Motor yacht charter types range from luxury crewed motor yachts to bareboat. The most recommended are larger models with at least one crew member. Motor yachts are very powerful and often difficult to control and navigate, so they demand an experienced skipper who knows how to handle the yacht and has a knowledge of the sailing area.
If you choose a crewed motor yacht charter, there is usually a separate crew cabin. However, if there is no crew cabin, when choosing a motor yacht charter, you need to reserve berths for a skipper.
How to Choose a Suitable Charter Motor Yacht?
Choosing a motor yacht charter requires a deep analysis of personal requirements, as well as a broad understanding of your budget and the current charter boat offer. Before even considering any option, do some research, especially if you are new to the power yachts industry.
You should look into the different types of charter motor yachts, the reputation of the charter company you want to do business with, and destination you want to sail to. You also need to consider your budget.
Types of Motor Yacht Charter
Bareboat motor yacht charters require a deposit and a certification that you have enough knowledge to handle such boat. These motor yachts are ideal for those that have the necessary experience and who want to get away into the blue for a day.
Motor yachts are usually chartered along with a skipper. Skippered charter motor yacht is perfect for someone who does not have enough experience in handling such boats, or in case you would like to enjoy your time on the yacht and do not concern yourself with steering a yacht.
Crewed charter motor yachts have a professional crew on board that takes care of the maintenance, sailing, cooking, cleaning and navigation. The crew members are normally experts in the region where you are cruising. Charter luxury motor yacht crew members are highly trained, professional and experienced in their areas of responsibility aboard the yacht. Crews are normally hired and committed to one yacht, which they run and take care of it. Their job is to make your days aboard the yacht enjoyable and carefree. Considering the fact that a crewed charter motor yacht has its own crew who looks after it, it is no wonder that crewed charter yachts are generally in excellent condition. The best charter motor yacht crews know the secret of how to provide their guests with great service, privacy and make their sailing holidays as enjoyable as possible.
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Space and Design of a Motor Yacht
When choosing your charter luxury motor yacht, you have to consider the number of cabins. If you are going on a longer cruise, you need to make sure that everyone in your party has enough comfort and privacy, so you will need a charter motor yacht with enough berths for everyone to be able to sleep in. If you have hired a crewed motor yacht, note that they need to have their own cabins. However, you will still have to make provisions for them as well.
Another thing you must take note of when choosing a charter motor yacht is the yacht's design. There is an owner's version which usually combines two cabins into one large stateroom, or a holiday version which holds as many cabins as possible - the usual charter version. Yet another important thing to consider is the number of heads and showers. The standing height or head room below deck is also very important when choosing a charter motor yacht. If you or anyone of your crew is taller than 1.85 m, then you should choose a motor yacht that has a standing room of at least 1.90 m (6'3").
What are the Types of Motor Yachts?
There are three types of motor yachts: hardtop yachts, flybridge and open top type.
Hard Top Yachts
A hardtop motor yacht for charter provides great protection in rough weather and minimizes exposure to the sun since its cockpit is protected by the hardtop. Side screens can be fitted as well. A fixed hardtop consists of side windows and tempered glass ceilings with electrical sliding roof. A sliding roof can be extended to shade the cockpit, or retracted to allow more light. Usually, the central part of a hardtop can be retracted.
Flybridge Yachts
A flybridge is a platform located above the main bridge and is usually equipped with all navigation controls. It provides great visibility and panoramic views. It can be divided into more levels, each with a different function. The highest level is an open-air pilothouse and a leisure area.
Open Top Yachts
Open top motor yachts for charter have become very popular recently. Their design includes a new kind of hull in order to reduce resistance when moving through the water. The whole cockpit is open with awnings as a protection. However, this makes open top yachts ideal for summer months since they combine enough space for berths under the deck and perfect open area for helmsman and other guests in the cockpit.
Motor Yacht Size
There are different models and sizes of luxury motor yachts. Most common sizes of motor yachts in the yacht charter industry are between 30 and 70 feet. Larger yachts, of course, provide more space on board, but also more luxury, additional water toys and similar amenities. Smaller yachts can give you access to smaller and more sheltered bays or smaller towns with more privacy.
Most Popular Motor Yacht Brands
Sunseeker Yachts
Sunseeker Yachts is a luxury motor yacht designer and manufacturer which creates yachts from 37 feet to over a hundred feet. Sunseeker yachts feature hull designs that originate from the power racing world. Sunseeker has also now built a true superyacht of 37 m (135 feet) called The Snapper which is available for charter, and has launched the 40-meter motor yacht series. The range includes Sunseeker Yachts (88-131 feet yachts with long-distance cruising ability), flybridge line named Manhattan, and Sunseeker Performance (Predator and Portofino performance motor yachts and sports cruisers). It is interesting to know that Sunseeker yachts are featured in all the James Bond films since 1999.
Benetti
Benetti is an Italian motor yacht manufacturer. You will charter a Benetti motor yacht if you want top luxury and comfort since Benetti is famous for their classy and elegant yachts. Benetti is almost synonymous with the classic look of super yachts. Their yachts are built from composite materials that range in size from 100 to 145 feet, while steel/aluminum yachts range from 164 to 229 feet.
Azimut
Among popular charter motor yacht brands is Azimut, a leading Italian power boat company, part of the Benetti Group. Azimut builds motor boats ranging from 39 feet to well over a hundred feet. There are several collections of Azimut yachts: extensive Flybridge line (38-100 feet), Sportiness, Magellano (for lengthy stays on board), and Azimut Grande (luxury yachts range). Their luxury motor yachts are very much in demand both as private and as charter yachts.
Pershing
Pershing produces luxury motor yachts known for their superior performance, evolving style, top quality materials and interiors that offer ultimate comfort, as well as powerful engines reaching 7400 HP. Pershing introduced the Scrimp System technology (vacuum molding), the Pershing-patented chain airbag, a computerized fiberglass cutting process and "boatotics", an approach that considers boats as "floating houses" equipped with the latest technology.
Pershing was also the first to introduce drive systems fitted with Arneson Drive surface propellers to guarantee top performance, and gas turbines to offer maximum power.
Fairline
The Fairline yachts range from a 34-foot-long express cruiser (Targa line) to 80-foot-long luxury flybridge yachts (Squadron line). Fairline pays careful attention to every aspect of their yacht building process. They use unusual woods that are polished with up to eight coats of lacquers, and incorporate a lengthy hand lay-up procedure for GRP, resulting in lightweight and durable hulls.
Advantages of a motor yacht
When compared to sailing yachts, luxury motor yachts have a few advantages. They are more powerful, equipped with the latest navigation and communication systems.
Compared to sailing yachts, motor yachts have more spacious cabins and decks which makes them a great yacht charter option. Their shallow draft allows you to approach some areas sailing yachts cannot reach, and their high speed makes it possible to see and do more in a short period of time.
