Sunsail charter scheme: my dilemma.

[Anthony3200]

No, not at all - my mind is definitely not made up and, in fact, is 80% against the idea, following the responses here.

What has surprised me in all of this is just how much money Sunsail makes from the deal and how little is passed on.

For myself, the main purpose behind investigating the scheme was that I would use the boat pretty much full-on in 5.5. years time. I figured, perhaps incorrectly, that a 5.5. year boat would be cheaper by buying it via Sunsail (and getting others to subsidise my purchase) and that the sacrifice I would make in not using or seeing the boat for several years would repay itself in a cheap boat at the end of it. I had, to be honest, expected Sunsail to pay more of the revenue back to the charterer than it does, which makes the scheme pretty unfeasible.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Boat seems very expensive in the first place. Unless I'm well out of touch, I would have thought that you could get a pretty well stacked Oceanis 343 for £85k, including vat.

 

[bedouin]

[ QUOTE ]
if it's that bad, why is anyone doing it at all? I just saw it as a cheap way of getting a reduced price boat that may be 5,.5. years old and slightly worn, but which will pay at least half of itself off in the meantime and which will give me plenty of enjoyment when the scheme is up.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think you are looking at this in the wrong light. The Sunsail scheme is a good way to get cheap "charter" type sailing but a bad way to buy a boat.

I've met a couple of people who participate in this scheme. They are both very happy with it. What they do is to take full advantage of the weeks on offer then when the term expires they sell the boat and buy a new one in the same scheme. That makes it rather like owning a timeshare.

 

[Sea Devil]

I looked at similar schemes in the Caribbean - catch 22 is the 11 weeks - for sure they will not sell them - how on earth will you sell them? - you would have to advertise?? Nationally - and that costs a fortune!! Most holidays are sold during school hols/Peak period and that is not when your 11 weeks are available ... Just assume the 11 weeks will never be let out. Then see if it still seems attractive!

 

[Talulah]

I would add that £89,900 + VAT for a new Oceanis 34ft seems way overpriced to me.

 

[npf1]

Anthony - The financial implications aside (as they have already been well covered), another question you really should consider is will you end up with a boat that you're happy to spend two years on? Probably not. Most liveaboard boats are much different than your average charter boat. Why? Because for liveaboard or long distance stuff, the requirement is somewhat different. Space, storage, equipment, maintenance kit, creature comforts to name but a few aspects. Charter boats tend be floating dormitories. I would suggest that you need a boat that really is truly 'liveable' and that doesn't leave you learning unnecessary and expensive lessons. IMHO, boats that have just returned from an extended cruise are the ones to go for, but wait until nearer the time. Why not spend the next few workingout what you would want on your liveaboard and where you will accept the inevitable compromises.

 

[Guest]

fair comment ....

Do you want a 10 berth charter version .... or a 8 berth owners ? for example .....



I have always had the idea that a 6 - 8 berth boat of 34ft etc. would make a fab 4 berth boat with slight mod ... that is take out the dormitory's !!

Compare a 70 / 80's boat of 30 ft ... how many berths ... then look at a 90 / 00's boat and see the increase ... yes there is an increase on hull volume - but do you really want that many people on board at one time when you want to set sails etc. ??

 

[jimi]

Probably includes a full charter and coding pack as well.

 

[Sailfree]

Rules Of Sailing

1. It is expensive

2. It is expensive

3. There are no ways to make money by owning a boat

4. By chartering your own boat it subsidises the cost of "ownership". The quotation marks are because you don't really own it while you are sharing it with others!

5.Go sailing because you love it and pick the size of boat and type of sailing you can afford.

In conclusion if any scheme is suggested to you where you would make money those people would be doing it and not let you share!!

My simple philosophy in life is that all men in suits are trying to find ways of parting me with my money!

 

[Aardee]

One more thing to consider is the eventual resale value of the boat. I for one wouldn't want to part with too much cash for a 7-8 year old ex-Sunsailer/ liveaboard.

You may find yourself owning it for a lot longer than expected!!

 

[Lizzie_B]

When I last looked at the scheme the 13 weeks sailing was in reality 'up to 13 weeks'. You were awarded so many 'points' per year which could be redeemed for sailing time. The more popular the week, the more points it cost you. If you wanted to sail at any half decent time with regard to weather expectations, you would have been lucky to get even half of that time.

 

[kds]

Why is this question on this forum - surely a financial forum would be more suitable - and wouldn't bore the sailors witless ?
Ken

 

[Guest]

Wo there ..... Financial Forum ???

You'll be upsetting the "big boys" soon and get accused of creating a splinter forum group ......

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH - be careful - they won't like it !!

 

[doris]

Bad experiences

I only know 2 peeps who have gone the Sunsail route and both are in serious disagreement with SS due to fine print. An example of this is 'have a similar boat anywhere you you like, subject to availability'. The 'subject to availability' removes any country where the SS operation is a franchise, thereby removing over half the choice of destiantions. Also should you choose to sell you have to sell through SS with them taking 10%, not negotiable! There are other bits in the contract to be seriously considered. Should you go ahead, in which I wish you all the luck in the word, read the contract very carefully. IMVHO don't do it for all the reasons peeps have stated here. Best of luck.

 

[Glyka]

[ QUOTE ]
Some people have asked - if it's this good, why isn't everyone doing it, but following from some of the replies to this thread, if it's that bad, why is anyone doing it at all?

[/ QUOTE ]
And I am asking if it's so good why Sunsail/Moorings offer these deals to strangers and they dont buy them themselves?

 

[rog1111]

Re: Bad experiences

........and unless you are in a position to take advantage of it, the depreciation on the value of the boat will kill you in the final analysis. What is being sold here is the dream not the reality, do the maths.

Good luck whatever you decide

rog1111