we charter
Bareboat charter rules — why we cap it at 12 guests
People ask us this every week, usually while trying to fit one more friend on the list. The short answer is that the number is not ours to set.
It's federal law, not just our policy
US Coast Guard rules draw a hard line at twelve. A vessel carrying more than twelve passengers for hire has to be a USCG-inspected passenger vessel — a different category of boat, with a different certificate, different construction requirements and a different kind of crew.
Our catamarans are big, luxurious and perfect for a great day out. They are not inspected passenger vessels. So the cap is twelve guests, not counting the captain and crew.
What happens if we go over
- The Coast Guard can stop the charter mid-sail and send everyone back to the dock.
- Fines can land on the owner, on the captain, and on the guests.
- Licences can be suspended — which ends a captain’s career, not just their afternoon.
None of that is worth one extra seat, which is why no amount of asking nicely will move the number.
So what's a bareboat charter, anyway?
In a bareboat charter you are technically renting the boat itself and taking on the role of owner for the day. You choose your captain from an approved list, you bring your own food and drinks, and you decide where the day goes.
That is why the captain is hired and paid separately and is never bundled into the online price — it is what makes the arrangement a bareboat charter rather than a ticketed passenger trip. The twelve-guest limit still applies either way.
What about a private party?
It does not change anything. The limit is about the vessel and the arrangement, not about whether the day feels private or who is paying. A birthday, a bachelorette or a company outing all count the same.