Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that putting your yacht on charter is an important decision. That’s why we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions from yacht owners about our managed yacht charter programme.
Am I guaranteed an income?
As we allow owners unlimited usage on our standard management programme, it is not possible to guarantee a specific income, it can depend on how often and on which dates your yacht is available for charter. If maximising income is important to you, please speak to us and we can advise you on the key dates in the sailing calendar. On our subscription programme, the charter income does not affect your monthly fixed fee.
My boat is my pride and joy, what will happen if I let other people loose on her?
We thoroughly vet all prospective charterers to ensure that they are capable of handling your boat. For every charter, we have a strict handover and return procedure including a thorough check. If the charterer causes any loss or damage and this is rare, it is immediately rectified and the cost is deducted from the charterer’s security deposit.
What about the cleaning and maintenance of my boat?
We clean the boats thoroughly after every charter. This not only means that it is in top condition for the charterer, but also for you when you want to use her. We pride ourselves on the standard of yachts on our fleet and all benefit from a rigorous maintenance and cleaning schedule. Owners often comment that their yachts have never been in such good condition and find they tend to retain their value better as a result.
When and how will I receive my charter income?
Each month we send you a statement showing charter income, our commission, and any expenses incurred by us on your behalf, such as authorised maintenance and repairs. VAT-registered owners send us a VAT invoice for the net charter revenue. We then immediately pay any monies due directly into your bank account.
Can I reclaim the VAT on the purchase price and outgoings on my yacht?
There are potential tax advantages to be gained for boat owners genuinely providing their yacht for charter usage. This is a complex area and we can refer owners to specialist professional advisers who have successfully supported a number of our owners to achieve VAT registration.
What about when I wish to use my boat?
We ask you to let us know well in advance of the dates you plan to use her. We then make sure these dates are reserved for you and that the boat is ready on your arrival so you can just sail away. If you wish to sail at short notice, this is no problem but we do ask that you give us a call to check that we have not taken any last-minute bookings on your behalf.
My boat is not new, is she still suitable?
Yes, we are always interested in well-found yachts wishing to join our fleet and we are not tied to any one manufacturer. A high percentage of our bookings are from previous charterers who often like to try a variety of different types of yachts.
What about coding?
Yachts in charter management must comply with the MCA Code of Practice for Small Commercial Vessels, otherwise known as the ‘Code’. A coded vessel is certified annually by the MCA and the managing agent to ensure that the yacht’s structural integrity and equipment continue to conform to the highest standards required. The amount of equipment needed to bring a yacht up to coding level will vary depending upon what equipment the yacht already has. A comprehensive inventory is essential, but we will be pleased to offer full assistance with the preparation for the registration of your boat.
Why choose Hamble Point Yacht Charters?
We have been based at Hamble Point Marina since 1993, during this time as a family-run business we have concentrated on offering a highly personal service to both the owners of the yachts on our fleet and to charterers. We offer a friendly but professional approach and are members of The Royal Yachting Association, the British Marine Federation, and the Professional Charter Association. We hold a British Marine Customer Service Award and have consistently been awarded TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence.
Our location at Hamble Point Marina is easy to get to and provides prime access to The Solent. The majority of our charterers are repeat bookings and much of our business is through personal recommendations. We have a reputation for a high quality of maintenance and presentation of our fleet, at the top end of the charter market. Our charterers tend to be individuals, families, saying clubs, and retired individuals.
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WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Charted a Bavaria 36 for a weekend trip. Last minute booking and super impressed with how we managed to sort thing out so quickly and easily after just a couple of e-mails and phone calls. Arrived late Friday after office was closed but check in pack had been left for us to pick up and overnight onboard. Boat very nicely kitted out and left Sat morning to ride Westerly tide to Lymington. Great local knowledge given during the morning walk through about where to moor and get dinner. Nice sail back on Sunday. Weather turned foul but she handled really well under full sail. Everyone on board enjoyed themselves and it's exactly what I'd hoped for from the weekend. This was first time sailing from Hamble and it's a great location to get quickly into the Solent. Definitely will be back once weather warms up and days get longer to try some longer trips. Thank you Hamble Point Charters for a great weekend !
My family and I had a great charter experience recently thanks to Alex, Andy and the whole team. Well maintained boat, friendly service and advice. We plan to charter again next year with them.
Alex, Becca and the team could not have been more helpful considering we called them at 4:45 Tuesday for a boat on Wednesday, another charter company had let us down at the last minute. Check-out and back in was well organized and we had a great 3 days sailing.
As a family, including our 4 year old Labrador, we recently chartered a 'bareboat' yacht from Hamble Point Charters for 7 days to cruise the Solent. The company were fantastic from our first enquiry to handing back the boat. The yacht was clean and well presented. A great week and we will happily use them again!
We have just had another wonderful week on a yacht we chartered from Hamble Point Yacht Charters. We have sailed several of their boats, this time it was a lovely 35 foot Bavaria. Chartering from HPYC is always an easy choice for us: the boats are well maintained, support is excellent, and the staff are always super friendly and helpful. On top of that, Hamble Point is such an ideal starting location for sailing around the Solent.
This is truly a 5 * service. The team really looked after us both ashore on arrival and also while at sea. We were a relatively inexperienced crew but always felt the team ashore had our backs. Thoroughly recommended.
I just wanted to say Thank-you very much for the weekend charter. It was exactly what we were after (albeit cold!) plus Andy was an awesome teacher and great company. We’ll definitely be keen to book again soon!
We had a fabulous four days. Marina is ideally placed for the Solent, boat was in great condition, well equipped and a joy to sail. We were well briefed and the shore side team including the dog very friendly.
We charted one of the sailing yachts for a fantastic weekend cruise in the Solent. The boat was in superb condition and well equipped, the staff was very helpful explaining how things work on the yacht and there was also a video available with all the important information. 10/10 would recommend!
Had a fantastic week chartering Blue Otter, Alex was incredibly helpful and sent loads of information and date checking prior to booking. There was a handover video and both the handover and return were really smooth. The boat was lovely and well maintained and Lee was really helpful in recommending places to visit (and helping identify the steering issue as an autopilot takeover - doh!). Definitely will be back and would fully recommend!
Just back from a lovely week in the Solent. Great service from HPYC from first inquiry through to return handover. Very straightforward to deal with, and the yacht was in excellent condition. We've chartered from many companies in the UK and abroad and the attention to detail (and flawless inventory!) was second to none. Everything about the yacht and equipment had clearly been well looked after and was in immaculate condition. Great service, will use again.
Always very friendly service, and well-maintained yachts. Easy check-in and checkout. Will be back...
We had a great time and were very happy with everything. Your team were genuinely friendly and were very helpful when we needed it. Is a big contrast to many charter companies I have dealt with in the past.
Watching the sun go down with a glass of bubbly on the deck of a sparkling yacht was unbelievable. What a treat, and a much needed change of scenery in these troubled times. We will be back for sure
Fab service, nothing too much trouble, including my daft questions. I'll be a repeat customer for sure!