St. Thomas Boat Rentals - Bare Boat or Captained?

When looking at boats to rent for a trip around the US or British Virgin Islands, there are two very distinct ways to go. One is to rent a “bare boat,” which means you will be the captain and take full legal and financial responsibility for the boat. The other is a “captained” boat, where the charter or rental company supplies you with an experienced captain. Obviously, you will pay a little more for a captain, but if you really look at everything you get for that fee, it is worth a lot more than you pay.

In a Bare Boat situation, you are usually plunking down a semi large deposit of around $500, in case you bang up the boat. The reason is because a lot of the bare boat rentals come back banged up!

Even if you are an experienced captain in your home town, you aren’t going to be as familiar with the waters around the USVI and BVI as a captain who is navigating them everyday. Do you really know where all the rocks and high reefs are? There is a reason the Caribbean has so many shipwrecks...not all the dangers are clearly marked there, and can change depending upon the weather and the high or low tide. For example, there is a rock formation in front of the entrance to Cruz Bay on St John. It’s pretty large and noticeable. What is not noticeable is the long stretch of reef those rocks are connected to, that lie just beneath the surface. With a high tide, a boat can cut between the rocks and shore with no problem. In a low tide, however, the reef is just inches under the surface. A short while ago a hapless captain tried to cut through that passage, only to leave a couple of outdrives (and his dignity) on the reef.

Other concerns include permits, customs and other rules and regulations. The island of St. John is mostly National Park Service land. You must have a permit to use the park land mooring balls - do you know which moorings you can use and which ones are for commercial use only? Dropping anchor is illegal in many of the areas as well...do you know which ones?

If you want to go to the British Virgin Islands, there are customs offices you must go to. Should you use the one at Soper’s Hole on Tortola, or the one by Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke? At the end of the day, do you know what time you need to check back in at St. John to clear U.S. customs? Do you know how to fill out all the paperwork properly, so you are not spending the entire day in the customs office?

It can get very complicated, and...weren’t you supposed to be on vacation? It is far better for you to get a captain who knows and deals with the above listed items and many more, while you sit back and enjoy the views, and your friends or family. If you want to snorkel, where are you going to put the boat? A lot of places have drop off points were the captain can drop off your party close to the snorkeling area, and pick you up when you are finished. During high season the mooring balls may all be taken. If you are the captain...you will have to stay with the boat while everyone else gets to play in the water.

Also, most local captains have great stories to tell about the history of the islands...who knows, some of them may even be true!

A captain’s fee can be anywhere from $125-$175 plus tip. This is a small fee in the scope of the cost of your trip and for what you really get out of it. Opt for a captain and really enjoy the fabulous beaches, beach bars and undersea world of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.