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Top Tips For First Time Boat Charter

By: iBiza Joe. Vacations can becomes "times of your life" when you get aboard a boat. It can be a day to remember for ever if it goes well. You will need to follow some simple rules to avoid disaster. Here are a few basic tips to make your day trouble free.

If you have chartered a boat "bareboat" that means there's no crew on board and if you have not got the necessary paper work you will need to hire a fully qualified skipper. Often the charter company can organise this for you.

If you've opted for a power boat then you will need to take into account that the fuel is normally on top of the charter fee so if you've hired a gas guzzleing speed boat be aware.

Take plenty of sun lotion the power of the sun is deceiving at sea and it's effects are not always noticed until you are back on dry land. The other side to that coin is that you can tan three times the speed at sea.

Snorkel and goggles are a must if you are going to moor up and take a dip in the sea. They're great for spotting jelly fish before it's too late [a problem in the Med] or sharks [in other seas]

The safety warning are usually recited at the start of the trip and they are worth listening to. Children must wear life jackets at all times. Adults are normally only required to wear them if they can't swim or in bad weather.

It's a nice idea to tip the skipper and if you're going ashore for a meal ask him along you might get some good sea tales out of him. It's normal practice to tip the skipper at the end of the trip.

That's all you need to know for now have fun and if it all goes well you should have a smashing day!