I have little powerboat experience- though I am studying very hard now
over a year- I live in southern CA and I am an EXPERT waterman. I wish
to know "What is the best way to begin to understand the charter
process." I intend to get a 6 pack license. And hope to travel on my
own single diesel for as long and far as I can. Is it reasonable to
think that if I had a 3-4k a month loan that I might be able to make
it, through the course of a year, in US, Mexican and tropic waters. I
would live aboard with my wife who is a quite a chef and hostess. my
goal is NOT to make a profit. ONLY TO BREAK EVEN, and be able to
travel. I am very capable of ALL maintenance. Even major diesel
overhaul and high-tech systems, incl radar and ac/dc energy grids,
Fiberglass and watersystems. I am interested in advice and thoughts.

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Request for Question Clarification by nenna-ga on 10 Aug 2005 13:37 PDT

So, could you hi-lite the points that you want us to answer for you?
It sounds like you're asking a few things and I'd like to be sure of
what exactly you would like as an answer to those questions.

Nenna-GA

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Clarification of Question by surfer2005-ga on 10 Aug 2005 16:21 PDT

Perhaps my biggest question is whether or not there is enough income
from a charter broker/agent(which I would use) to support a mid-size
boat loan 3-5k a month. And what real world "red-tape" exsists. I am
not as concerned about maintenance and repairs as I am about the main
few points that commonly "sink" a charter business, Especially one
without any crew salaries or profit, to worry about.
I am 35 years old.

I would suggest that you and your wife sign on as crew on another "six
pack" charter vessel and gain first hand experience:  cooking at sea,
dealing with charter guests, expenses, etc.  It sounds like a great
idea, but you may find that it not so rosy to be in charge and
responsible for everything  - your wife too.  Being cook and hostess
for days with no place to send guests to get a breather may not be
much fun after a while.  And not all of them will be people you really
want to know.

But maybe you already have this experience, just a free comment.  :)

The younger sister of a former colleague of mine, and her partner,
successfully live and work as a crew of two aboard a sailing vessel
that plies the Caribbean and takes tourists as paying customers.
They've been doing it for over a decade now and, while they're not
rich by any standard, they seem to have all they need and clearly love
their life. Their arrangement sounds similar to what you propose,
though I think you're describing a somewhat different kind of vessel.
I'm not especially knowledgable about marine affairs. However, just
wanted to make that point that there is at least one couple
successfully doing what you say you'd like to, or at least something
very close to. Good luck!