The type of yacht owner you think you'll be, and the lifestyle onboard that you want, may dictate the type of yacht you buy, or whether you should buy one at all.
Let us get started with diving straight in with a sweeping generalisation: there are two types of yacht owner.
One will want to know their yacht inside out, and be the person in control - the captain’s word is law, and all that. The other wants to simply relax and enjoy their time on the water, leaving the work to someone else.
To make things easier, let’s give our two yacht owner types a profile. For the purposes of this little experiment, the hands-on owner is the ‘driver’, while our laid back companion meets the ‘chauffeur’ profile.
The question is, which one are you?
A Yacht Owner’s Responsibilities
So why might you not want to be the person in charge of your own yacht? Let's use a land-based situation as an example.
You’re going out for dinner. Great, but you’re driving, so you can’t drink. You also have to check on the car every so often and are responsible for the restaurant you’re dining in, and the guests too. It's raining outside and you need to find everyone an umbrella and escort them to the car; the roads are wet so you have to really concentrate on your driving. You're tired, it's been a long day.
Sounding less fun now, right?
That is, in effect, the role of the 'driver' yacht owner. It is a wonderful thing to go away on your own yacht for a day or weekend, but it comes with a lot of responsibility.
If you’re at sea, even if it is just a short coastal hop, or staying onboard for a night, there is much to think about. Is the weather due to change? Will our anchor hold overnight? Is the galley stocked for breakfast and a picnic lunch? There is the matter of people’s safety and knowledge of onboard life, in addition to the yacht’s operations and security. These are all constants with the 'driver' profile. Unless you have a captain and crew.
Larger yachts above 24m will usually have a crew, but smaller vessels can employ day skippers and crew that will allow you, the owner, to relax and enjoy the 'chauffeur' profile.
You Can’t Pull to the Kerb on a Yacht
There are other reasons why you choose to employ a captain. First and foremost, you cannot simply jump onboard, throw off the bowlines to explore, dream and discover if you have no experience or knowledge of how to actually do so.
Handling a yacht is nothing like driving a car; if things get difficult you cannot simply pull over, pull on the handbrake and take a moment.
The sea is powerful, the elements of wind and water are continuous: moving, pulling and pushing at your yacht. There is continual activity and so you need to be constantly in control until you’re moored or anchored, and even then be alert to any change in conditions. When in port, or manoeuvring at close quarters, these forces can be very evident and stressful - many yacht owners will say mooring or leaving a berth are the most challenging of all yachting activities.
It is a wonderful thing to go away on your own yacht for a day or weekend, but it comes with a lot of responsibility."
Out at sea, in open water, life is much easier, if the weather is kind. This is where the 'driver' profile is easy to understand. With the throttles down and the yacht slicing through the sea, life as the skipper is good. However, you need to understand navigation, the rules of the road to avoid collision, and what does the white smoke suddenly billowing from your exhaust mean?
With a captain or a day skipper employed, you can leave the navigation and systems onboard to a professional and still take the wheel and drive your yacht when you want to.
Yachting Lifestyle Profiles
Whilst we have created two defined yacht owner profiles, the truth is that there will be variations on any theme. The 'chauffeur' profile may want to take their yacht out alone now and then, the 'driver' may seek assistance with cleaning or maintenance, but the point is that you, as the owner of the yacht, have choices and ways to make your boating experience the very best it can be.
Here are two very typical case studies that fit our two profiles.
The Driver
This yacht owner likes to get their hands dirty, literally and figuratively. They want to know how their yacht works, have an understanding of its component parts and, without any question, be the person who takes command, takes the helm and drives their boat.
Multiple Responsibilities
This makes them responsible for everything that happens onboard, from maintenance to navigation and safety. Whilst they might not service the yacht themselves they will ensure the schedules are adhered to and be involved in how the work is carried out.
The ‘driver’ owner is also responsible for the people onboard and their personal safety.
Of course, the ‘driver’ can invite support from a partner or family who might be tasked with provisioning, crewing or cleaning - look around many a marina in the school holidays to see grumpy kids forced to wash a yacht down after a day on the water.
Clear Instruction
Again, this support must be clearly defined and the person asked to help is capable of doing so, especially in matters of crewing. For instance, if you’re asking a child to help with ropes or fenders, do they know how to fasten a line? Have they been told never to place a hand or foot outboard of the yacht?
Driving your own yacht, being in charge, is a wonderful and edifying thing, but to do so requires time, patience and knowledge. If you don’t yet have that skill set, the ‘chauffeur’ option is well worth a look.
The Chauffeur
This type of yacht owner wants to use their yacht every bit as much as the ‘driver’ owner profile, they just appreciate some help in doing so.
Perhaps they are new to yachting and are looking for some experienced support while they build up their personal experience; or they simply want to relax and enjoy their yacht, hands free.
Service and Support
They employ the services of the marina or a local guardianage company to clean the yacht and prepare it ahead of their arrival. This service can also ensure service schedules are adhered to and that the yacht is fuelled and provisioned ready for their arrival.
Day Skipper
A day skipper and deckhand or stew can be employed for trips. With a skipper in place, the owner and their guests can enjoy the day, with full service including having lunch served, a warm towel handed to them as they finish their swim and step off, at the end of the trip, leaving the crew to tidy and clean the yacht.
As the name suggests, a day skipper would usually only offer their services for a day on the water, but a longer trip might be possible if there is an adequate crew cabin.
If you love the idea of owning your own yacht but simply don’t feel ready for, or want the responsibility, the ‘chauffeur’ option shows how it can be done with ease."
The Rise of Hands-Off Yachting
With marina and guardianage services becoming ever more sophisticated and widely available, the yacht owner who wants to leave the work to someone else has never had it so good.
Marinas, where the majority of yachts are berthed, offer a good deal more than concrete to tie up to. On site cleaning companies and security guards, in addition to local sub-contractors, provide a full service for every yachting requirement. A dedicated guardianage company can offer a full suite of services.
Yachts are now more accommodating and hassle-free than ever before, There’s little or no exterior maintenance, the days of leaking ports and windows are largely over and engines are reasonably reliable. This means, even for the most hands-on of boat owners, things should be pretty hands-off.
What is Guardianage?
Guadianage services take care of your yacht for you, and, depending on the level of service you engage, can handle everything from cleaning and maintenance to more personal tasks like preparing cabins or provisioning for your arrival.
Typical Guardianage Services
- Regular cleaning
- Servicing and maintenance
- System and pre-voyage checks
- Organization of sub-contractors
- Interior organization and preparation
- Security check - daily/weekly
- Storm attendance
Yacht Lifestyle - Choosing the Right Yacht
Your style of yachting will have a big say in the type of yacht that is right for you.
If you like the 'chauffeur' profile and plan to cruise with family and friends with a skipper onboard, you will need a large yacht able to accommodate everyone onboard, including crew. Whereas the 'driver' profile may only require two cabins and, as you can read in other YachtBuyer articles, there is a sensible and legal limit to how big owner-operation can go
New yacht prices are, as a rule of thumb, set by their length, therefore a longer, larger yacht will cost more than a smaller one. Our 'chauffeur' profile must budget for the space they need, but to mitigate that cost, they can buy an older vessel.
If your plan is for day cruising only, without the requirement to sleep onboard, the size of the yacht becomes less important although you will still need space for guests to safely move around or relax, and it is vital everyone has a secure seat when underway. A day head (nautical term for toilet) and small galley may well be appreciated, plus some out of the sun quiet area for an afternoon siesta.
The Third Option - Charter
When considering the right type of yacht for you, it might be that the cost of buying and running your ideal yacht simply isn't viable. You may not be ready for the commitment of ownership, nor be certain of actual usage. This is where the option of yacht charter is ideal.
Chartering a yacht provides the luxury and service of yacht cruising for a limited duration. You have all the options of where you wish to cruise, and the activities you wish to enjoy onboard. The size of yacht required will depend on the number of people in your party but many yachts limit the guest number to 12.
A yacht charter holiday is stress-free yachting at its best."
Engage a good broker, tell them what you’re looking for, where you’d like to go and when, then sit back whilst they compile a selection of yachts to suit your requirements. How you choose is up to you: you may like the idea of the open air cinema on the aft deck, or the jacuzzi pool; your decision may be determined by the sample menu and the instagram page of the chef onboard, or one particular yacht may have all the fishing gear you could ever wish for.
A good broker will even assist arranging the transfers to and from the yacht so, from the moment you close your front door, you are winding down to relax.
The crew onboard a charter yacht are experienced in the highest level of guest satisfaction and enjoyment onboard. Do take time to complete the guest preference sheet in advance; this will enable the crew to prepare for the individual requirements of your and your guests. It’s unfair to step onboard and announce that the entire guest list is vegetarian and someone has a severe nut allergy. The crew can service you better with full disclosure.
If charter sounds right for you, then please visit our sister site Yacht Charter Fleet for the world’s largest selection of available charter yachts, where you will find information and guides for yacht charter to ensure you get the best possible experience from your yacht charter holiday.
