Renting a boat and chartering a boat are two concepts that sound the same to people who have never done either of these things. However, to anyone familiar with these terms, these are the two completely separate things.
Sure, both are a part of a boating experience, and both are a way to experience the seaside or the open ocean. However, they don’t cost the same, they aren’t the same experience, and they don’t give you the same amount of freedom. With that in mind, and without further ado, here’s how renting a boat fares against chartering it. Here’s what the difference is all about.
1. Crew or no crew
The first thing you need to understand about getting a charter vs. getting a boat rental is the fact that charters usually come with a crew. In other words, you’re not just getting a boat; you’re getting a boat and a crew.
It’s like chartering a personal flight, with the biggest difference that a crew is implied on a plane because so few people could actually fly these planes. Even if they were licensed, most airlines wouldn’t take the risk of giving a person their plane (even at a higher cost).
Now, due to the very nature of this arrangement, it’s more than clear that boat rental costs are significantly lower than those of charters (on average). The reason why we had to use it on average is the fact that there are those rare occurrences where you can rent a luxury boat or find the cheapest charter possible. Still, in most cases, the cost discrepancy is heavily in favor of rental boats.
Now, don’t get us wrong, you can get yourself an un-crewed charter; however, you’re usually restricted to certain boat types and have a longer potential duration. This means a higher cost and a long-term commitment.
2. Flexibility
The fact that you get just the boat and the freedom to do whatever you want with it (within the bounds of reason and law) is already a huge bonus. After all, renting a boat is the closest thing you’ll come to the experience of owning a boat. You get the flexibility to alter your itinerary and move at your own pace.
Your only responsibility is to pay your fees and return the boat by the designated date (or cover the fees for being late). Still, if you’re responsible enough and the company is fair and reasonable, during the rental period, you won’t be able to tell that it’s not really your boat.
The thing is that the majority of sea voyages are adventures, which is why you want to be fully in charge of it all. Sure, it’s more work and more responsibility, but it’s a part of the charm. This is why you’re doing it all.
Also, most seaside voyages have so much to sea, and you’re bound to encounter adventures on your travels. You want the freedom to pause for a moment and enjoy this spontaneity.
Lastly, a lot of people take their kids on a voyage with the intent to make the journey into an educational experience. This is the best way to teach them about boating, perhaps even encourage them to develop a passion for boating themselves.
3. Leisure and luxury
In the previous section, we’ve discussed the biggest single advantage of rental boats; now, let’s do one for chartered boats. You get a full crew, which means you get someone to stir the boat while you enjoy tanning on the deck.
Depending on how big of a boat and how big of a crue you get, you can even get someone to tend bar or cook for you. This way, you can get the ultimate traveling luxury experience. We’re talking about gourmet meals, water sports equipment, and fully personalized itineraries.
To make the long story short, you just pay for the trip, and everything else is someone else’s concern. In the previous section, we talked about the freedom of being in charge of your entire itinerary, but some people don’t want to have to think too much while vacationing. All they want is the pleasure that comes from luxury services provided by others. They don’t want a vacation that’s more work than pleasure. If they can afford it, there’s no better way to get it than to charter a boat.
Also, keep in mind that because they’re used to house an entire crew over a long-time voyage, these vessels are larger. More space inevitably leads to more comfort.
4. Circumstantial determining factors
The next thing you need to take into consideration is the circumstantial determining factors that you have to think about when choosing whether to charter or rent a boat.
First of all, you need to ask yourself what exactly you want from this journey. Do you want to explore the open seas or get a taste of a high life?
Second, you need to reevaluate your budget and see what kind of trip you can actually afford. Sometimes, an expensive charter trip won’t even be an option, which leaves you with just one option actually to consider.
Also, you need to consider the duration and potential itineraries. This is where the choice will truly shine and where the difference will really be felt. Sometimes, you want a specific itinerary, and the simplest way to get it is to find the right charter. At the same time, if you have a unique trip in mind and there are no pre-set tours, renting a boat and making it yourself is really your only option.
Wrap up
In the end, chartering a boat means hiring a boat (usually a larger one) with a crew. It’s an experience comparable to chartering a flight. At the same time, renting a boat means that you have a wider range of boats to pick from, and you get just a boat, not a crew. The latter is similar to owning a boat; you just have to return it eventually. So, depending on what you had in mind, now you know what you’re choosing between.
