The Introduction to Boutique Yacht Charter Operations
Why should you choose a local charter fleet operator to rent a boat or as your partner for yacht charter ownership and management?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for charter ownership and yacht charter management of your yacht, or owning a yacht to begin with. Moreover, many of the standardised options out there aren’t good enough.
Not if you ask us.
Therefore, we work with independent and local charter fleet operators to create tailored solutions for owning a yacht in charter. Since we started in 2015, we have been actively promoting and strengthening the awareness of these independent local yacht charter fleet operators that we call – Boutique Yacht Charter Operators.
How do we qualify a Boutique Yacht Charter Fleet Operator?
What makes a boat rental company a Boutique Yacht Charter Fleet Operator, you might ask?
Yacht-Mach Charter & Management have formed exclusive partnerships with smaller niche yacht charter fleet operators and yacht charter ownership and management operators that we have carefully chosen. The selection is not only based on their background, expertise in the industry, and high level of service, but also on customer reviews, our due diligence and other characteristics that make them suitable for a partnership with Y-M Charter & Management.
Our collective experience at Yacht-Match Group of close to 35 years working in the leisure marine industry, and specifically in the segment of boat rentals and yacht charter ownership and management, has taught us how to qualify a sustainable yacht charter business and especially a partner that we can safely recommend using our own preferred method of due diligence.
This way we can ensure that our boat renters and charter guest will enjoy yachts that have a higher standard of maintenance and will be enjoying a yacht that is actually equipped and sailed like a privately owned yacht. More importantly, our boat owners who have received our Yacht-Match Charter Ownership Consultancy will have a more tailored selection when it comes to where and how it’s best to safely and sustainably perform the yacht charter management and ownership of their yacht that they have entrusted us to rent out.
Yacht-Match Charter & Management performs yearly inspections and due diligence to update our preferred partner fleet operators and to ensure those adhere to the Yacht-Match standards.
This is how we qualify and perform our due diligence:
- Specialist or Preferred genre
Most large-scale charter fleet operators claim to “best at all”. This is not the case if you ask us, there is not one model that fits all. Our clients who receive our Yacht-Match Charter Ownership Consultancy to select the most optimal and tailored yacht charter ownership model come in all shapes and sizes. Therefore, we must have the best option for handling a smaller yacht and also, on the contrary, to handle a larger yacht that would need crewed yacht charter operations. It’s our business to know, to investigate, and to inform ourselves and align this with how we can best serve our clients, choosing a tailored charter ownership and management.
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1 . High Ratings
There are over 3000 yacht charter management companies and fleet operators alone in Europe. Naturally, then, some set the standards and are long-lasting in this industry with what we call a “sustainable approach” and most others thrive under short periods and either wither away or get swallowed up by the larger international charter companies that offer yacht charter ownership programs that eventually purchase these companies and make them part of their groups. We seek out those that consistently have high ratings from both the known travel rating platforms (that are often arbitrary) and directly inside in the industry through applications and programs only available to those working in this field. We compare both findings and match it with our onsite inspections and also check with our industry colleagues to hear their own experience working with the operator, both on the rental side but also if they have had the chance to work along or inside the company itself.
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2. Variety & Location
The Yacht-Match Charter Ownership Consultancy strives to compare, benchmark, and optimise the best-fitting model to own and operate our clients’ preferred yacht for yacht charter ownership and management. This requires us to have an ample variety of different locations where we can offer the yacht charter management and to make sure we have not one, but several options of performing the operations from any given part of a sailing destination, such as the hot zones in Europe or the Caribbean, or Southeast Asia.
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3. Personal & Referral Testimonials
Our collective experience of close to 35 years in the yacht charter industry provides us with a large network of boat owners with several years and various yachts in yacht charter ownership. Our professional network of partners and colleagues from the industry is substantial and includes financing companies and banks, surveyors, yacht maintenance, charter agencies and brokers, technical personnel, skippers and transport companies, and of course, the trade organisations connected to this part of the industry.
Along with having a large network of boat owners from all over the world who have been in and out of various yacht charter ownership programs and our substantial network of professionals from this part of the industry, we can verify credibly the recommendations we receive on operators that should be included in the Yacht-Match Preferred Partner Network.
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4. Good Standing & Financially Sound
Part of the benchmarking and creation of a tailored charter ownership and management for our clients who have chosen our Yacht-Match Charter Ownership Consultancy, we develop an individual business plan and charter feasibility study that most often needs to be verified and approved by a bank or leasing company that will be involved with providing the financing for our client and boat owner. Through our professional network of partners in the financing industry, we have a well-informed position to judge and ascertain which charter fleet operators are financially healthy and sound.
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5. Organisational Structure
We have a profound understanding of what makes for sustainable operations in terms of how the management of the charter fleet operator should be set up. Depending on the location of the operator’s base, the type of fleet they prefer operating, and the scale and size of the fleet, the operator needs to make sure they have enough technical competence and personnel, a fleet manager and/or base manager, an assigned or several assigned personnel to perform the check in and check out procedure, a back office and guest concierge service, and a suitable local and equipment for its peronell on site.
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6. Technical Competence
At Yacht-Match Charter & Management, we have two key resources to ensure our boat owners and clients with tailored charter management will receive the correct yacht management and services from our partner operators. We have our very own in-house after-sales manager and also a dedicated technical chief officer (who also happens to be a naval architect). We know how important it is for the yacht and for our boat owners/clients to make sure that maintenance tasks and the standard of the service performed live up to the standard we set with our partners and with our boat owners/clients to promise a sustainable yacht charter ownership investment. Without it, it’s a trickle-down effect that causes unwanted claims from charter guests, a disgruntled yacht owner and most importantly, the yacht will over time sustain wear and tear and damages that could have been prevented if the yacht maintenance tasks were just overlooked and approved by a third-party interest. Therefore, should the preferred charter fleet operator we have assigned not have the optimal set up of organisation and technical competence to handle all yacht maintenance tasks and service, our own inhose team will assist and oversee the work during the winter services and also intereven during the season should there be need to verify larger maintenance tasks and provide guidance on whom to appoint and what suppliers are the best for the job.
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7. Yacht Management Experience
A part of searching and selecting the preferred charter fleet network is ascertaining their past experience of yacht management and their level of technical competence. Although all charter fleet operators will claim that they can do all type of charter management and they all want to go for bigger yachts and for a larger fleet size, its seldom the case that they can be good at all types and certainly not to guarantee the level of commitment to all yachts in their fleet and their boat owners. Our due diligence lets us find out at what level they are in and where as partners, we can go and develop our services towards new potential boat owners that we will have joining that particular fleet and operations.
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Yearly Checks and Continuous Due Diligence
Our team performs on-site inspections and meets up with all of our operators every year, and we receive direct reporting from our boat owners and clients and as the various financial institutions and leasing banks involved in the industry.
The yacht charter and management industry is a very tough one to operate in, and so it is never problem-free. We build long-lasting, strong relationships with our preferred partners through overcoming the many ups and downs and solving the issues we face as partners. Collectively, we make for a strong team that can offer a more individual and tailored approach to service and management of expectations for our mutual clients and boat owners.
Reasons why you should choose a local independent Boutique Yacht Charter Operator
Personal Service
Most independent charter fleet operators in our network are family businesses. The company is not run by boards but by people. The business may already have been passed on through generations, and you will often meet the next one that is soon to take over.
When you or charter guests arrive to your yacht, you get a warm welcome – often by the owners themselves. Also, the staff is always there to help you and do their best in solving ad hoc issues or requests.
Not to say the bigger companies won’t do this, but with smaller charter operators the relationship goes often beyond customer-business. You are treated like family – you are family.
Small things make a big difference. Introducing you to the local customs and community, providing small touches here and there. Knowing each other by name, you and the crew, locals and visitors alike.
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Knowledge and expertise
The charter fleet operator is not only based but from the certain area, which means they know about the city or town and its surroundings, the people and how things work there.
They give you tips about secret spots, when to go where to meet the crowds or avoid them. They also tell you the best times to visit the destination or the attractions.
Whether it’s about weather patterns, tides, interesting places to explore or activities to try – you’ll always have an expert guide helping you.
If you would like to read reviews and compare different charter fleet operators, we suggest you do it here.
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Quality Maintenance
Smaller charter companies might have less staff working for them, but the fleet is often smaller as well. You can say it’s definitely quality over quantity here.
The whole staff is often a tight family – by blood or by choice – resulting in loyal and dedicated workers. They also contribute to developing the customer experience and ensuring the consistency in maintenance.
Most importantly, local charter fleet operators take care of the boats like they are their own, ensuring they are of top quality and fully equipped. What more could you ask for?
During the winter service and with ongoing seasonal maintenance, the attention to detail is also more intricate. A smaller charter operator has a high percentage of loyal charter customers, who expect well-maintained yachts with specific layout and level of equipment.
Moreover, the local and independent charter companies can have a yacht in their fleet for 7-12 years, and it could still be one of the most popular yac
hts for charter bookings.
Not necessarily because of the lower price, but because of the close relationship between base managers, technical personal and the yacht owner, resulting in a remarkably well-maintained yacht.
New isn’t always better!
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Managing risks
If the market is fluctuating and the charter bookings for the season are expected to be low, the smaller charter companies are often better prepared. They don’t have an oversized fleet and a lot of yacht investors to answer for.
The result: less wear and tear on the yachts and also less complaints from charter guests!
On the contrary, bigger charter companies naturally have a great deal of investors and guaranteed programs to account for. This results in pressuring the teams within the organisation and ultimately the yachts.
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Invest in your business
Whether you choose to call it niche, small and local charter fleet operators have a common trait: they discover what they are good at and focus on that. They keep learning and developing, becoming better at what they do.
Instead of competing with lower prices and newer boat models, local charter fleet operators stay true to their core values and aim to delight their customers with their uniqueness. In return, they get returning customers year after year.
“You are investing in your and their business, a family’s life work, rather than only buying a boat.”
When you invest in a yacht in charter management with one of our partner operators, you are investing in their business, a family’s life’s work, rather than only buying a boat.
You support local communities as well as originality and variety on the market, where companies are becoming more and more alike.
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Do you want to learn more about the financing and how to make a profit when owning a yacht? Read more here:
How do I finance buying a boat in charter?
So how can Yacht-Match help you?
Yacht-Match is not a sales-driven company. We are a consultancy company with the aim of giving you a better overview of the options and becoming better informed.
The Yacht-Match Group consist of four key branches:
- Yacht-Match Consultancy: Your source for personalised yacht advice and ownership solutions. We ensure your yacht ownership experience is customised to meet your unique needs.
- Y-M Yachts & Brokerage: Specialising in both new and pre-owned yacht sales, as well as aftermarket services, we help you find and maintain the right yacht.
- Y-M Charter & Management: Offering comprehensive charter management and ownership programmes, we take care of all the details so you can fully enjoy your yacht.
- Y-M Sustainability Solutions: Leading the way in sustainable yachting, we offer electric propulsion, energy storage, and other innovative solutions to help you sail into the future responsibly.
We understand that there is a lot to consider in your planning phase to invest in a charter ownership or choose a yacht charter program or management.
That is why, as part of the Yacht-Match Group, we have developed a specialist branch the Y-M Charter & Management to develop smarter and sustainable charter ownership solutions and to disrupt the traditional offerings of the yacht charter program that are often too standardised and only favour the larger global scale charter companies offering them.
Considering Yacht Charter Ownership?
All set to go for the best introduction to your new lifestyle?
