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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

BVI bare boat charter

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clayC
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/01/2006 : 11:43:19

A few of the sailors at our dock are headed to the BVIs this winter and charter a boat. Any suggestions as to a company to use? The prices seem to very a bunch. We would appreciate and advice.

Clay C

Kamalla 1980 C25 SK/TR

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 12:14:46

My friend owns Moby, a Bavaria 50 Captmoby@aol.com

and it is chartered from here from the owner,
http://sailmoby.com/index.html
it is also handled for him by
www.horizonyachtcharters.com

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 18:53:22

Moorings has always been good to many of my friends. They also have deals for multiple boat chartering etc. If you are going with more than one family I'd go with one of the Catamaran's...... check them at: www.moorings.com

Edited by - on

mashedcat
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 20:52:46

moorings

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Dkn420
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 00:08:48

Moorings or Sunsail...I think Sunsail gives discounts for ASA members...a cat is more group friendly but any boat in the BVI is great! Dan #727

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 05:27:09

If I recall, Sunsail bought Moorings last year so you get the same great service at both places.

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SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 08:50:42

Yep, Moorings and Sunsail are now technically the same company. I've done Moorings out of BVI (2 boats) before and no issues. For the last 4-5 years I've done Moorings out of Abaco (both monos and cats), and even better. I have a friend that liked the company so much she moved to FL and went to work for 'em!

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ed_spengeman
1st Mate

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USA
98 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 11:30:51

Sunsail owns Moorings now but they will keep their name. Used Sunsail last march out of Tortola. Great experience. Request their free dvd on the Virgins. Caribe Air flight out of San Juan was arranged by them and it was a little screwy but this is the Islands.
Our sailing club has four boats being chartered down there as we speak. Requested 39 foot boats but all were taken so they got 49 foot boats at same price.
Great experience. Great location.

Edited by - on

raulpou
Navigator

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144 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 18:57:40

If you like the moorings do not forget to check out Footloose. They are owned by mooring but are boats that may be 4 - 7 years old. I have seen them and they are impeccable but at a discounted rate. Also look into horizon yacht charters. They have bavarian yachts as well as others and I have seen their boats first hand. They look good and when I climbed aboard they looked great as well.

Also, if you are thinking about a cat, remember that they are a hassle to maneuver in a marin due to size, marinas may not be able to accomodate you and if they can, the cat boat slips are extremely limited.

...FYI

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 23:40:36

Who ever goes to a marina in BVIs?!?

Have a great trip.

We've used North South (once)- poor smaller boats (old CS36 - broke down twice), better bigger ones (which they gave us Beneteau 50 footer!), and Sunsail (twice B350s). Our first trip was in 1986 and that company is no longer in business, so these (above) were the last three.

Had a friend go with Moorings last year, had some issues that were resolved, but he said the overall boat wasn't that much greater than what he's heard others have gotten for a lot less.

On one trip we had a brand new Moorings 43 anchor next to us - couldn't get their engine started, couldn't get their anchor up -- never found out if it was their ignorance or the boat.

I agree with Footloose as a good option, and Sunsail was very good.

There's really two different approaches: one of the "major yards" or the individual boats available as noted in an earlier post. Your pocketbook, your choice.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2006 : 05:34:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stu Jackson C34
 Who ever goes to a marina in BVIs?!?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Uhm.........No one!!!! Unless you are in the dinghy that comes with every rental

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Cloudveil
1st Mate

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USA
60 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2006 : 10:56:55

Clay - ww.moorings.com I have done many bare boat charters in
BVI, Tahiti, Baja, etc. and have found Moorings to excel.
We have used Moorings, Sunsail, Footlose, CYC. Sunsail does own
Moorings, but their menu selection process differs. If you go with
Moorings, and select the "split provisioning" plan, you will have
quality menus, lots of great food, with good selections. Our expereince with Sunsail food was not up to par with Moorings.
No matter which charter used, we have always ended up with food supplies left over, which we give to the locals before returning the boat. We have experienced trips with no boat issues, and trips with
boat issues - They are all boats, and sailboats can and do have
problems occasionally, no matter the condition or age of the boat.
Both Moorings and Sunsail have repair people in BVI, and their service prople are never more than a couple of hours away, overnight
at most if you contact the base late in the day with a non-emergency type of problem. All in all, my experience has been that Moorings
may be al little more money than some "bargan" charters, but you get
what you pay for! Have a great trip, you'll love the BVI's.
John & Jody

Edited by - on

clayC
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2006 : 10:35:30

Thanks for the input. Sounds like we will stick to Sunsail, one of the couples has chartered with them before and had a good experience. But I didnt want to send any cash before I bounced the topic around in this wonderful pool of knowledge.

Thanks
ClayC

Edited by - on

jguyot
1st Mate

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USA
97 Posts

Response Posted - 11/07/2006 : 21:12:52

Hi Clay,
Have chartered every year in the BVI's since 2001. Cost will vary depending on the year of the boat. The newer the boat, the higher the cost. I have found that Moorings and Sunsail are more expensive than some of the others. If looking at monohulls, I have found that Horizon Yacht Charters have new boats as well as older boats, and keep both very well maintained (In fact, we are chartering again with them in Feb on a 2006 Benneteau 525... 5 cabin 5 Head with 4 of my brother-in-laws...Got the wives to stay home this trip

) If you are looking for a Cat, we have had very good luck with Voyage Yachts in Sopers Hole..... Again very well maintained yachts. Priced competitively...... Regarding provisioning......I would not go with any of the charter company offerings. We do all our own provisioning online with Bobby's Marketplace out of Roadtown. They have an online list that you pick from.... just like going to a supermarket. Plus they deliver directly to your boat at no extra charge!
No matter what boat/company you pick, you WILL have a great time!

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.