charter boat skipper

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kashurst

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what qualifications do you need to skipper a British flagged charter boat in the med ?
Thinking about VAT deferral on next boat and wondered if registering boat as a charter company is worth it, or is it a massive hassle with authorities each year. Obviously I would have to charter the boat out, but how much really ?
 
kashurst said:
what qualifications do you need to skipper a British flagged charter boat in the med ?
Thinking about VAT deferral on next boat and wondered if registering boat as a charter company is worth it, or is it a massive hassle with authorities each year. Obviously I would have to charter the boat out, but how much really ?
Click to expand...

YM commercially endorsed is what most have. If you are prepared to restrict your driving to very close to shore then you can have a lower ticket than YM commercially endorsed, and there is much detial on that, but the practical quick andswer to your Q is YM with CE

Only certian types/sizes of boat charter well, and it depends on which area of the Med you want to be based in. So don't buy the wrong boat.

The VAT aspect of your question is massive and I'm not going to get into another VAT thread. For a start you have to decide which country you want to reclaim the VAT in (only some will let you, and some are easier than others). I would say you can recover the VAT in full and anyone who says it is not possible or very difficult is referring to specific circumstnaces in which it can be difficult, but if you don't set any such constraints then it can be done and is often done. You do need abit of specialist knowledge though. But I don't have the time and stamina for another massive vAT thread just now :D
 
hi there.

I wonder, have you have perhaps been lured into previous VAT threads when someone has posted something along the lines of “huh, obviously you have no idea what you’re talking about” and then someone else agrees, and posts more tosh, so eventually the whole thread is utter tripe, and in the intrests of a better forum you have praps felt the need to sort it out? So anyway, i’m just saying/warning.
 
It's worth mentioning that, if anyone is thinking about either a first or a renewal CE on their YM, from April 2012 there is a compulsory training course which doesn't apply to applications made before April.
 
That will be the 'Professional Practices and Responsibilities' online course and assessment that will cost a grand total of 31 poonds plus......VAT :)
 
Jeez, it's true that anyone who sets off on a circumnavimigation soon gets to pondering the nature of truth innit.
 
thanks for the replies, I will check out the vat issue with a suitably qualified accountant and lawyer (don't panic JFM ), I just wanted an overview first to see if its possible. Was considering doing a YM next year anyway as I have loads of miles etc and did a coastal skipper last spring on a sailing boat for a bit of fun, so I will check out the commercial endorsement part as well.
 
benjenbav said:
It's worth mentioning that, if anyone is thinking about either a first or a renewal CE on their YM, from April 2012 there is a compulsory training course which doesn't apply to applications made before April.
Click to expand...

I didn't know that, thanks - I'm looking at doing my YM CE as well, so this is a useful incentive. Tvm.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
New course

The new PPR course is actually pretty good from the pilot I have seen, and actually will make all commercial, skippers slightly more aware of just how much stuff you are expected to just 'know'
 
Also if a British registered vessel it will have to comply with the standards required by the MCA Small Commercial Vessel code for carrying however many persons, and requires survey etc. Details on MCA website... MGN 280
 
coastwise said:
Also if a British registered vessel it will have to comply with the standards required by the MCA Small Commercial Vessel code for carrying however many persons, and requires survey etc. Details on MCA website... MGN 280
Click to expand...
Though remember you may code to the Yellow book. You don't have to code to mgn280, you have the choice. They are 95% similar but with a few important differences. FWIW, I prefer yellow book

On my reading of the law you can cherry pick: you can choose yellow or mgn280 clause by clause. However YBDSA (and I believe other cl. societies) do not agree and preach that you must choose one or other in its entirety. I can't get excited enough to take a test case though :-) so I suggest you follow that preaching

Crucial issue is still choosing the right model of boat, if you want decent charter income
 
kashurst said:
what qualifications do you need to skipper a British flagged charter boat in the med ?
Thinking about VAT deferral on next boat and wondered if registering boat as a charter company is worth it, or is it a massive hassle with authorities each year. Obviously I would have to charter the boat out, but how much really ?
Click to expand...

A British flagged boat would be coded under the MCA. As such there are a number of qualifications that could be commercially endorsed, many of which are more straightforward than Yachtmaster Offshore. The table on this page http://www.stormforce.biz/information-pages/resources/professional-skippers.html summarises what each qualification allows you to do.

Although our legislation applies on board a UK vessel where ever it is in the world, the vessel (and skipper/crew) may also come under local legislation as well.

Which part of the Med in particular are you thinking about?
 
In Belgium it is quite easy to comercially register a boat.

As far as I have been told, (by the YM instructor) in Belgium there is no law that say's you need a license to comand a CR boat, (I'm no expert nor lawyer so info might be wrong)
but in order to be OK with all checkups in the med, last year I got my YM CE, and with a small extra effort now I'v got the STCW Master 200GT. (just to make it all even more professional, and learn more)

the coding of the boat is no issue, some requests in Belgium are a joke, but in general it will increase the safety on board (and you get to learn about all safety aspects in practice). The cost of it is neglectible considering the total budget of owning the boat.

Blue Angel was previously coded in Italy, so apart from the travelcost of the Belgium inspector, I had almost no costs.
 
Belgian Commercial Register

Hi Bart,

since you are commercially coded under the belgian flag, can you also enjoy in France the various "benefits" attached to this status? e.g. VAT exemption or tax-free fuel?

BTW where did you pass your YM? In the med or in belgium? How long did it take to you?

V
 
Hardmy said:
Hi Bart,

since you are commercially coded under the belgian flag, can you also enjoy in France the various "benefits" attached to this status? e.g. VAT exemption or tax-free fuel?
Click to expand...

yes, but only when the boat is used for charter, with all conditions involved; crewed, paperwork, etc...
France is under pressure from Europe to change these conditions, or make this impossible, but I have'nt heard recent news on that

In Italy, it is also possible, but starting from May 2012, they have anounced a big luxury tax for all boats in Italian waters, which is high enough to stay away from Italy

Hardmy said:
BTW where did you pass your YM? In the med or in belgium? How long did it take to you?

V
Click to expand...

there is one RYA school in Belgium, called Naviclass, thats where I got my YM CE and a bit later full STCW 200GT.
My exam for YM, was done in Belgium, but taken by a examinator who came from UK. He did 3 or 4 exams during one week, so his travel cost was shared among 3 or 4 candidates.
 
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