How to make a living from yachting?

[Sybarite]

I think you have to completely forget about the UK as a charter base. The season is simply too short to make it viable.

The professional charterers are those who have a boat capable of, say, doing the summer season in the Med (approx 20 weeks) and then the winter in the Caribbean. This way you can begin to amortise the boat's costs.

John

 

[Sybarite]

I remember reading an article in an American magazine about sailing boats designed to carry cargo. These were boats of about 50' - 60' capable of carrying 10 - 15 tons of cargo and were designed as live-aboards to be handled by 2/3 crew. The owners often purchased goods for resale on out-of-the-way Pacific Islands or remote places like Tristan de Cunha. I saw one of the designs, an Albacore 64/66, in Brighton one day and was very impressed.

John

 

[Speed]

It is possible to make a living (just!) from skippered charter in the UK, but you'll need more than just sailing skills.

There are a number of vessels in operation, mainly in Scottish waters.

Many of them are classic types (gaffers) that attract a niche clientele, but most of them also offer some other element, such as walking/wildlife/music/history etc. to occupy a unique sector of the market.

Even then it's no easy gig - all maintenance must be done in house to keep costs down, and breakdowns can be catastrophic financially.

Many of the boats require crew/cook, so that has to be factored in, and therefore you need to be looking at a boat with plenty of berths - it's all about bums on seats.

Having a relief skipper is a luxury, if it can be afforded at all, and the season, although short in our latitudes, can seem very, very long...

It might be possible to find work on one of these boats as mate if you are determined to give it a try - that way you'll have some idea of what you might be letting yourself in for.

Best wishes either way!

 

[Sailfree]

The answer is No for 3 reasons,

1. To attract customers you have to advertise. Advertising costs spread over a fleet make it an overhead over 1 boat a loss.

2. Gordon Brown has insisted the IR chase anyone owning a boat. When I started chartering being able to offset losses made it worth the cost. Now the IR are chasing anyone exploiting that loophole, some still get away with it but my accountant has 6 IR enquiries going on regarding charter boats.

3. UK marina prices and soon fuel costs and shortness of the season in the uK.

At present there are many others offering similar but point 2 above will slowly reduce that number IMHO.

In conclusion if I wanted to start again now I would not!!

Trust this helps