Month: July 2014

Whenever we talk about going on board a yacht or heading out to sea, we always assess if it is safe to do so. And here are some reasons why safety on board a yacht is so important!

This is a little something for both boat owners and future renters: Boat safety should always be a number 1 priority!! Whether you are going to charter a yacht, or buy a yacht, this is always the most important factor. Being on a boat can be quite dangerous, especially considering how quickly a good weather can turn into a bad one. Heavy rain, big waves, a strong current, crazy wind…all of these can add up to a disaster at sea, and today we will be sharing with you why Safety on board a Yacht is so important!

Here are a few essentials regarding safety on board a yacht that everyone should follow:

Don’t ever go out on a boat charter by yourself without informing your friends/family/authorities of your plans. Let them know where you plan on going, and when you plan on coming back. This way, if anything goes wrong, they will know where to start when they look for you.

Make sure that your radio on board is working! Your cellphone will not do the trick during an emergency, especially if it gets wet!

Follow the ‘maximum capacity’ rules of a boat! Don’t overcrowd the boat, as it will be very unsafe during a disaster. There is a reason boats have a maximum capacity!!!

Life jackets should always be on board the yacht, and everyone should know where they are and how to get to them. They should be in a very accessible place for everyone. It’s a good idea to have a safety briefing at the beginning of every trip so that everyone knows where to go and what to do in the event of an emergency.

-While on the topic of life jackets, a small child in a life-jacket is very different from an adult in a life-jacket. Parents, this is for you:

** A life-jacket can save your child’s life. Drowning is quick, silent, and often hard to notice, especially in an emergency!**

When it comes to your children, you can never be too safe.

Ever wandered if there are unspoken yachting etiquette? Here is our guide on Etiquette on a Yacht Charter.

Are you thinking about chartering a yacht for the first time? Many people are unsure of how to plan for a charter, and how to behave once they step onto the yacht, but don’t worry! We’ve compiled another great list of tips to help you obtain the best experience possible by follow these Etiquette on a Yacht Charter!

Tips and tricks on Etiquette on a Yacht Charter:

1. Think clearly and carefully about what you want before the charter.

– Not all yacht charters are the same, which is why people love them so much! Each charter is as customized as it can be to suit every customer’s needs, so it is very important that you are clear about your own needs. Communicate with the captain or yacht charter company regarding your needs for your trip: food preferences, where you want to anchor, how long your trip is and etc. This is important for the company, the crew, and the captain so that they can make your charter as special as possible!

2. Get to know your Captain!

– Fact: Your captain knows much more about the yacht than you do. Your Captain is a seasoned professional with immense knowledge about the area you are visiting and the spots you want to see. The Captain is a great resource for you to learn everything you can about the yachting life, and since he is the Boss on board the ship, he’s a great guy to have on your side.

3. Be respectful of everyone on board

– One of the best things about chartering a yacht is the fact that you don’t really need to do anything more when you get on board. This is because the crew is doing everything for you! The crew are a hardworking bunch, and they are doing everything they can to make your trip as enjoyable and safe as it can possibly be. Always be respectful and grateful to them for all their hard work!!

4. Try your hardest to Go With the Flow

– Yacht chartering is not an exact science, and sometimes things that are out of our control can affect your itinerary. Weather conditions, beaches being too crowded, and food options changing are just a few of the things that can affect your journey. If the captain suggests something, listen to him because he knows what he’s talking about!

5. Obey all the Rules

– Every captain has rules on board their yacht, and it is always in your best interest to follow these rules. Being on a yacht has a certain element of danger on it (being on the water and all), and these rules are put in place to keep you and your guests safe. Even if the rules are as simple as “no shoes in the cabins” every rule is there for a reason and must be followed!

6. Your kids are your responsibility, not the crews’!

– If you bring your kids on board, just remember that it is not the job of the crew or the captain to look after them. Everyone has their role to play, and the crew is often extremely busy, so they cannot spend the entire cruise watching your kids!

7. Relax, relax and relax

– You’ve booked your charter, now its time to enjoy it!! Your Captain and crew are there to look out for your needs, your charter company has planned everything for you….all you need to do is have a great time!!

Whenever we go on board a yacht, we are always enthralled by the beauty of its exterior designs and interior features, but what about the bottom of your yacht?

Attention all yacht owners! Although you might not always see the bottom of your yacht, it’s definitely something you need to keep your mind on at all times. The salt and marine growth can really deteriorate the paint on a boat, and its important to have a clean hull at all times in order for your boat to be safe, fast, and efficient!

For people who aren’t well versed with boat paints, this task might seem a bit overwhelming. Especially since there are so many factors that go into bottom paints, such as soil and water pollution protection measures, application techniques, and environmental regulations.

Here are some information that we have obtained from GetMyBoat as a reference to help you familiarize yourself better regarding bottom paints.

A regular regiment of hull washing and inspection after every use is the short-cut way to avoid costly and tedious bottom painting efforts. Even with attentive maintenance, the hull will eventually need repainting. Keep an eye out for paint that is cracked, excessively faded, or peeling.

Sloughing or ablative bottom coatings contain biocides that kill marine organisms, like barnacles and algae and are formulated to “ablate,” or gradually wear off, exposing a fresh layer of biocide. Ablative anti-fouling paint will not lose its effectiveness even if the boat is stored out of the water.

A range of other biocide compounds and materials are available in modern bottom paints. Their application depends on the type of hull and whether the boat is used in salt, brackish or fresh water, how frequently the boat is underway, where it is stored, and to a certain extent, the region of the country where the boat is used.

To prepare for a bottom painting project, determining the type of paint on the hull may take some detective work, especially if the boat was bought used. If the hull paint is unknown but a new coat is needed, applying a tie-coat primer prepares the unknown surface and allows a new coat of any anti-fouling paint to be applied.

Especially if the hull is of fiberglass construction, you can prepare the hull for painting by blasting with environmentally-friendly materials like walnut shells, baking soda, glass beads,or corncobs.
You should always closely follow the manufacturers’ instructions and safety precautions when applying new paint and removing paint already on the boat.

Use plastic sheets under the boat to collect paint chips, sanding residue and drips and of course, don’t forget to dispose the waste material responsibly.

Optimal painting conditions are at temperatures between 50-80 degrees and when relative humidity is below 65%.

Safety, Tip & Tricks

• Wear protective clothing, especially for the eyes and hands, and a mask to protect your lungs.
• Painting with a zinc or a copper biocide is best for aluminum hulls or stern-drives.
• Modified epoxy paint is the best for boats that are used infrequently because it contains good anti-fouling properties, especially when the boat is inactive.
• For boats in the water year-round, a high copper-content modified epoxy paint that prevents growth by leaching biocides upon contact with water will be the best. This type of paint releases the biocide at a decreasing rate, leaving the hard coating of the original thickness.

Can’t find the reason as to why charter a yacht? Here are the TOP 3 reasons to tell you why chartering a yacht out to sea is the best experience ever!

When most people think of yachts, several terms come to their mind: luxury, fun, ocean, maintenance, and most importantly, EXPENSIVE. However, nowadays, thanks to companies like The Epicurean State, yacht charters have become way more accessible, making it much easier for people to enjoy a luxurious day on the waters, without all of the expenses and hassles of owning a yacht.

Here are our top three reasons as to why charter a yacht!

 – Yachts are Expensive –

There are tons and tons of expenses that come along with owning a yacht. First and foremost, buying a yacht will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Obviously, yachts are not cheap (and a cheap yacht is a dangerous yacht!) and of course, the up-front payment is no joke. After this, the expenses do not stop. There is constant maintenance, petrol, crew and storage. The list goes on and on, and the cycle continues.

When you rent a yacht, you only pay for the trips you go on – so no up-front costs, no maintenance costs, no storage….you get the picture.

 -There are so many different yachts for the different occasions –

As mentioned in the previous post, different occasions call for different boats. After investing so much money and time into buying a yacht, it stands to reason that you should use that one yacht as often as possible.

Renting a yacht means you can choose a different one for any occasion! The possibilies and options are endless, and if you do more than one trip, you get a totally different experience each time!

 -Going yachting takes a lot of planning and organizing-

Whenever you plan a trip on your yacht, there are several factors that go into the planning: making sure the weather is fine, plan an itinerary, check that the yacht has been maintained properly and has petrol, plan for food, find a crew or captain (if you’re not licensed), and this is to just to name a few.

In Conclusion,

if you are planning to rent a yacht, companies like The Epicurean State do all of this for you! All you need to do is select the dates, the yacht, and the destination, and we can come up with an itinerary and sort out all the other problems for you! It’s a worry free and totally simple way to get yourself on a yacht and enjoy for the day.

Always finding yourself envious of your friends when they travel to exotic places for vacation? Want to be like them but don’t where to start from? Here is our bucket-list of TOP dream yacht charter destinations!

If you could charter a yacht to anywhere in the world, where would it be? We can’t help but daydream about the most beautiful places in the world to travel to in a yacht, and we’d like to share our daydreams with you!

Here is a list (from Sailing Europe) of the Top Ten Yacht Charter Destinations in the World:

Greece
These islands, as a sailing destination, offer rugged beauty and thousands of years of history. The Cyclades consist of 23 large islands and 200 smaller islands. The most famous among them are Mykonos and Santorini with their white washed houses and windmills.

Croatia
One of the Mediterranean’s hidden gems, Croatia, with more than 1000 islands, is in fact a sailor’s paradise. It’s southern coasts are especially interesting as it features the ancient Greek port of Trogir or the beautiful city of Split. The Dalmatian Coast boasts the barren and isolated Kornati archipelago and other islands with centuries of history, such as Korcula, Hvar or Brac, with the ‘Golden Horn’ beach that many consider to be the most beautiful place in the whole country. For those who prefer the peace and quiet, there are plenty of other beaches without anything that might spoil the view such as hidden coves and rocky platforms.

Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Sailors are attracted to this part of Mediterranean by some of the most famous beaches in the world, secluded anchorages and quiet fishing villages. There are more than ten beaches in Palermo that are easily reachable by boat. Island hopping is also a popular activity, as is exploring Palermo.

French Riviera
The French Riviera manages to combine both the unspoiled islands, rugged inlets and fine beaches with the large cosmopolitan resorts of Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo. However, the French Riviera has a completely different other side to the coastline entirely down at the islands of Port Cros and Porquerolles where people go to as a form of escape from their everyday lives. Port Cros resembles a French Caribbean port with it’s relaxing atmosphere and palm trees. You can also head to Corsica after embarking on the Riviera, or head off into Italy along the Ligurian coast to Portofino.

Turkey
Turkey is located in the south-east of Europe and the south-west of Asia. This is a popular sailing destination that can be divided into seven geographic regions: Thrace and the borderlands of the Sea of Marmara; the Aegean and Mediterranean region; the Black Sea region; Western Anatolia; the Central Anatolian Plateau; the Eastern highlands; and South-Eastern Anatolia. Throughout its history, Turkey has been a crossroads of religions, and as such, it is often described as an open air museum so if you are not sailing, there is plenty to do and see in that place. Turkey has over 8,300 kilometers of coastline along the four seas with a multitude of coves, inlets, bays and beaches as well as a large number of marinas.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Tortola, as a yacht charter destination, comes as no surprise due to its white powdery sandy beaches, sheltered yacht harbor filled with lush green mountains. The astonishing beauty of Tortola is further enhanced by coral reefs, flood caves and stone formations. Tortola is also a perfect sailing destination due to the protecting effect of the surrounding islands which in turn results in calm seas.

Canary Islands
The Canaries have been a popular tourist destination ever since Columbus arrived here before setting sail to discover the New World. The sailing industry has boomed quickly and there is this ever increasing number of yachts either based in the islands or just visiting the marinas. This archipelago is an autonomous region of Spain. It is also divided into two provinces of Gran Canaria with the islands Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura; and Tenerife consisting of the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. The Canary Islands have lovely, sheltered marinas and boast excellent beaches.

Cuba 

The fascinating island of Cuba boasts natural beauties and rich historic and cultural background. It has a unique atmosphere that comes from the combination of it’s colonial past and it’s Amerindian and African roots. The island is surrounded by multiple islets spread across the coral reefs, white sandy beaches and deserted creeks. Cuba is everything a sailor could wish for due to its favorable climate, steady winds, natural beauty and hospitable locals. The whole coast and off-lying islands are fully accessible except for the prohibited area in the vicinity of the infamous “Bay of Pigs”, or Playa Girón.

Phuket, Thailand

This is considered to be the best sailing destination in Southeast Asia due to its extensive coastline, lush islands and beautiful rock formations. The islands of Thailand may each offer a unique beach but they share the pristine waters and tranquility. Phuket is perfect for sailing enthusiasts who want to escape the busy life and enjoy Phuket’s exotic fauna and flora, hidden coves and bays.

Mahe, Seychelles
The gorgeous tropical scenery with calm waters make Seychelles a fantastic yacht charter destination. Since Mahe is surrounded by other islands, its beaches are relatively calm and safe. Mahe is also a mountainous island with a central ridge featuring several peaks approaching 3000 feet high.

In Conclusion,

While these destinations may seem to be a little bit out of reach for us, we do currently have a promotion for a yacht charter in Phuket, which you can contact us to find out more about!

Alternatively, Singapore may not be on this list, but we do have our very own islands called the Southern Islands which are exceptionally beautiful and are definitely worth a visit! To learn more about the Southern Islands, you may visit:

www.traveltourismdirectory.com

Interested in having some family bonding time on board a yacht out at sea? Or perhaps you want to host your corporate events on board a luxury yacht? Here’s a guide to show you how to choose what kind of yacht to charter out to sea!

This is the most basic question every first time yacht charterer should ask him/herself. There are so many different types of yachts out there, and its important to know which kind of yacht best suits your needs. This guide will show you how to choose what kind of yacht to charter out to sea!

The first and most important question you should ask yourself is this: “What purpose are you renting this yacht for?” There are quite a few occasions for yacht rental: fun and parties, corporate events, sailing, fishing/diving, family time (just to name a few). Once you decide on the purpose of the yacht charter, you can decide on what kind of yacht to charter!

Fun/Parties/Family Time

This would probably be the most common reason for people who rent a yacht. They want to have fun, they want to spend time with their friends and family, and they want to enjoy the beautiful scenery that the ocean has to offer. This category would definitely be suitable for the largest range of yachts, from single hulled, catamarans, and trimarans. The essentials that they will need are: space, cooking facilities, outdoor areas, comfort level, and bathrooms. These larger yachts will usually be very accommodating of children as well, though it is always important to check regarding the features of each specific yacht.

Speedboats

For the more adventurous group, speedboats are a great option for exploring and having fun. Though smaller and less comfortable than their larger counterparts, they do still generally have bathrooms and seats, and their small size and speed ensures a wild ride for everyone on board.

Fishing Boats

Fishing boats are usually fitted with a platform or a trough in their design, giving you space to cast out and reel in your fish. While usually not the most glamorous of boats, they can still be quite spacious and fun to enjoy in with the right crowd.

Corporate Events

Corporate events tend to be include groups larger than average family get-together, so a larger vessel would be the safest option. A lot of space is important here (you don’t want to be crammed inside a stuffy room with your boss all night!), so are the kitchen or catering facilities, and this is to ensure that everyone gets fed right. Many yachts also have projectors, dance-floors, and karaoke system features installed, making it more convenient for presentations and embarrassing Monday morning stories.

In Conclusion,

whatever the reason for renting a yacht, you can be assured that its going to be an amazing time on board. Here at The Epicurean State we have an incredible fleet to choose from, and you’re sure to find a yacht that suits your needs! It will be our pleasure to advise you on what kind of yacht to charter!

Have a yacht that you don’t use often? Want to earn some extra cash as well? Here is a guide for yacht owners who are interested in renting out your yacht!

Being a boat owner certainly has its own obvious perks, and renting out your yacht is definitely one of them! It is a great way to make sure that your yacht doesn’t spend too much time berthed or parked on land (especially if you don’t take it out very often), and it is also a great source of side income!

Important things to remember before renting out your yacht to the first person who responds to your ad:

1. Make sure you have the right insurance

Before putting out the advertisements for your yacht rental, you need to find out if chartering your yacht is covered under your boat owner’s and/or private boat property insurance policies. This depends on your insurance carrier. If your current insurance policy does not cover accepting payments for use of your yacht, you can purchase additional boat owner’s insurance from other providers. This is extremely important!

2. Check that your boat is seaworthy.

If you use your boat quite regularly, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you have been keeping your yacht in storage, and perhaps 5 years later, decided to earn some money by renting it out, you might want to check that it will still function properly while in the water. Send it in for maintenance, keep all records on hand, and make sure that it is clean!

3. Know who your renters are

Because most transactions are done through the Internet these days, it is vital to know who you are renting your boat to. A deposit is a good way to protect yourself. Meeting with the renter will definitely be the best option.

4. Rental Agreements

Make sure that your rental agreements cover all of the important facets of the transaction. This is to protect both yourself and your potential customers.

In Conclusion,

of course renting out a yacht can be a scary notion for a person, especially for a first timer, but yacht charter companies make this process smooth and easy! Here at The Epicurean State, we partner with many yacht owners who trusts us to take care of these transactions for them! If you’re interested in renting out your yacht but don’t know where to start, send us an email at info@theepicureanstate.com and we’ll help you get started right away!