on the water to focus on unforgettable customized activities.

• Exploring destinations: Go through waterways and plan your itinerary to spend as much time as you want in each destination.

Boat rentals are usually for spontaneous activities:

• Quick getaways, watersports, spending the afternoon with your family.

• Relaxing: Watching the sunset, swimming in the water, or sunbathing.

• Gaining boating experience: Getting familiar with boating operations and controls.

Getting started with your first boat charter: What you need to know before booking

Once you’ve decided a boat charter adapts better to your needs, consider these tips before booking:

• Book in advance. Boat charter reservations are made weeks or months before to ensure everything is ready.

• Pick the boat that fits your ideal experience. If possible, ask for recent photos of the vessel.

• Check there are enough cabins and space for the passengers.

• Confirm what is included in your boat charter agreement to make sure what you’re responsible for paying for. 

• Read the agreement and confirm you understand the terms and conditions before signing.   

• Explore our boat charters and get ready to set sail!