Article by JFA Yacht & Ship Consultant Mark Outlaw
Happy New Year! How have your New Year resolutions held up? I am still working on mine. It always feels good to have a fresh clean slate where we see nothing but potential ahead. As you dream of what this year will hold for you professionally and personally, don’t forget about the fun and adventures that make life that much sweeter. You are already dreaming about being on the water. So now that you are planning your travels this year, here are a few things to think about.
If You are in the Market for a Boat or Ready to Move on to a Different Yacht:
Pick Your Dream
What type of trips do you envision yourself taking on the water? JFA always wants to make sure we get our clients into the correct boat. For example, do you want to sail around the world? Or perhaps your dream is to have a mobile paradise for your family and friends that you can place in locations at just the right time of year. Dream of fishing offshore? Or maybe you always thought it’d be amazing to race from point A to point B on the weekends. All these experiences require very different types of boats.
Time Available
How often do you plan on being on the water? Will you live aboard or have trips that last 3 days, or maybe 10 days? If you work remotely, your schedule will be more flexible, and your locations will depend on either satellite connection (Starlink has been very much in the news of late) or access to Wi-Fi ashore via cell tower or public access. The length of your planned journey may require either a faster boat or a shorter trip. What we know is working from home can easily convert to your “home” on the water.
Financial Commitment
How committed do you want to financially be to a boat? Do you want to keep it for private use only? Have the boat meet you in your preferred destination? Or maybe you want to dock it behind your home ashore or place it for Charter it to mitigate the cost of ownership. Choosing your best financial scenario will help narrow down the type of boat that will be the right fit for you.
Once we have these items outlined, myself or one of the other JFA brokers will be ready to shop on your behalf to find the right fit to assist in making your dreams a reality in 2023!
If You Want to Try the Dream on For Size, Charter:
Private charters are turnkey ways to experience what interests you. Get familiar with different opportunities yachting has to offer and try some different trips!
Select a trip that fits your schedule best like The Mediterranean in the Summer, the Caribbean in the Winter, or equatorials almost anytime. And it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t give a shout out to one of our own. JFA’s broker Jim Query has a fantastic business running charters in the Virgin Islands. Click here to see what trips he has coming up.
Day charter options can give you the option to whale watch or try fishing. Fishing day charters are typically a four-guest limit. The location and seasonality/time of year for the fishing charters are based on the type of species you’ll be fishing for (ex: Marlin, Dolphin etc.). That doesn’t mean that you cannot ask for fishing as a key element to your Super Yacht Charter experience. Most larger yachts have a chase boat that is fully capable of a great offshore fishing experience, with the added benefit of luxury accommodations and an excellent chef at the end of a long day of fishing.
Chase Boat that was recently purchased for the Ionian Princess.
Lastly, think about an expedition charter if you have longer availability. You’ll explore awe inspiring destinations and make some fantastic memories.
Shangri-La found rather than lost will be the reward for the hard work while planning. That work made much easier if you use a broker, like one of us at JFA!
Mark Outlaw is a founding member of the JFA Yacht & Ship Team, serves as CIO, and continues to enjoy working with his clients as a veteran yacht consultant. Looking for an expert yacht consultant who is an innovative expert who value’s integrity, superior service, and authentic relationships? Contact Mark Outlaw today at 561-319-7004 or at mark@jfayacht.com
The 46m Ionian Princess motor yacht recently sold by JFA Yacht & Ship
