THE REALITY OF CHARTERING
Chartering, stripped of the gloss.
Brokers sell sunsets and cocktails. We deal in mooring ball dogfights at 2 PM, catastrophic generator failures, and the brutal reality of provisioning in the BVI.
The Hidden Cost Ledger
You paid $8,500 for the bareboat. You aren't done. The base expects a daily damage waiver, the BVI Parks Trust wants their cut, and you will burn 4 gallons of diesel per hour running the generator for AC. Calculate the true cost before you wire the deposit.
Read the Breakdown →Bareboat vs Crewed
There is a vast gulf between being a competent sailor in your home waters and managing a 45-foot windage box with a failing windlass while your family watches. Know when to hire a skipper and when to take the helm.
Make the Choice →QUICK TOOL: DRAFT CLEARANCE
Will You Run Aground?
A 45ft sailing catamaran typically draws 4.5ft (1.4m). But loaded with water, fuel, and crew, it pushes deeper. In the Exumas, that 6-inch difference dictates where you can drop hook.
Bahamas Draft Clearance Calculator
Deep Dives
Explore the Archives (Massive Link Expansion)
- The True Cost of Chartering
- Bareboat vs Crewed Reality
- BVI Mooring Wars
- Bahamas Thin Water
- USVI Border Logistics
- Grenadines Wind Acceleration
- Provisioning Budgets
- The Unsparing Packing List
- Reading the Trade Winds
- Watermaker Maintenance
- Seasickness Prevention
- Anchoring Scope Ratios
- 12V Power Management
- Dinghy Beach Landings
- Catamary Homepage