G'day Cruisers
I'm looking into setting up a Yacht Charter in the NW and am finding it difficult to get a list of what the legal requirements would be. I've tried the DOT/Marine/Commercial and it fels like you need a lawyer to be able to understand those guys
So far I have:
- Yacht to be surveyed to 2B preferably (<12 pax to 200nm) but 2C (<12 pax to 60nm) would be enough for daytrips
- Life Raft to be in survey
- Certificate of Operation for a Domestic Commercial Vessel
- Yacht Insurance
- Public Liability Insurance
I expect there must be some kind of skipper's qualification but I can't get a straght answer from DOTM whether a Yachtmaster or a Masters 5 is the way to go. I don't have either but want to be sure I jump in the right direction, my preference would be the RYA Yachtmaster.
Q. Are there any charter owning or knowledgables on this forum who can help me? I really need to know if there is anything else I
need to put on that list and answer the quals question so I can correctly scope up the project
Cheers
You will need either RYA OFFSHORE Yachtmaster or Master V. I would go Master V as you will then not be restricted to sailing vessels.
Both tickets require a lot of logged commercial sea time before you qualify to sit the exam.
More importantly you need to do extensive market research and have a practical business plan. Consulting a psychiatrist could be advisable too. I was in a charter yacht business for 4 years and could not make a quid out of it.
Making a small fortune in the charter business is not that difficult, simply start with a large one.
May also need a permit for the area you wish to operate in. This is the case in the Whitsunday Islands. I think the deckie needs to have some a nautical qualification as well like coxswain. First aid Certificate.
I agree the Master class V is the way to go. Getting enough hours logged is difficult. One way years ago was to get a job on a Sydney Harbour ferry as a deckhand. With a class V you will have something to fall back on. There are always jobs for holders of a class V.
Select to expand quoteTrek said..
Another alternative, hire a Master 5 skipper on contract?
You either do that or hire yourself. One way or the other the business model needs to have the skipper paid as one of the expenses of the business.
