Le Gaspésien

Yes — every boat on charter.boats is insured by its operator; we require it. The policy covers the vessel for fire, collision and third-party liability. You're only responsible for damage it doesn't cover, and that's capped at the security deposit. You can lower the deposit by adding the operator’s damage waiver. Operator terms: Renter insures up to amount of security deposit (franchise). Comprehensive insurance covers damage to boat body, accessories, partial/total theft (except dinghy and outboard), third-party liability for property and bodily injury.

Fuel isn't included — you return the tank full. This boat's ~108 HP engines burn roughly 8.6 L/h while motoring, so a typical week (about 3 h a day, ~21 h) works out to roughly 181 L ≈ €262 at €1.45/L — scale it to your own plans. Many skippers run one engine on passage to roughly halve fuel use — ask your operator if that’s fine for your boat.

Requirements vary by state and operator; no national sailing licence exists, so charter companies rely on a detailed sailing résumé (some states require a boater education card).

The charterer must be at least 21 years old when signing the contract, and single-handed sailing is not allowed.

Yes. You or your designated skipper must complete a form describing your nautical experience. We may refuse to hand over the boat if the skipper or crew do not seem competent enough, in which case you can either take a professional skipper at your cost or stay in port.

Night sailing is forbidden unless the base manager grants an exception, including entering or leaving anchorages, marinas or ports after dark. Some areas may also be off-limits, such as the windward coast in Martinique, and these are explained to you at handover.

We recommend not putting to sea when winds of Force 7 or more are forecast; in that case stay near the departure port or within five miles of a sheltered coast. If a depression, tropical storm or cyclone is announced, head for the marina or designated cyclone shelter.

For loss or damage from normal wear you may arrange an immediate repair or replacement up to 10 percent of the deposit and we reimburse you on return against an invoice. Anything above that must be approved by us first, and any incident must be reported within 48 hours.

Varies widely by region; the Florida Keys and Caribbean coast run year-round, while New England and the Pacific Northwest peak June–September.