fractional yacht ownership reviews

Fractional Yacht Ownership

• On April 7, 2023

Fractional yacht ownership is becoming an increasingly popular option for those who want to experience the luxury of owning a yacht without the hefty price ta g and management responsibilities. This comprehensive guide will dive into the ins and outs of fractional yacht ownership, including the benefits, drawbacks, costs, and how it works. We’ll also provide insights and tips for those considering investing in this unique form of boat ownership.

The Cons of Fractional Yacht Ownership

What is fractional yacht ownership.

Fractional yacht ownership, also known as shared yacht ownership or yacht co-ownership, is a concept that allows multiple people to own a portion of a yacht, sharing the usage, costs, and responsibilities. This alternative to traditional yacht ownership and yacht chartering offers a more affordable and manageable way to enjoy the yachting lifestyle.

The Pros of Fractional Yacht Ownership

• Financial savings : By sharing the purchase price and ongoing expenses of a yacht, such as maintenance , insurance, and docking fees, fractional yacht ownership significantly reduces the financial burden.
• Reduced management responsibilities : A management company typically handles the day-to-day operations, including crew hiring, maintenance scheduling, and coordinating usage among co-owners.
• Flexibility in inviting guests : Fractional yacht ownership allows you to invite anyone you want aboard during your allocated usage time, provided the yacht has proper safety equipment.
• Easy resale of shares : Most fractional ownership agreements permit the easy sale of shares, allowing you to change yachts or exit the arrangement without difficulty.
• Limited customization and control : Since the yacht is shared among multiple owners, personalization options and control over certain aspects of the yacht are limited.
• Restricted usage schedule : Co-owners must adhere to a predetermined schedule, potentially limiting spontaneity and last-minute getaways.

Deciding if Fractional Yacht Ownership is Right for You

Before investing in fractional yacht ownership, ask yourself these questions:

• Is total control over the yacht important to me?
• Am I prepared to handle the maintenance costs and responsibilities of full yacht ownership?
• Do I plan to sail in one specific area or explore various locations?
• How important is a customized yacht to me?
• Am I flexible with my sailing dates?

Your answers to these questions will help you determine if fractional yacht ownership aligns with your preferences and priorities.

Costs of Fractional Yacht Ownership

The costs associated with fractional yacht ownership include:

• Initial investment: This is the cost of purchasing your share in the yacht.
• Annual fees and management costs: These fees cover maintenance, insurance, docking, and other operational expenses.

Popular Destinations for Fractional Yacht Ownership

Some of the most popular destinations for fractional yacht ownership include the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the US, and parts of Asia. When choosing a location, consider factors such as sailing conditions, marina availability, and local attractions.

Key Takeaways

• Fractional yacht ownership is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional yacht ownership and chartering, offering a more affordable and manageable way to enjoy the yachting lifestyle.
• Shared yacht ownership comes with both benefits and drawbacks, so it’s essential to weigh these factors carefully before deciding to invest.
• Costs associated with fractional yacht ownership include the initial investment and ongoing annual fees and management costs.
• Popular destinations for fractional yacht ownership include the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the US, and parts of Asia.
• Before deciding on fractional yacht ownership, consider your priorities, preferences, and flexibility in terms of yacht customization, control, and scheduling.
• In conclusion, fractional yacht ownership provides a unique opportunity for those who want to experience the luxury of yacht ownership without the full financial commitment and responsibilities. By carefully considering your preferences and priorities, you can determine if this alternative to traditional yacht ownership aligns with your lifestyle and goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fractional yacht ownership involves purchasing a share of a yacht and sharing the costs and responsibilities, while yacht chartering allows you to rent a yacht for a specific period without any ownership or long-term commitments.

Yes, most fractional yacht ownership agreements allow you to sell your shares, provided there are no stipulations against it in the agreement.

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Fractional Yacht Ownership : Everything you Need to Know

Fractional yacht ownership is one of the way to own a yacht that might suit your needs.

For most people, owning a luxury yacht means the freedom to move whenever and wherever they want with maximum comfort. However, it is rare to be able to use it 100% of the time. There are options to counteract the time the boat is not is used, and one of the most profitable and comfortable is fractional ownership.

Shared yacht ownership may be for you. But do you know exactly what it means and entails?

Let’s review the pros and cons of this ownership method to assess whether this can suit you, or whether you should continue chartering yachts or owning one fully .

What is fractional yacht ownership?

Fractional boat ownership is exactly what it sounds like. It allows you to own a part of a yacht for usage time on board. You legally own a piece of it as an asset, and like a company share or a bond, you can sell or transfer it. 

People have been sharing boats through informal partnerships with friends or family members for eons. Fractional boat ownership is simply a formalization of these arrangements which offers you more legal protection in case of conflicts. 

Each owner pays an equity stake in the vessel depending on what percentage of the purchase they want. 

In return, each owner is allotted a set number of days they are allowed to use the boat each year proportionally to their investment. 

On top of the share, the owners have to pay an annual maintenance fee to the management company taking care of managing the calendar, crew, and maintenance of the boat throughout the year.

Fractional boat ownership is different from a time-share which only gives you the rights of property used for a certain amount of time. Once your time is over, your investment also is.

To help you to decide if fractional yacht ownership is right for you, here are the pros and cons you might consider.

The Pros of fractional yacht ownership

By sharing the purchase price, but also the operating and maintenance costs between the owners, fractional boat ownership lightens your investment considerably, allowing you to make serious savings. Financially, but not only.

Fractional boat ownership will also help you to save time on managing different aspects. Indeed, the management company will take care of it – from hiring a crew to coordinating maintenance, to managing the calendar among all owners, to deal with marinas. If you don’t use the yacht, the management company will help you to charter it.

When you use your time aboard, you are free to invite anyone you want. This kind of program is often located in an area, but with the majority of other owner’s agreements, you can cruise the boat in new locations.

If you no longer wish to own a fraction of the yacht, most fractional ownership agreements allow you to easily sell your fractional shares to someone else. Since this kind of program keeps the yachts well-maintained, the value of your share will not devalue so quickly and you’ll be able to more easily change boats than with full ownership.

Furthermore, some fractional ownership organizations maintain fleets that allow you to use a different yacht, enjoy another location, or make up for time lost because of weather or maintenance issues. 

The Cons of fractional yacht ownership

The main drawback of fractional yacht ownership is obviously that you have to share your boat with other owners

Some downsides include that even if you own a part of the yacht, you can’t do whatever you want with it. For example, You can’t personalize a fractionally owned yacht. In fact, you probably won’t have a say on the outfitting or the decoration at all.

You don’t have a lot of flexibility either to use your yacht whenever you want. The yacht isn’t at your disposal all the time and itineraries are planned in a way that you choose your slot in advance. Your last-minute getaways are therefore compromised. 

It also means that the boat might not be available for the particular dates you would like to use it. Read properly the agreement, as some of them allow first come – first served during the unscheduled time if no maintenance is required.

When it comes to moving the yacht, most of the owners have to agree on the destination, so you can be stuck with one area, which can be an issue if you are planning on moving a lot. To relocate your yacht for an extended period of time, you will usually need every owner’s approval. 

On the other hand, most owners may decide to move the boat to an area you don’t particularly like. If you were to charter a boat, you would simply pay a moving fee, but in this case, you are stuck!

Depending on the contract, it is possible that if the majority of the owners want to sell the ship, it can get sold out from under you. So read it carefully!

In fact, the main disadvantage of fractional yacht ownership lies in its name: you only own a portion of the yacht, which means you are not in full control of your property.

Is Fractional yacht ownership for you?

To know  if fractional boat ownership is for you or not, answer these different questions:

• Is it important for you to be in total control of your yacht?
• Do you have time and funds to deal with your yacht’s maintenance costs?
• Are you planning to sail in one area or to explore the world?
• Is having a customized yacht important to you?
• Are you flexible on dates?

Depending on your answers, fractional yacht ownership can be, or not a good option for you.  If you want to save on costs, if you are likely to use it several times throughout the year in one particular region, if you know which boat you want or if you want to invest in a yacht to charter it, then go for shared boat ownership.

For people who don’t want to deal with the hassles of single-ownership, it is also a solution to consider.

On the other hand, people who like changes, whether it’s to try out numerous yachts or to change regions often, are better off sticking with yacht chartering.

For those who don’t want to share and can’t stand the idea of being a co-owner, buying your boat is likely your best option if you can afford it. 

Keep in mind that most fractional yacht ownership programs concern large yachts, like superyachts and mega yachts which require crew. If you enjoy captaining your boat and your friends and family enjoy being the crew, you may lose that aspect of yachting in some way.

The costs of Fractional yacht ownership

You pay your share at the beginning to purchase your portion of the yacht. 

There are no traditional yacht ownership expenses in fractional ownership programs like dockage, moorings, insurance, or boat maintenance costs. But depending on the program you go for, either you will have to pay a certain amount every year to the management company or it will be covered by the charter revenues or a mix of both.

As an example, for a 63-foot yacht with four cabins, some programs offer the cost of the eighth share in the Mediterranean around $180,000 with annual costs for maintenance, crew, insurance, and anchorage around $24,000. Owners will be able to use the boat 4 weeks a year. Another management company offers a California program from $300,000 to $735,000 plus operating costs for quarter shares of vessels ranging from 52 to 82 feet. At this price, the four owners will each be able to use the boat 72 days a year.

The main regions in the world for fractional yacht ownership

Fractional yacht ownership can be done everywhere. 

Popular destinations include Europe, in particular, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, especially the Bahamas.

Among the main regions in the US for fractional boat ownership, you have Miami and Fort Lauderdale, but also Cape Cod and Nantucket.

Some programs also offer Asian destinations mostly in Hong Kong, Thailand, and the rest of South-East Asia.

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Were you thinking about Fractional Yacht Ownership? Our professionals will be happy to help you in your endeavors.

Fractional yacht ownership means that you legally own a portion of a yacht, along with co-owners. Therefore you are entitled to use the yacht based on your ownership agreement and must share revenues and costs with other owners.

It depends on your desires and your personality. If you like changes, try out a different yacht model every year and change frequently of destination, then go for yacht chartering. If, on the contrary, you have a crush on a yacht, want to start owning it at a lower cost, and avoid the management requirements, fractional boat ownership is ideal. Unlike chartering, fractional ownership means you can invite as many guests as deemed safe and as long as you have proper safety equipment on board.

The costs include the purchase price of your ownership share and yearly exploitation and maintenance fees to pay to your management company.

Hard to tell. This depends on your availability if you have time or not to take care of your boat, and your budget. If you don’t want to worry about the management aspects and only have a small budget to invest, go for fractional ownership. If you want to have perfect freedom, use your boat anytime and wherever you want, go for full ownership.

Yes, you can. As long as the share belongs to you, you can sell it whenever you want as long as the agreement doesn’t stipulate anything against it. Be aware that the other owners can also do so.

The most popular regions for fractional ownership are the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. But also, the US and some Asian areas.

You can buy a fraction, or a share, of a yacht. You will be the co-owner, or the fractional owner of the yacht and its cost will be spread among all owners.

Yes, fractional ownership and yacht sharing or even co-ownership are all synonyms. You still become the co-owner of a yacht regardless of how you decide to call it.

A yacht sharing program allows you to co-own a yacht, so that you spread its maintenance cost among all owners. It is also known as fractional ownership or co-ownership programs.

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Are you eager to experience the joys of boating without the high costs of ownership? Look no further than fractional boat ownership–a revolutionary approach to sailing that allows you to get on the water without breaking the bank. From cost-savings and convenience to sustainability and safety, this article will provide an in-depth look at the benefits, drawbacks, and tips for joining a shared ownership program.

What is Fractional Boat Ownership?

Imagine the perfect getaway, hopping aboard a luxurious yacht with your closest friends and family. Fractional boat ownership is the answer, allowing several individuals or parties to share the cost of purchasing a magnificent vessel. Each co-owner can enjoy time spent on the deck, lounging in the sun and watching the sunset on the horizon. Not only will you have access to this amazing experience, but also an experienced management company that takes care of all the administrative aspects of shared ownership.

Benefits of Fractional Boat Ownership

1. affordability.

One of the major benefits of fractional ownership is that it dramatically decreases the cost associated with having a boat. Several owners will share the expenses related to buying, upkeep and storage, so each person gets to enjoy the boat at a much lower rate than if they were to buy one outright.

2. Access to Larger or Higher-quality Boats

Shared ownership makes it possible for people to own a piece of a larger, more expensive boat than they could afford by themselves. This allows the co-owners to access a luxurious vessel with higher-end features and better performance than what they’d be able to get on their own.

3. Reduced Maintenance Responsibilities

In a fractional boat ownership setup, the maintenance tasks are typically shared between all owners or done by a management company. This relieves boat owners from having to spend considerable time and effort on preserving their vessel’s condition—leaving them with plenty of time to have fun on the water.

4. Flexibility in Usage

Shared boat ownership provides more freedom than renting a vessel from a company, since it allows for personal scheduling that caters to each member’s needs and wants. Therefore, you do not have to be bound by the strict timetable which is usually required of rental businesses.

Drawbacks of Fractional Boat Ownership

1. limited availability.

The downside of owning a boat share is that the vessel may not be available when you want it. Each part-owner has an allocated period to use the boat, and during popular times of year, it might be difficult to get your preferred dates.

2. Potential Conflicts

Anytime you have multiple people owning something together, conflict has potential to arise. Disputes may focus around the amount of time spent on the boat, money needed for upkeep or repairs, or changes being made to the vessel. To prevent any miscommunication that could lead to disagreements, it is very important to create a well-defined agreement between co-owners.

3. Depreciating Asset

In the same way that a car or any other asset loses value over time, boats depreciate, too. Even if you go into a fractional ownership agreement, you still have to take this decrease in worth into account when estimating your share’s long-term value.

How to Join a Fractional Boat Ownership Program

1. investigate the options.

Start by exploring fractional boat ownership plans near you or in your desired boating spot. Carefully compare the services, management fees, and sorts of boats offered.

2. Analyze the Agreement

Before signing a contract for fractional ownership, make sure you understand all the details, including your rights to use the property, what duties you have, and how much it will cost. If needed, please consult with

3. Calculate Expenditures

Make sure to take into account all the initial and long-term expenses related to investing in a fractional boat ownership and that these figures fit with your financial plan and expectations.

4. Examine the Vessel

Before entering into a shared ownership agreement, it is important to take a close look at the boat to determine if it meets your standards in terms of quality, size, and other features.

Fractional boat ownership offers an exciting and economical alternative. With this innovative option, you can opt to share your nautical adventures with others while keeping costs low and avoiding the full weight of maintenance responsibilities. However, it’s essential to understand all aspects of shared ownership before investing – which is why researching and picking the right program is key. By carefully considering your options, you could be living out the dream of boating in no time without breaking your bank.

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Compass Articles

• February 17, 2024

Fractional Yacht Ownership: Everything You Need to Know

Thinking about getting into yachting but worried about the cost and hassle? There’s an option you might not have considered: fractional yacht ownership. This guide will explain what it is, how it works, and why it could be a great choice for you.

What is Fractional Yacht Ownership?

Fractional yacht ownership means you share the cost and access to a yacht with other people. Instead of buying a whole yacht by yourself (which can be pretty expensive and a lot to look after), you own a part of it. It’s like owning a slice of the pie. You get to enjoy the yacht for certain times of the year without dealing with all the headaches of full ownership.

• Saves Money : Sharing the costs means you spend less money but still get the luxury experience.
• Less Work for You : There’s a company that takes care of maintenance and everything else. You just show up and enjoy.
• More Options : You’re not stuck with one yacht or place. You can try different yachts and locations over time.

How Does It Work?

Fractional yacht ownership isn’t complicated. Here’s a quick rundown of how most people do it.

Choosing a Program

There are lots of different options out there, so you’ll want to find one that fits what you’re looking for in terms of yacht type, location, and how often you’d like to use it.

The Agreement

You and the other owners sign a contract that spells out everything important, like who gets the yacht when and who pays for what. This helps keep everyone on the same page.

Time to Sail

You book your time on the yacht based on the system the managing company sets up. It’s designed to be fair so everyone gets their turn without any fuss.

Why Consider Fractional Yacht Ownership?

Here are some of the big reasons people like fractional yacht ownership:

• It’s Affordable : You get the luxury yacht experience without the full cost.
• It’s Easy : The managing company handles the hard stuff. You enjoy the sail.
• You Have Choices : Try different yachts and visit different places without being tied down.
• Meet New People : You’ll be part of a community of yacht owners. Great for networking and making friends.

Is It Right for You?

If you love the idea of sailing on a yacht but don’t want to deal with all the expenses and hassle, fractional ownership could be perfect. It’s all about whether you want the perks of yacht life without the full commitment of owning one outright.

• Ideal for people who want to sail part-time.
• Great if you love trying new experiences and locations.

In the end, if getting onto the water in a hassle-free, cost-effective way sounds good to you, it might be worth looking into more. And if you’re looking for a trusted partner in your yacht ownership journey, Fly Yachts is here to help. We know the ins and outs of fractional ownership and can guide you through the process, making sure you find the right fit for your sailing dreams.

Fly Yachts offers everything for those interested in yachts, from buying and selling to planning a yacht trip. If you’re looking to buy a yacht, theirs  Yachts for Sale  page lists numerous luxury options. For custom yacht enthusiasts, the  Build a Yacht  page details how you can create your dream yacht. Sellers will find the  Sell Your Yacht  page helpful for navigating the sales process. For those dreaming of a yacht vacation, check out yacht rental choices on the  Yachts Charter  page and discover beautiful travel spots on the  Charter Destinations  page. Learn about Fly Yachts’ experience and services by visiting the  About Us  page. The  Compass Articles  page is great for reading up on yachting topics. Aviation fans might be interested in the luxury  Aircraft for Sale . For the latest yachting updates, swing by the  Gulfstream News  page. To get in touch or for more inquiries, the  Contact  page has all the details, or you can simply dive into their  Homepage  to see all that Fly Yachts has to offer.

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How shared ownership can get you more boating with less stress

• January 9, 2020

The sharing economy is booming, even on the water. Sam Fortescue looks at the new ways to own a boat

Sharing a boat with other like-minded owners may mean you could afford to sail a bigger yacht

Traditional boat ownership is broken and outdated. At least, that’s the bold message coming from a shrewd and hardy collection of entrepreneurs who say there is no longer any reason to simply buy a boat and keep it waiting in the marina for the occasional foray.

They are trying to drag boating into the modern digital economy with fractional ownership, sailing time-shares and peer-to-peer charter – all of which can reduce the cost of sailing dramatically. It’s a brave new world of apps, bundled services and sharing.

“I think this is part of a societal shift we are seeing in multiple industry sectors away from longer term asset ownership, and towards quicker consumption of experiences, or access to services,” says Matt Ovenden, founder of Borrow a Boat .

Families keen to get on the water no longer need to make the large one-off financial outlay to buy their own boat

It is a generational issue, agrees Todd Hess, managing director of Sail Time . “Millennials aren’t ready to own today, but they will pay to rent an experience. Our vision is that many will age and will become buyers.”

Fractional ownership

Fractional yacht ownership is not new, of course. As long as there have been watercraft, there have been part shares. But the manner in which you meet and deal with partners is changing.

The three founders of Boat Share Finder  reckoned that they could improve people’s chances of getting afloat by setting up a kind of online exchange, where boaters can offer part shares in existing syndicates and register to receive alerts on suitable new listings.

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“With people no longer having the money or time to warrant buying a boat for themselves, BSF gives the best of both worlds, allowing people to keep their costs down while still being able to spend time on the water and hopefully meet some likeminded friends along the way,” says co-founder Alex Waldron.

“We have over 400 boats currently listed on the website and that number is steadily growing with more boats being added each month. Over half are sailing boats.”

Typical costs are around £45,000 for a one-third share of a Najad 391 in the Solent or an Oceanis 50 in the Adriatic, but the site also lists commercial syndicates and time-shares.

Uniquely the service is run on a non-profit basis, with users simply asked to donate at least £50 to selected charities when they find a share. “An ever growing number of boats listed [are] in Europe and further afield,” adds Waldron.

Run as a charity, Boat Share Finder is relatively hands-off, leaving people to get on with sorting out the details and contracts by themselves.

But at the other end of the shared yacht ownership spectrum you can find a much more luxurious service that offers to take on many of the more onerous elements of boat ownership, including maintenance.

A shared ownership scheme could allow you to become a partner in a Lagoon 42 catamaran

Well-known Solent-based yacht broker Ancasta saw a gap in the market here, launching its own fractional ownership programme for new boats at the 2018 Southampton Boat Show . The Beneteau, Lagoon and McConaghy dealer had been mulling over the idea for some time in response to falling boat ownership.

“The shell for our programme was there, but we had to go out and do the research, getting feedback from those who have been part of similar schemes,” says sales manager Scarlett Sykes.

“There are fewer and fewer people getting into boating, all with similar reasoning such as lack of time, being unable to justify the cost of ownership, or charter boats being of a low standard.

“We want to give that group of people the ability to get on the water, owning a brand new boat, without the hassle of maintenance, where their costs are in proportion to their usage – we wanted to tick all the boxes.”

Photo: Nico Krauss/Hanse Yachts

Ancasta says that the programme has appealed to younger sailors, as it had expected. But it has also resonated with older sailors, too. “Retirees who want to avoid managing and maintaining their own boats would be a big chunk of our enquirers,” says Sykes.

Lichtenstein-based Smart Yacht is another example of a high-end service, but it has no brand affiliations and specialises in good quality second-hand boats.

Having headquarters in one of Europe’s most landlocked countries has not stopped the company from signing up more than 3,000 prospective yacht co-owners, for whom it acts as a kind of marine dating service.

It can be a slow process to get right, admits head of marketing Verena Brünings. “Due to high personal efforts in consulting our clients we cannot sell more than 15-20 shares (about five new yachts) per year.”

Matching up similar expectations in terms of yacht size, maintenance cost and so on takes time. Current offers on the sailing side include a Bavaria 44 Vision and an Oceanis 45 based in Italy, plus a First 45 in Croatia.

Co-owners book time online and can have as much or as little to do with each other as they want – they may not know each other at all, in fact. “Your anonymity can be provided upon request,” says Brünings.

The company also offers a €450 per year membership option which allows you to book days on owners’ yachts for a fraction of the market rate.

Yacht membership

The membership route to getting out on the water has proved hugely successful in its own right. Market leader Freedom Boat Club runs more than 2,000 boats across the US, while Sail Time has been at it for 18 years, and is now expanding into Europe.

The company sets out its stall on ownership immediately: “There are very few reasons for owning a boat in a traditional manner any more,” says Todd Hess.

The premise is a simple one, akin to short-term charter. Club members choose how much sailing they want to do, and pay a monthly fee accordingly. So-called Lite packages start at around $485 for a one-year-old Beneteau Oceanis 35.1.

Photo: Guido Cantini/seasee.com

This includes three uses per month, with a single ‘use’ running from 10am to 6pm or overnight – enough for a weekend per month. Other options run to seven and 15 ‘uses’ per month.

You book in advance using the Sail Time app on your phone, and higher-paying members can take a slot for free if it is still available within 36 hours of its start time. With bases across Spain, Italy, Australia and the US, its reach is fairly limited now, but new European locations are on the cards.

“There’s a lot of space for growth in Europe, and a lot of room for competition,” says Hess, although he sounds cautious about returning to the UK. “At this moment Brexit is a real factor in opening up locations in the UK.”

The model becomes really interesting for owner-members, whose boats are used by other members. They receive a good discount to list price on their new boat, and have all their berthing, insurance and maintenance costs covered. Average net earnings are around $15,000 per year for a 38-footer, plus they get guaranteed monthly usage.

A former Sail Time licensee in the UK now runs Flexisail along very similar lines, with 18 boats between Poole, the Solent and Woolverstone, near Ipswich.

Monthly membership plans start at £478 for 18 days per year on a weekday-only basis and work up to around £950 for 42 days afloat. It also organises a range of social events on and off the water, with training available.

With nine sailing boats from 32ft to 46ft LOA, Pure Latitude is another growing UK scheme, based on the Hamble. MD Ian Bartlett is planning to grow the fleet further after a surge in membership last year.

Having a little over 100 people means that “it’s very rare that there isn’t a sailing boat and a motorboat available on the pontoon,” according to Bartlett.

Monthly plans start at £200/month if you are putting yourself up to crew other boats, or £350/month if you want a boat exclusively. You earn points depending on your subscription rate, and those points can then be spent to secure time on board different boats.

At the basic £350/m rate, you could expect between eight and 12 days aboard per year. For £750/m, you could have up to 36 days aboard over the year.

“Sailboats in the mid-30 feet are the sweet spot,” says Bartlett. “We are about the quality of the boats and the locations that they’re in. We all know you can run an old Westerly on the river and row about in your tender for £3,000 per year.”

Pure Latitude has found that one of the key draws for members are its social events, which allow people to meet and sail together. It also offers a popular £650/month training membership, which includes bespoke one-on-one training days aboard, including the RYA Day Skipper practical.

Bartlett is keen to stress that membership is not just a question of paper qualifications – something for which he criticises the peer-to-peer model.

“When members join, we run a full-day interaction and assess their competence off that,” he says. “They could have been sailing for 40 years and not have a single piece of paper, or have just passed the Day Skipper the day before.”

Boat share and subscription services are attracting a younger generation of sailors

Boatbuilding behemoth Beneteau is also getting in on the act with the launch of its own Beneteau Boat Club . The company sees it as a way to get more people out on the water and build brand loyalty before they get to the stage of buying a boat themselves.

A growing network of dealer-serviced bases in France, Spain and Norway give members access to small sailing and motor boats.

Once you’ve chosen between a weekday or anytime subscription (€1,000/€1,500 per annum), there are no usage limits. Monthly charges run from €249 for a First 18, to €690 for a First 21 and an Oceanis 31.

“So far, the Beneteau Boat Club has attracted members who are younger than our average owners, mostly male,” says Beneteau’s director of communications Jean-Francois Pape.

“[They] want to enjoy boating without any hassle, and are more focused on experience than on ownership at the time when they join. One day, they want to go sailing, and the next they want to go fishing or wakeboarding on an outboard boat.”

App charter

Pulling all these strands together is the British start-up Borrow a Boat. Founder Matt Ovenden launched the company three years ago as a peer-to-peer charter company, but it has grown to include a boating club and an ownership arm.

Most of its business now comes from finding commercial charters for users, who can search and book via an app, or online.

Ovenden is convinced that his model reaches new sailors. “It is part of a societal shift we are seeing in multiple industry sectors away from longer term asset ownership, and towards quicker consumption of experiences, or access to services. This is reflected in the long-term trend away from boat ownership.”

He sees huge potential because the online model is reaching new customers. “British Marine’s Futures Project revealed that as many as one in three people want to go boating in the UK, but the industry is not currently getting close to that many people out on the water.”

Borrow a Boat’s club provides another way in to its online charter brokerage, which now lists more than 20,000 boats across 80 countries. Members pay a minimum monthly fee of £50, which they can then use to buy charter time at a discount of up to 15%.

It’s a sum that goes further than you’d think with, summer charter prices as low as £70 per day (for a First 21 in Croatia). “It’s for regular boaters who know they are going to go boating, and want to get the savings,” says Ovenden.

With charter alone worth £50 billion annually, there is plenty of scope for sales growth in this market. Boatsetter is probably the world’s largest and best known, but there are plenty of others including France’s Click&Boat .

Changing participation

Taken together, all these services add up to a much cheaper way of getting out on the water, and perhaps the results are starting to tell.

The latest research by British Marine shows that the number of 16- to 34-year-olds getting out on the water is at last starting to rise again. As commercial director Dean Smith says: “Boat sharing looks to make boating as accessible as possible to a new generation of boating fans.”

Figures published by British Marine show that although some 3.93m people took part in boating activities in 2018 – a figure only slightly lower than in 2017 – nearly half of those reported that canoeing was their main activity.

When it comes to yacht racing, a 40% nosedive in year-on-year participation has reduced the numbers taking part to just 92,000. Yacht cruising numbers have held up better at 370,000 last year, but that still represents a 17% decline on 2017.

Ownership has also declined slightly. Some 0.22% of the population owned a sailing yacht between 2016 and 2018, compared to a high of 0.26% ten years earlier. More than ever – around one in eight – are kept overseas.

“Over the past ten years there’s been an increase in small sailboat activities, while we’ve seen a small decline in sailing yacht activities,” says Dean Smith, commercial director at British Marine. “This reflects the growing desire for more accessible, flexible and affordable consumer options.”

Inside view

Mark Hammond was the first to sign up for Ancasta’s shared ownership scheme and is now one of three partners in a Beneteau Oceanis 41.1.

“I’ve been chartering for the last six years – mainly in the UK, but also in the Med. I wanted another programme with more ready access to a boat. The Ancasta scheme seemed to be the first of its particular type, and it ticked all the boxes for what I wanted to do: more regular sailing, but a stepping stone to full boat ownership in about three years’ time; knowing that all the costs were included in the management fee.”

On a three-partner basis, that fee amounts to £854 per month and covers maintenance, berthing and insurance. Just £34 of that is Ancasta’s fee. The £80,000 deposit and £1,966 monthly finance costs are also split three ways for a total monthly payment of just over £1,500. “It isn’t the cheapest option for having a boat. But if you weigh up the usage of that asset versus the cost of that asset, it works well.”

The spec of the boat was handled by Ancasta, as was the fit out – “down to the last teaspoon!” Hammond was also able to make a few personal choices in terms of equipment and sails.

He communicates with his partners via a Whatsapp group, although Ancasta’s online booking and damage reporting software means that contact can be more formalised. At present they take a ‘one week in three’ approach to divvying up time, but Hammond is hoping they can carve out some longer spells aboard and one-way trips to cruise more widely.

Photo: Nicholas Claris

Typical costs for four partners in a Beneteau Oceanis 41.1

Typical specification: £269,337.60 Deposit: £80,801.28 Deposit per partner: £20,200.32 Monthly contribution: £1,966.00 Monthly finance contribution per partner: £491.50

Berthing: £11,750.08 Insurance: £1,414.02 Winterisation ashore: £706.27 Annual engine service: £500.00 Annual boat checks & service: £1,416.00 Antifouling: £741.95 Anodes (mid-season & winter): £1,320.43 In-season monthly valet: £1,491.60 Out-of-season fortnightly washdown: £1,528.89 Hull polish: £733.99 Weekly checks: £3,432.00 Stowage solution: £1,500.00 Management fee: £1,200.00 Contingency: £3.00000

Total annual costs for boat: £30,735.23 Annual costs per partner: £7,683.81 Monthly costs per partner: £640.32

First published in the January 2020 edition of Yachting World.

Fractional Ownership of Luxurious Yachts

Own a luxurious private yacht, at a fraction of the cost, right-size your ownership.

If you only have time to enjoy your yacht part of the year, then why own it the whole year? Right-sizing your ownership to the portion you want to use dramatically reduces your purchase price, enables you to buy into a much bigger and more luxurious yacht, and eliminates wasted capital.

We have 1/4, 1/6 and 1/8th fractional ownership options available on magnificent yachts of varying sizes. You decide how much you want to own.

Only pay a down-payment

We offer financing of up to 80% of your share. Combine this with right-sized ownership and your purchase price could be as little as 2 ½ percent of the yacht’s value. Imagine the kind of yacht you suddenly can afford…

A ten million dollar yacht can be had for just a quarter million, and a million dollar yacht for just twenty-five thousand, while enjoying weeks on end at enchanting destinations.

Never pay anything else

Owning a yacht is expensive. Crew salaries, maintenance and mooring, insurance and repairs, it all adds up.

But yachts can be profitable too. By renting out your yacht—chartering as it’s called—you can generate a generous income. In fact, we make chartering your yacht so profitable it usually pays for all expenses, often even your loan payments. So other than your down-payment in most instances, you’ll never pay anything else to own your very own luxury yacht.

20% DOWN ON 1/8 OWNERSHIP = 2.5% OF THE YACHT'S VALUE AN $8M YACHT @ 2.5% = $200K A $1M YACHT @ 2.5% = $25K

In most instances your only expense is the down-payment all other expenses, including loan payments, are typically paid for by the charter revenue big yachts suddenly become very affordable, featured yachts.

Browse our selection of wow-worthy yachts in the most desirable destinations

MEDITERRANEAN IN SUMMER & CARIBBEAN IN WINTER

  2 shares left  , 2018 sunreef 60, 60ft | 4 staterooms | 3 crew.

Sunreef manufactures the most luxurious of sailing and motor catamarans, and this Sunreef 60 is no exception.

With four state rooms plus crew quarters for three, expect to set sail with the whole family in ultimate luxury. Your captain, chef and bosun are ready to welcome you onboard. 

$75,000 • 1/6 OWNERSHIP • INCLUDES 3 WKS ONBOARD PER YEAR

2016 leopard 58, 58ft | 4 staterooms | 2 crew.

Welcome aboard the tremendously spacious Leopard 58 sailing catamaran. She offers more living space than any other catamaran her size. Perfect for an extended adventure with friends and family.

$55,000 • 1/4 OWNERSHIP • INCLUDES 4 WKS ONBOARD PER YEAR

Sold - 2017 lagoon 620, 62ft | 4 staterooms | 2 crew.

This extravagant Lagoon 620 sailing catamaran has been fully optioned, plus custom additions such as underwater lighting and a tender lift.

Detailed with soft finishes throughout, she is one of a kind.

$55,000 • 1/6 OWNERSHIP • INCLUDES 3 WKS ONBOARD PER YEAR

Sold 2018 lagoon 560.

This very spacious Lagoon 560 sailing catamaran has been fully optioned, plus custom additions such as underwater lighting and a tender lift.

Finished in a beautiful dark wood, she oozes luxury.

$55,000 • 1/5 OWNERSHIP • INCLUDES 4 WKS ONBOARD PER YEAR

2024 sunreef 80, 80ft | 4 staterooms | 3 crew.

Sunreef manufactures the most luxurious of sailing and motor catamarans, and this Sunreef 80 is the most opulent yet.

With four state rooms including a massive master, plus crew quarters for three, expect to set sail with the whole family in ultimate luxury. Your captain, chef and bosun are ready to welcome you onboard.

$250,000 • 1/6 OWNERSHIP • INCLUDES 3 WKS ONBOARD PER YEAR

  sold  , 2019 sunreef 60, 60ft | 5 staterooms | 3 crew.

With five state rooms plus crew quarters for three, expect to set sail with the whole family in ultimate luxury. Your captain, chef and bosun are ready to welcome you onboard.

$85,000 • 1/6 OWNERSHIP • INCLUDES 3 WKS ONBOARD PER YEAR

You are buying a real asset. Your yacht gets titled to its own single-asset LLC, which you own, along with any other fractional owners. This means your investment is backed by a real asset, you can benefit from tax write-offs, and at the end of the management term when the yacht is sold, the proceeds are distributed to its owners.

We manage it

You own the yacht, not the headache. We take care of everything, from financing and insurance to crew training and trip planning. When you hear from us, it will be your concierge requesting your food and drink preferences to set the menu for your next trip.

Cheers to you, for buying a yacht the smart way.

Positively cash-flow positive

Owning the yacht without owning the expenses is only possible because of the income we generate on your behalf to pay for everything. Now…

Imagine you bought the whole yacht instead of a fraction, and yet you still only spend a few weeks a year on your private yacht. This opens up much more time to charter the yacht, making the revenue not only pay for all expenses, it becomes a cash-flowing asset.

Depending on the yacht, the cash-on-cash return can be as high as 70% annually.

Owners say it best

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How Does Fractional Yacht Ownership Work?

All of the fun, at a fraction of the price..

Being on the ocean in your very own luxury yacht is an enchanting feeling, one of freedom from daily stresses and an indulgence in your own desires. Much like other recreations, however, boating comes with its share of preparation, continuous upkeep, and unexpected expenses that can sometimes hinder your plans. Chartering a yacht allows you to enjoy the boating lifestyle without the responsibilities, but the vessel has probably been used by many other guests and can be difficult to book. With SeaNet’s yacht sharing program, you can have all of the benefits of yacht ownership without all of the extra hassles.

Fractional yacht ownership is where several people all purchase shares of a yacht that is fully-managed, serviced, and maintained by a professional company, and each owner gets a set number of weeks to enjoy the luxury vessel as they wish. Being a part of a fractional yacht ownership program gives you all of the benefits of owning a yacht, without the hassles and headaches that come with being responsible for the upkeep of a boat. Your shares of the yacht can even be transferred or sold once you have decided to move on to a different program.

The team at SeaNet are pioneers in developing yacht sharing programs that work and have proven time and again to successfully meet our yacht owners’ needs through our unique, tailored system. The brands we have chosen to offer to you are among the finest vessels in the industry and feature the latest trends in style, comfort, and technology. If you’re interested in learning more about a personalized fractional owner program that fits your budget and lifestyle, please use our contact page, fill out the form, and one of our expert sales professionals will be in touch shortly to discuss options.

While there are many advantages to sharing ownership of a luxury yacht, the cost savings is certainly the primary reason that most boaters opt into our program. Many yacht owners only get to use their boat 5-8 weeks out of the year, so why carry the ongoing expenses of maintaining it? Below are a few of the main benefits of sharing a yacht through a SeaNet program instead of owning it outright:

• The entire ownership is turnkey and stress-free. Your yacht is clean and ready to cruise when you show up. When you’re done, there is no additional work required. We handle everything. • Any routine maintenance or repairs are completely covered, relieving you of the hassles of upkeep on your vessel. • Your yacht is professionally maintained by our team who has decades of combined experience. • Yachts that get used more and generally in better shape. If your vessel sits for long periods of time, systems and equipment begin to fail more frequently. • You never have to worry about managing a captain or crew, all of this is done for you. • Our complete yacht management service even includes provisioning, so your boat is fully stocked when it’s time to depart with your guests. • Your share in the yacht can be easily sold or transferred when you’re ready to move on.

Relatively new in the industry, fractional yacht ownership is quickly becoming a popular choice among boaters who want to experience the luxury lifestyle, without the high upfront and ongoing costs associated with being the sole owner of a vessel.

So what kind of yacht can you expect to buy into through a fractional ownership program? “SeaNet only offers the very best quality brands such as Benetti , Sunseeker, Absolute , and Van Dutch,” says Michael Costa, CEO and Founder of SeaNet. “All of our available yachts emphasize enjoyment on the water and total comfort. Whether sunbathing in a tropical destination or enjoying the 360-degree views from the flybridge, you will truly experience the luxury yachting lifestyle.”

New to our fleet of managed yachts available to you as a fractional owner is this stunning 2022 Absolute 62 FLY located in Newport Beach, California.

The new 62 FLY by the Italian luxury builder, Absolute Yachts, offers an inviting combination of performance, handling, exterior social areas, and interior comfort. Whether you are entertaining important guests for a night out under the stars, or cruising for several nights on an on-water vacation, the 62 FLY delivers in all aspects. There are four cabins on board, including a tremendously spacious and well-lit master suite, that all offer total comfort and plenty of storage. Enjoy the luxury yachting experience with SeaNet’s professional management services at a fraction of the cost with our exclusive yacht sharing program.

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FRACTIONAL YACHT / SHARED CATAMARAN OWNERSHIP

Please notify me of the next available boat for the Fractional Yacht Ownership Program

Ownership Redefined For The Sharing Community: Sharing Is The New Owning!

Our current ideal of owning as much “stuff” as we can and of over consumption is being replaced with a new ideal of shared use and ownership. It gives people access to a lifestyle that they otherwise might not be able to afford, and it reduces waste. Imagine owning and sailing your own luxury catamaran for less than 20% of what conventional yacht ownership or bareboat charter would usually cost you! Not only does it save you money but it eliminates the waste of an asset sitting idle for months, collecting dust AND problems. 

That is exactly what this program is designed to do! Fractional or Shared Yacht Ownership gives you the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of yacht ownership for a fraction of the cost of conventional ownership or even charter! Shared yacht ownership is exactly what it sounds like—you buy a share or fraction of a yacht. It is not a timeshare where you only purchase the rights of usage for a certain amount of time and end up with nothing when the term expires. With shared ownership you legally own the fraction of the asset and hold the title to the yacht.

It holds the answer to hassle-free and financially smart boat ownership. It’s a simple concept— up to five co-owners can enjoy the benefits of owning a yacht while splitting the cost of the vessel and its management. It is the simplest way to realize your sailing dreams sooner than you otherwise could and with the least hassle. You can use the yacht as you like and your preferred holidays are always available for you.

Shared Catamaran Ownership is Appealing But…

People have been forming partnerships to co-own expensive assets for a long time, but until now they have had to figure out the logistics themselves. The benefits of shared ownership are very appealing, but it’s been too cumbersome for most to set up. Finding the right partners, setting up partnerships, and managing the logistics of owning a shared asset can be time consuming and difficult. We have created a program that makes the entire process easier and makes shared ownership available to everyone.

Fractional / Shared Yacht Ownership Structure

Number of owners.

Up to five owners each buys a share in a luxury yacht at a fraction of the cost. Unlike timeshare programs where you do not own the yacht and end up with nothing at the end, this program ensures that you have an equity stake in the yacht and hold title of the vessel. We limit the shares to only five owners per boat or less. That way all owners are guaranteed to get equal time. Because owners of fractional shares involve direct ownership, each user has greater control over how the boat is used and maintained and where it is located.

Duration Of The Program

Duration of the program is 7 years. The boat will be sold at the end of the program. Upon the sale of the asset, the owners recover a percentage of their initial cost and will be proportionally refunded from the net proceeds. The owner is free to sell their ownership interest at any time. Since fractional yachts are well maintained and serviced, the value of each owner’s share may not devalue as rapidly as an average yacht’s value.

Owner Weeks & Cost Per Share

Partners own 20% of the boat in an LLC, boat is financed, and chartered through a charter company based in the British Virgin Islands or Bahamas. Partners get to use it two weeks a year plus anytime it’s not booked within 30 days out for a total of 10-15 weeks for the duration of the program.  Each week retails for $12K which is waived. Partners only pay cleaning and insurance and variable weekly costs.

Fractional Yacht Owner Use

Owner use is shared equally between the owners according to the number of members. Owner access is allocated fairly to ensure that all owners can optimize the use of the yacht and that all the owners get quality time on the yacht to meet their needs or desires.

• Owner Use Reservations: Owners will reserve time on a reservation system on first come basis (Member A, Member B etc.) with limitations. Dates are decided upon via an equal reservation system well in advance. The first co-owner who signs up becomes “A” in the rotation, the second person “B,” and so on during the first year. The next year, the co-owner who was “A” and had first choice becomes “E”
• Owner Use Limitations: It is envisaged that the maximum continuous owner use will be two weeks per year per owner
• Owner Competency: A competency check will be done with each owner after which owners will operate the vessel as their private yacht. No captain or further supervision will be required once competency is established (training is available should the owner wish to improve skills). If owners wish to hire captains for their use, they may do so at their own cost.
• Reciprocal Use: The plan is to develop co-ownership bases in other locations that will create a reciprocal owner use option. Potential locations currently being investigated –Bahamas (Marsh Harbor), Puerto Rico, Annapolis, USVI (St Thomas). To start, the only location will be Fort Lauderdale, which has easy access to the Bahamas and the Florida Keys cruising grounds.

Operating Costs Are Covered By Charter Revenue

The annual operating costs such as insurance, dockage, annual haul out and scheduled maintenance will be offset by income from chartering the yacht. With traditional yacht ownership, the owner spends around 10 percent of the total value of the yacht annually but with our model based on seven years, one can save up to 90 percent of the cost of traditional yacht ownership. That is a huge advantage for the owners of a fractional yacht.

Fractional Yacht Models

The latest catamaran models from the world’s top manufacturers like Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Nautitech and Bali are available for these programs, fully equipped with air-conditioning, generator, full electronics, dingy, outboard and sun awnings. 

Fractional Yacht Management & Maintenance

The vessel will be professionally managed and maintained by a management company to ensure that you enjoy your use of the boat with minimum hassle – boats are maintained in turn key condition and ready for you to step aboard.

Fractional Yacht Shares Figures: Cost Of Yacht Share Ownership

We have made up a sample of cost per share using a 46ft catamaran plus full financials. Please contact us for more details.

Catamaran Guru Making Fractional Yacht Ownership Work!

Some of the early fractional yacht business models were guilty of taking advantage of the shareholders, and plenty have failed along the way. They would take a boat with a market price of say $2 million and divide it into 10 shares of $400,000, thereby doubling their investment by selling it for a total of $4 million. The Management / brokerage companies were trying to make a killing on one boat. It did not sit well with many potential buyers. Savvy boat owners might be willing to pay a small premium, but they’re not willing to get taken to the cleaners. 

Catamaran Guru’s innovative fractional shared yacht ownership programs provide you with a financially savvy solution to yacht ownership that is ideal for your active lifestyle. You can experience all the benefits of yacht ownership without the hassles of staffing, maintaining, or servicing your yacht.

Contact us for full details today!  OR Call: 804.815.5054

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9 thoughts on “FRACTIONAL YACHT / SHARED CATAMARAN OWNERSHIP”

Hi could you add my name for the next available round of fractional ownership.

Many thanks in advance

Matt we have you on the list!

Will do! It looks like we will have another Bali 4.6 available in the coming weeks.

We lost our Leopard catamaran in Hurricane Irma and have been looking to buy again.

We are interested in fractional ownership. Can you let me know if this is currently available?

Hi there My wife and I are in Australia We are just about to buy our second vessel We are trying to decide on buying into a syndicate of private owners for private use or whether to buy into a charter program in the Whitsundays and attach a business loan to it including our deposit Wondering if you guys may have something that would suit our needs Ideally We would be looking at a cat around 45 foot in length with preferably four cabins

Craig, my apologies for the late reply! Your comment got buried in the hundreds of comments we’ve received lately. We would be happy to have a chat with you and see what might work for you. We can chat online or by phone or alternately email us your questions and I will reply asap. [email protected]

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Enjoy Unforgettable Vacations With Fractional Yacht Ownership

Incredible adventures await with our yacht timeshare program, monocle's fractional program is reshaping the yachting world, affordable yacht ownership is a smart lifestyle investment, experience unparalleled value with monocle yachts, yachting is the ultimate luxury vacation – monocle’s fractional yacht ownership program is unparalleled.

Industry-Leader Monocle is Transforming the World of Yachting through Fractional Ownership. Making Yachting Highly Affordable & Saving Owners Millions.

Attention Cruise Ship Travelers:

Cruise the Mediterranean this summer on your own private yacht for less than a charter cost. Why risk your family’s health traveling with thousands of strangers when now is the perfect time to safely cruise on a private yacht at a fraction of the cost. Monocle Fractional Yachts invites you to a one-week trial cruise with your own private crew ensuring an amazing, relaxing and safe vacation. Don’t miss out, call us today! 954-563-5808

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Yacht Lifestyle

Your yachting vacation is not just about seeing new horizons, vistas, landscapes and seascapes. It is about witnessing glorious sunrises, magnificent sunsets and conversing happily over dinner under the stars with loved ones aboard your own private yacht. With no intrusions from the outside world, you and your family can reconnect enjoying fun filled days swimming, snorkeling and jet skiing in a secluded bay. You can explore beaches or immerse yourself in the local lifestyle creating a family vacation filled with unforgettable moments and a lifetime of loving memories. Monocle’s Fractional yacht program affords you the incredible opportunity to share precious private time with your family and friends in the most luxurious and enchanting settings.

Monocle is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; however, our program is global.  The most popular destinations for our fractional yacht program are the Bahamas, Caribbean, the Mediterranean & the American northeast in areas such as Maine, Cape Cod & Nantucket.

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Yacht Fractional Ownership

Acquiring a yacht is one of the most special investments one can make. Yachts unlock dreams made of holidays in exclusive creeks worldwide, distant from the hustle and bustle of crowded resorts and close to secluded and exclusive beaches and rivieras. Yachts are also a tool to signify one’s social position. Notwithstanding this, like any other investment, it requires careful planning to minimise inefficiencies and consequently reduce costs. Contrary to other assets, such as immovables, whose value increases with time, yachts tend to depreciate quickly and are subject to high maintenance costs. For this reason, yacht owners aim to mitigate this financial burden. To mitigate such risks and offset, even partially, the investment made, owners tend to opt for mixed-use of the yacht by chartering her to third parties. Although this is a possible solution, there are also some negative aspects connected with yacht chartering:

• Impossibility of using her during peak season
• Use of yacht by third parties who might not treat her as their own to the detriment of her value
• Yachts would generally need to be stationed in the same part of the world to minimise relocation costs
• Engagement of third-party advisors and fiscal representatives to assist with VAT and other related tax compliance matters
• Increase in insurance costs related to the commercial use of yachts
• Increase maintenance and refit costs to ensure the yacht could be registered as commercial and be compliant with the commercial yacht code

Chartering, however, is not the only option to recover costs related to acquiring the yacht. In fact, over the last few years, fractional ownership has proven to be a valid alternative to chartering.

How does fractional ownership work?

Yacht fractional owners own a share or portion of a yacht jointly with other persons who can use the same depending on the terms and conditions of the ownership agreement between all parties. Contrary to a time-sharing arrangement, which grants a right of use only for a limited period, fractional ownership gives a title of ownership (although in common with other persons) and a return of price in case of sale to third parties.  Fractional owners could either acquire a share in the yacht directly or indirectly through the setting up, together with other persons, of a company that will be the yacht’s registered owner. The latter option could provide direct and indirect tax efficiencies if adequately structured. Fractional ownership allows owners to use the yacht for a maximum period, which generally varies between 3 and 6 weeks. Fractional owners are also entitled to charter or sub-lease the yacht to third parties during the period assigned to them or sell their share should they not be interested in the continued enjoyment of the asset. Maltese law also allows the possibility of setting up shipping cell companies where the patrimony of each cell is separate and distinct from other cells, thus giving the shareholder an additional layer of protection and flexibility in structuring their ownership as the fractional right would be assigned to the cell.

Who should opt for fractional ownership?

People who know from the outset they will only be using the yacht for a few weeks a year and want to avoid dealing with third-party operators such brokers, marina agents, seafarers, and tax advisors would do well to consider opting for a  fractional ownership arrangement. These functions would be delegated to a yacht manager by paying a yacht management fee. Such a manager would be in charge of dealing with third parties concerning all of the above matters.

Fractional ownership is a formal arrangement meant to regulate the fractional use of yachts amongst more people by giving certainty on the rules to be adopted and avoided or at least reducing conflicts with service providers and between the fractional owners.

How is the amount of time used decided?

This depends on and is usually proportionate to, the investment made in the yacht.

What are the benefits of fractional ownership?

• Financial: one significantly saves the total purchase price by acquiring a portion of the yacht.
• Saving Time: time spent coordinating the yacht’s management, maintenance, crew employment-related matters, berthing, insurance, and fiscal issues, amongst others.
• It is easier to dispose of the interest in the asset.
• Possibility to change yachts should the fractional owner not be interested in that model. Some fractional ownership organisations even maintain fleets based in different geographical locations.

What are the disadvantages of fractional ownership?

• Sharing the yacht with other people, the impossibility to personalise the yacht and choose particular crew members.
• Use of the yacht is possible during specific periods only and restricted to particular geographical locations. Suppose the yacht is always based in the Mediterranean. In that case, a user cannot decide unilaterally to move her to the Caribbean to return to the Med region again unless most owners (based on a contract of use) choose otherwise.
• The yacht might be unavailable during certain parts of the year if already booked by other fractional owners or under maintenance.

What are the VAT implications, if any, for fractional ownership?

Regarding the EU VAT legislation, supplies of goods or of services made by a taxable person acting as such in return for consideration within the territory of a Member State are subject to VAT unless specifically exempted. As such, transactions that cumulatively meet these conditions are said to fall within the scope of EU VAT, whilst transactions that fail to meet any of the requirements are classified as falling outside the scope of EU VAT, which is to be disregarded for VAT purposes. A transaction deemed to fall within the scope of VAT has then to be methodically analysed to determine its correct VAT treatment, most significant, where it is to be taxed, whether an exemption applies and if not, who would be the person liable to pay the VAT to the tax authority. It is in the background of these concepts, that the numerous transactions contained in fractional ownership, from ownership to management, need to be assessed to establish the appropriate VAT treatment and resulting implications.

As a point of departure, ownership, per se, even if partial and undivided, does not render the owner a taxable person for VAT purposes unless he carries out an economic activity. In the fractional ownership set-up, the owners would not be carrying out an economic activity since each would be using the asset (the yacht) privately. Selling a fractional share would likewise fall outside the scope of EU VAT since the seller (the fractional owner) is not a taxable person for VAT purposes in that he is not in the business of selling or trading in shares in yacht ownership, that is, not carrying out an economic activity. The yacht’s purchase, management fees, operational and maintenance services necessary for the functionality and upkeep of the yacht all appear to be supplies of services subject to VAT. As a rule, the VAT incurred by the management company will be deductible to the extent that it is attributable to its taxable supplies, namely the management fees and recharges claimed from the owners in proportion to their fractional share. The owners, however, have no right of deduction, and the VAT incurred should constitute an irrecoverable cost. Given that in the fractional ownership model, expenses are shared; the VAT cost would thus be less burdensome when compared to full ownership of a yacht.

How do you understand if fractional ownership is the right solution for you?

Fractional owners need to understand if they want the yacht exclusively for themselves or not and whether they are willing to share it with strangers and be able to use it only for specific parts of the year.

On the other hand, all those aspects concerning her maintenance would be delegated to third parties, thus rendering matters easier for the end user. Lastly, fractional ownership would permit the benefit of a yacht at a reduced price, and if one uses a yacht for a few weeks a year, savings would be much higher than the ones made under a charter option.

Charles Vella

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Sailtime - fractional yacht ownership

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No Weekends I am neither a Sailtime owner or a franchise operator, but I can report one negative item, from an article starting on page 32 of the January 2006 issue of Practical Sailor. The Sailtime program is based on a person purchasing a new Hunter 33 or 36, and having seven other persons purchase what is in effect a time-share. On page 33, the article describes how Sailtime divides up each day: there are two time slots - 10:30am to 6:00pm and 6:00pm to 10:30am the next day. Each member gets seven time slots per month, with a maximum of two of the seven periods usable on weekends. The boat owner gets the same amount of time as the seven members. And members can borrow time from an adjacent month, meaning that it is possible to sign out the boat for a full week, every other month. However, enjoying the boat for a full weekend appears to be ruled out. There is another such program, called Windpath, that utilizes primarily Catalina 350s and other Catalina boats. They have franchises in Annapolis, Sag Harbor, NY, San Francisco, Cape Cod, and Stamford, CT (where the company is based).  

Hopefully someone from Sailtime can chime in here. Im here in NYC. Given the brevity of our sailing season I wonder if paying $500-$600 a month year round for a boat that probably has to be out of the water from Oct 15-May 15 (at least that is what my insurance stipulates) makes alot of sense. So thats 5 months times 7 segments a month = 35 segments a year. So at $10k that is $285 a segment or $342 a segment.So thats between $570-$684 per 24 hour period. Seems like alot but perhaps its worth the premium if, say, you just want to daysail and you can do it about twice a week and have none of the uncertain expenses of ownership.  

Sailtime? NOT FOR ME !!! I actually have been a member (not owner member) of Sailtime Tampa Bay last year. At the beginning I thought it is really a cool program; working for me as a busy (working) individual. I did everything they asked (especially financially) and started to enjoy my time on the boat. The only problem was, the difference between the glossy brochures with the big promises of the sailtime people, and the hard facts of reality. The attitude of the base manager was : He is not a businessman caring and catering for his clients, but rather a referee who is trying to manage things between everybody involved and who has the only and absolute power. B.t.w.this is not my assesment but a quote of his own statement!!! Example:On one occation I set up an appointment to get the introduction for the new boat I wanted to transfer to (mandentory 4 hour event) before I left for a 2 week businesstrip to Europe, that was actually scheduled around his strict time demands! When I returned from this trip, I just got a notification by email, that he is cancelling the appointment, postponing to a not specified date. Instead of contacting me through my office and politly asking to re-schedule, he had choosen this way. If you think, not a big deal: I was already taken off the list of the boat I was on before and without having the orientation I couldn't sign any timeslots on the "new" boat .... and they are filling up fast! His reasoning for the re-scheduling was not any emergency or any unforeseen issues ... the weather was bad the week before and he would rather do something else !!!!!!!! On other occasions I had to call him on a Sunday morning, when I came to the boat and something with the electronic sign on didn' t work.A member is not allowed to take the boat with out signing in, and paper sign-in sheets have not been on the boat.... It was a very unpleasant experience, listening to his attitude because I called him over the weekend .... Before that experience I was under the impression, he understood, that managing a Sailtime base means every weekend is "high season". I never bothered him again on a weekend! Sailtime also states, the boat will be detailed every month or so. During the 6 month I was member, the boat was detailed just once ....and you could hear him complaining about the cost( must have been the first time he had this done).They expect much more than just hosing down the boat and tidy up the cabin. He actually had explained, to use about 30 to 40 sheets of papertowel to wash all hatches and windows inside and out, rub down all the stainless steel parts, lifelines etc. Doing it his way would take more than an hour, at least. I don't have a problem to wash down the boat after using but he went a little bit overboard with his demands, most likely to stretch the time between professional cleanings to a maximum (avoiding of cost!) If you sent him a check for your monthly dues, he charges a hefty "processing" fee. The only way he want the payments is by electronic billpay online. Most of the time I was singlehanding and I explained this clearly ( and with witnesses on my side) before I joined. Of course they didn't see any problems with that .... Sign here on the dotted line and write a check for a couple thousend of dollars ..... I never had any problems singlehanding the boat nor did I harm or damage the boat in any way. The Sailtime instructor was very pleased with my boathandling and didn't have any complains or concerns ... During the time of changing to the other boat (that was outfitted with an Autopilot) and with the problem of his re-scheduling without even asking, the base manager started really to "not liking" me. All the sudden he created a new rule : NO SINGLEHANDING WITH SAILTIME. Of course this was geared directly towards me and he pressured me into finally quitting the program. Do you think I got any of my prepaid fees and security payments back? Of course not. I tried to contact SAILTIMES headquater in Texas and it took them more than 6 month to finally respond to me requests. According to them, the local base manager has a lot of freedom and there would be nothing they could ( or want????) do .... I my humble opinion SAILTIME doesn't care too much about their members. They want to build up a company as big as possible and they are using the paying members (and owner-members) to do so. They can't or won't give guidence to the local base managers if there are problems and they even keep all the money, if a client is really disappointed because of a base manager who is on a powertrip.There is no fairness or middleground! I think, the idea of fractional ownership, if managed right, could be a big winner for everybody involved, if the people creating the system would have the right mindset and GREED would not be the only beacon on their chart. There are other companies out there, offering similar programs and perhaps they are better than SAILTIME. I actually spoke with the people of PINNACLE who are now also in Florida, and they seem to have a different approach and understanding. I didn't like their way of pre-scheduling, so I passed. After all this trouble and spending much more than $6000 for a couple month of "Sailtime" I bought my own boat and enjoy it almost every weekend. This 30 foot Hunter will do for now, and the big one (~40' Cat) is planned for my early retirement in 3 to 5 years. Until than I am contemplating right now to buy also a used 40' catamaran and to put it into charter. Who knows, with somebody else on the helm at SAILTIME I mostly likely would have become an owner-member with them, but, oh I forgot, no singlehanding!!!! LOL Just my very own and personal $0.02 Volkhard  

SailTime - A great experience for me I am not an owner-member but I have been a member of SailTime Annapolis for nearly two years. The program works very well for me: access to a new, well equipped sailboat for minimal financial commitment. As a counter-point to the prior comment I find that I have ample time to schedule the boat... in fact if I had more time available to me I would likely be unable to use it due to other commitments. Also, in contrast to the prior comment, Todd and Paula, the base owners of SailTime Annapolis are very responsive and hands-on. I have seen that the boats are detailed and the bottoms cleaned on a regular basis. I have considered pulling the trigger on becoming an owner-member but I don't think it is the right fit for me right now. That being the case, I think it is a great deal for someone who wants to buy a Hunter right now. No slip fees, no maintenance costs, no insurance payment and even a small stipend greater than your monthly mortgage payment is not a bad way to get into a sailboat. I think it is important to feel comfortable with the people you are doing business with and I can confidently say that if I were planning to buy a Hunter right now I would be very comfortable working with Todd and Paula at SailTime Annapolis. Peter  

Very Happy Members in SailTime EDIT NOTE: THIS POST WOULD NORMALLY BE DELETED AS ADVERTISING BUT IN LIGHT OF VOLHARD'S COMMENTS ABOVE I AM ALLOWING IT TO REMAIN IN FAIRNESS TO ALL....CAM Dear All, This is a message from SailTime Tampa Bay. We will let our members do the talking for us. Please see the following testimonials. To see more testimonials for SailTime Tampa Bay please go to www.sailtampabay.com for a flash presentation. ____________________________ What our Members Have to Say Read for yourself what our members have to say. The following testimonials are a reminder of how fun sailing can be once you take away the maintainance, up keep, and worry of an owned sailboat. Our members just turn up and sail. They leave the chores to us! ________________________ ATTN: Over 7 years ago we moved to the Tampa-St Petersburg area. One of the exciting things about our anticipated move was in most of my 55 years, I wanted to "learn how to sail". After a few years (learning to sail out at the Tampa Sailing Squadron in Apollo Beach) I just had to own my own sailboat. We bought a wonderful 1973 Ericson '29 & berthed her at the Harborage Marina. The highlights were great sailing ventures all over Tampa Bay & beyond...the less than exciting moments was when my beautiful wife refused to set foot on the boat again until I put in a new head (of which I did after 8 hours of grimy, dirty (yes cuts & scraps) where I had to do the job myself... This was just part of thousands of dollars in upkeep & upgrades EVERY YEAR... I had heard that a sailboat was a hole in the water that you throw $20 bills in...that's a lie...they are $100 bills. I added up the thrill of sailboat ownership (slip fees, utilities, insurance & the biggest number-upkeep) I said enough is enough, I'll just "put her on the market" & get what I paid for her & call it a day. It only took a little over 1 1/2 years that she finally sold (way below my original asking price & a lot of grief)... Then I found Sailtime... Let's start with the basics, we pay LESS now for SailTime's sailboat than my original slip fee & insurance for a 31 year old sailboat... period. No maintaince, no fuel, no insurance, no upkeep, no upgrading & no grief...just keep her clean & sail. Did I mention we now sail a beautiful 2004 36' Hunter where EVERYTHING WORKS. It's so easy today to go online, point, click & sail. We sail more today than when we owned our own sailboat. We greatly appreciate the way the SailTime Tampa Bay Team have handled our Sailtime experience. We love walking onto a very clean, brand new boat which we treat her as our own. We have already signed up to go through the American Sailing Association's certification classes at great rates thru SailTime. In our opinion, there is absolutely NO comparison between SailTime & our "owning our own" experience. Thanks,Ben _______________________ When I married my husband, he owned a 30' Hunter Sailboat. It was his refuge. Not being much of a boater myself, I decided it was best to learn to love it, or it could become 'the other woman' in our relationship. The biggest hurdle to loving it was the work I discovered that was involved in owning a boat. I am not against work, mind you. Just, for so much leisure, there should not be so much work! But work we did, as any and all boat owners know. Scrubbing, repairing, scrubbing, repairing. Oh, and then there was scrubbing and repairing. The best part of it was that we live in Orlando and the boat was in Cocoa Beach, so, we would travel for an hour and a half so that we could scrub and repair and scrub and repair. There was sailing done, but a lot of scrubbing and repairing. Then, the hurricanes of 2004 came. Yes, it took more than one hurricane to claim our Hunter, but claim the boat, they did. But that, as they say, is another story. My husband was at a loss. He had done all the right things to protect her and yet she was gone. He said he did not want another boat. He claimed that they were too much work (Duh) and that he was over it. He would save himself the hassle and heartache, the money on slip fees, insurance, boat payments, repairs and all the rest that equaled boat ownership and be happier for it. Right. A year later, he was still saying the same things but his words were hollow. Everyone knew he needed to own a sailboat. Everyone knew he needed to go sailing. (Lord, Please, Send Him Sailing!) That is when I saw an ad for a company called Sail Time. It addressed every issue he complained about owning a boat. Slip fees, Maintenance, Insurance, Lease Payments (did I mention Maintenance?) all that he was concerned about! I researched the company online and asked around and then showed him the ad. He had a few immediate questions that I was able to answer and then I showed him the website. He said he'd think about it. That is where it ended. A friend had told me when I was asking around that my husband may not be interested because he could not accept the idea that someone else was on his boat. But I took a shot. I guess our friend was right because he did not mention Sail Time to me again. Fast forward three months. We received a post card from Hunter announcing a boat show in St. Petersburg. I convinced my husband to go look at the big boats just for fun. Reluctantly, he agreed and we went on the weekend and walked the docks and toured the boats. He got that gleam in his eye that he used to have when he spoke of his boat. I was excited for him. I knew he missed it. When we had finished touring one of the big boats we were walking down the pier and there was a kiosk for Sail Time. It was Providence! My husband spoke with them at length. They were the most personable, professional, courteous and considerate business people I could have hoped for. They answered every question we had. They were straightforward and even gave me a generic copy of the member and the owner-member contracts to take with me and have reviewed before we fully committed! To sum up, Sail Time is everything and more than what their advertisements claim. We purchased our 36 foot Hunter through Sail Time Tampa and received it February 2006. What is truly amazing is they have made my husband happy to be a boat owner again! And, may I say on a personal level, they have made me happy not to be scrubbing and repairing, scrubbing and repairing, scrubbing and repairing. Thanks Sail Time. I know it's corny, but your motto is really true; "Sail Time, when all you want to do is Sail" ________________ We want to let you know how much we enjoy the SAILTIME program and your management of the program and the sailboats: Delos, Andros, Syros... Gary and I joined SAILTIME because we had been power boaters for over 30 years but thought we would enjoy sailing and hope to do some extended cruising in the future. We wanted to learn how to operate a sailboat as well as determine if sailing was something we would enjoy doing for months at a time. We had been struggling with how to accomplish our goals for over a year. Purchasing a sailboat without knowing whether or not we would enjoy sailing is a very expensive proposition and we already own two powerboats. We didn't need a third boat! We received a postcard in the mail about SAILTIME and this program looked like it was our answer! We've been members and have been sailing Delos and Andros for almost two years now. We love it! Scheduling the sailboats on the internet has been very easy. We also appreciate the way you always keep the boats in top condition and are adding new features. You work to take care of issues as quickly as possible without impacting anyone's sailing schedule. The day we docked Delos with a dead battery, you met us and immediately ran off to purchase a new battery so the person sailing during the next time slot was not delayed. After owning several boats, we really appreciate the convenience of having someone else deal with the maintenance issues quickly when they come up. Most of all, we like the sailing. It is so convenient and easy to jump on Andros and take friends out for a short, fun day-sail. Taking the boat for overnight anchoring at nearby gunk holes, or just staying on the boat at the dock has been even more fun. We really enjoy our sailing times and look forward to many more on Andros. The SAILTIME program is perfect for us! Thanks again for all your hard work, enthusiasm and support!!! Janet and Gary _____________________ Just a quick note to thank you and SailTime for an excellent alternative to boat ownership. As you may remember, when we signed up for SailTime it was in lieu of buying a used Hunter 37. The way I had it figured, the initiation fee and deposit were about the cost of hauling the 37 and getting a professional survey completed. The cost of docking and insurance would have been more than our monthly fee through Sailtime. While I wanted my own boat, I was not sure how much my wife would enjoy using a sailboat so Sailtime seemed a logical "toe in the water" first step. Still, I wanted my own boat, I recall asking you if we could keep some personal effects on the boat. When you asked me what I wanted on the boat, I listed; mask & flippers, binoculars, and a grill... all the items you already had aboard. It sounds weird, but that cinched it! We enjoy using Delos, especially on Friday night! After a good meal in town, we would board her, do a quick check on, open a bottle of wine and then retire to her air conditioned cabin. A great nights sleep, some terrific deep water sailing the next morning and then back to the dock. I thought we would mind cleaning her at the end of our sail, but we would do that on our own boat anyway and the satisfaction of leaving a clean boat actually makes the experience more like owning. Jeff  

Hi Jay, I am SailTime base owner at the Channel Islands Harbor in Ventura California. The online scheduler does let you reserve an entire weekend. If that is the way you want to use your time you can do that every other month. For cruisers, they can reserve an entire week 4x per year. This in addition to picking up "free" time inside 24 hours on unreserved time and crewing with other members. I'm sorry to hear of the troubles the gent had in Florida, but please understand every base is run by an independent operator and folks should not base an opinion of the entire organization on one operation. We find that bases pretty much match the personalities of the base manager. We as well do not allow singlehanded sailing. Our waters are quite challenging here as well as the fact that coming and going from slips can be problematic with no one to fend or tie off, etc. Fractional sailing membership and ownership is not for everybody. But for those who it does fit, the program provides a great way to sail a quality new yacht for one flat rate.  

I was a Saitime in NJ member. Like all programs there is good and bad. If you don't want the hassles of boat ownership it is a good program. Actually a great program. However, there are bad base managers. I have spoken to George, Sailtime president and CEO of Sailtime about the Bad base owners. He is working on it. He knows who they are. Call him. He will tell you which ones they are. The ones that are run well, it is a great program. If you can sail especially during the week and weekend nights you can have unlimited sailing experiences above what you are allotted with the 24 hour rule. Trust me on this one. I think I hold the record on this. The good.. Great boats especially for single handling.. Easy to sail and manage. Great boats to have guest on. The scheduler is great. Easy to use. Unlimited 24 hour rule when no one uses it. Only Sailtime has this rule I believe. The Bad. Boats broke and not getting fix in a timely manner. Boats never clean. This was a pet pee of mine. George admitted to me that most base owners don't wash and wax the boat according the contract. Scheduling during the weekend when you want it. Members who don't know how to sail or manage this size boat and break the boat all the time. With this, all said and done. for what you get it is a great program. I know the Calif base is a good base. The NJ base is OK.. Miami base is good. I am next to a Sailtime boat now. It is never being used. Charleston base is to be watch for.  

Reply to Melissa Renee Melissa, Please give me a call to clarify this conversation as I have no recollection of discussing or "admitting" that most base owners have issues. If anything there may have been some discussion of a particular case that you may have been involved in as that is how I may have addressed your question. Frankly I do not recall the conversation. I have never mentioned to any of our members, that are of the utmost value to us here at SailTime, that we have base owners that are "Bad base owners". They all provide a valuable service to the marine industry and have a significant hand in helping to provide and create what you aptly call "a great program". There are sporadic cases where a boat has a maintenance issue here and there and in most cases these issues are in some state of maintenance or repair. Lastly, I am the Founder and not the Pres/CEO at this time. Thanks for the comments and I look forward to speaking soon!...or again perhaps?  

Geobone...I am going to let your post stand since it is a reply to Melrna's post even though it reads like an advertisment. Though you have been up front about your connection, the rules here require you to list your name and commercial affiliation in your signature. You may participate fully in the forums and answer questions from members about your company's services but self promotion or starting threads about Sailtime is not permitted. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.  

This note from an earlier Sailnet moderator still stands, and is not limited to Geobone.  

Thinking about Sailtime After reading much about Sailtime, I like what I've read. But also, it seems there are some horror stories out there, and they are mainly focused around the local base station and it's owner. We live in Raleigh, NC, so we're looking into the Sailtime branch in Southport, NC. Any feedback? I've spoken with him recently and sounds to be a really nice guy and my impression is that he would be good to work with.  

There is also the freedom boat club. 5k to join then 129/month. They supposedly offer unlimited usage of the boats. They seem mostly geared toward power boats with fewer sailboats available at most locations, but this could be an advantage if no one is booking the sailboats. Freedom Boat Club - 56 Boat Clubs Nationwide - FreedomBoatClub.com  

While I can only speak to pre-sales, and not to using the program (as it was a little rich for my blood, and I'm currently happy crewing on other peoples boats, and occasionally renting something small for daysails) I did spend some time going back and forth with Chris from the Channel Islands, California office, and he was professional, courteous, and informative, even after it became apparent that I wasn't in their target audience. I'm not sure how relevant this may be to actually dealing with them as a client, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. -- James  

"Fractional leasing" is perhaps a more accurate description of Sailtime (and their competitors) than "fractional ownership".  

fractional sailing I like to think - fractional sailing - is a verb not a noun. its a doing thing not an owning thing. The program is not for everyone but i think it solves the challenges many sailors face. Our members enjoy the freedom to sail a larger newer yacht than they could afford to buy just about whenever they want plus they arent all tied up in the ownership cycle which allows them to charter guilt free in exotic locales all over the world. So, at my base at least, I find two types of people join. Short timers - those looking to gain experience and knowledge before making the leap into ownership Long timers - those whom the program fits perfectly. Not into ownership. More into the experience than the accumulation of things and desirous of saving $ from not owning so that one can travel and sail all around the world.  

I run an online based sailing club and we charter a boat or two for a weekend every month. I looked at Sailtime, read through the info, met the UK MD and pumped all the numbers into excel. My findings were that if you are retired or are able to sail during the week then you could get value. If you however you are limited to weekend trips which we are then chartering or buying is much cheaper and more flexible. The other thing that turned me off was not being able to go cross channel without a yachtmaster on board. We've looked at purchasing a boat and renting it back to the club but until we have the finances to pay a deposit that's pretty pointless. I've focussed on building good relationships with the charter companies. Any other ideas welcomed.  

i didnt become a fractional owner but i used sailtime NYC to take out the hunter 33 a few times. it was a good experience, while not cheap ~$100/hr minimum i have no other liabilities. if you arent going to use it a lot why not just show up, pay a few dollars and when the sail is done you have no more responsibilities?  

SAilTime is not a bareboat charter company [edit] Commercial post, not permitted per user agreement.  

To John - moderator: Appreciate not selling on the site, just not sure how to explain Fractional membership to the general public. Obviously, most folks don't understand how the program works. Any thoughts are appreciated. Dave Wilbar, Manager SailTime Sailing Center Virginia Beach  

I would encourage you to take out an advertisement here at Sailnet. By doing so, you can reach a diverse audience of sailors and effectively promote your business. Being a paid advertiser also gives you more latitude in the forums to link to your business and respond to questions about fractional ownership without getting dinged for free self-promotion in violation of the forum policies. So, for instance, in this case where you came by and revived an old thread, there would not have been a problem if you were a paid advertiser.  

I thought Sailtime went out of business a few years ago, or at least in the Annapolis hub.  

Not at all. Just the owners of that particular base. They have at least 4 boats there, and are an ASA school. Over 40 bases worldwide.  

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Seattle Yachts Now Offers Sailtime Seattle Fractional Ownership

Seattle Yachts is excited to announce a new relationship with the most reputable boat membership company in the country!

SailTime fractional boating is the boat club of the future. You pay a flat rate fee for as much or as little time out on the water as you like on your boat. You can also get access to boats across the country and around the world. At SailTime, your boat is ready when you are.

SailTime Seattle provides access to the lifestyle that you and your family will love. Our fractional sailing program is the financially intelligent way to experience more of what the yachting life has to offer. Leave the hard work of boat maintenance to us, and we’ll leave the enjoyment of sailing to you. There is so much that goes into SailTime that I could go on and on but for your sake, I will stick to the basics!

For this program, you have two choices – to be a member or member/owner.

It’s this simple: You pay an annual membership fee, reserve your time online and then head to the boat to sail with your crew. When you’re finished for the day you button her up for the next member, step off, and walk away planning your next trip.   As a Member you can enjoy day, night or weekend trips via regular access to the boat you join at a regional base of your choice — in this case, Seattle! Our on-line scheduling and management tools make skippering new yachts both practical and cost effective. No slip fees and insurance costs or maintenance to do on the boat. We take care of all of that for you. Plus you have a choice of two levels of membership to choose from depending on how often you want to go boating; plus there’s an option just to get on board as crew to help sail the boat.

OWNER/MEMBERSHIP

You can enjoy ownership of a new, fully optimized sail or power boat and get paid for the pleasure. At the same time, we’ll even take care of it for you! With our yacht ownership program you can buy your Elan, Nimbus or Beneteau without all the intimidating costs and hassles.   With a worldwide fleet of over 150 boats maintained within the Owner-Member Program, you can be rest assured that the program works, providing peace of mind that your boat will be well cared for. No other membership or charter ownership plan lets you own and use your boat like this!   As a boat owner you’ll have guaranteed regular access to your boat using SailTime’s online scheduling system. The system gives you the opportunity to design your own boating calendar; to make instant reservations for current openings or to plan an outing a year in advance. Your boat will be kept in a convenient local marina so you can go boating on the weekends, during the week, overnight, for the day or just for a few hours. Whenever you like!

SailTime is not just for sailors, but also for those pursuing their dreams of cruising aboard a power boat! As official dealers for Elan and Nimbus, we are happy to offer vessels from both lines for the program! Due to their partnership with SailTime, we are able to order Beneteau Oceanis models for the program as well.

We currently have one Elan sailboat and two Nimbus power boats in stock that are well suited for SailTime! All three are “turnkey” cruisers equipped with everything needed to enjoy safe, carefree boating in the Pacific Northwest at a moment’s notice.

Wanting a different model than what we have in stock? No problem! Select models from each line are available to order BRAND NEW at any time!

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Spring kick-off open house at seattle yachts annapolis, hiring a yacht captain, seattle boat show 2024, two nimbus boats open house events coming to california, extend your weekends with the nimbus boats w11, insuring your boating dream, seattle yacht sales.

• Boat Dealers Seattle
• Boats For Sale Jupiter Fl
• Shilshole Yacht Sales
• Used Yachts For Sale
• California Yacht Sales Harbor Island
• Boats For Sale Anacortes Wa
• Fort Lauderdale Yacht Brokers

New Boats & Yachts

• American Tug Boats For Sale
• Paragon 25 Boat
• New Regency Yachts
• Nimbus Models
• Whitehaven Catamaran
• Alaska Boat Brokers
• Boats North West

Used Boats & Yachts

• Ocean Alexander Yachts
• Marlow Boats
• Nordhavn Yachts
• Grand Banks Yachts For Sale
• Fleming Boats For Sale

OFFICE LOCATIONS

Pacific northwest.

Shilshole Marina

7001 Seaview Ave NW, Suite 150 Seattle, WA 98117

ANACORTES - SALES

Cap Sante Marina

1019 Q Avenue, Suite A&B

Anacortes, WA 98221

ANACORTES - SERVICE

Marine Parts / Service Center

2915 W Avenue

Sun Harbor Marina

5060 N Harbor Dr, Suite 155 San Diego, CA 92106

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Marina Village Yacht Harbor

1070 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 109 Alameda, CA 94501

MARINA DEL REY, CA

Marina del Rey

13900 Marquesas Way, Suite 6002 Marina del Rey, CA 90292

FORT LAUDERDALE

Fort Lauderdale

1535 SE 17th St, Suite #103B Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Safe Harbour Old Port Cove

116 Lakeshore Dr. North Palm Beach, FL. 33408

Annapolis Harbor

7350 Edgewood Road Annapolis, MD 21403

SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL

Virtual Brokerage Office

International

Philippines.