| II Dolphins Sailing Yacht Deliveries |
Frequently Asked Questions: Who needs a delivery Captain or crew? Boaters use a delivery service for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most common is time constraint. Many owners wish to enjoy their yacht in a variety of cruising or vacation destinations, but are unable or unwilling to spend the time necessary to move the vessel themselves. Some owners engage a professional because they don't feel their skills are sufficient to meet all the challenges of certain routes. Other owners simply wish to turn the daily operation and management of the vessel over to a captain and relax with family or friends. Often, a new owner will need his yacht delivered from the point of purchase to its new home. Others who frequently use professional delivery personnel include manufacturers delivering new vessels, brokers, and charter companies relocating fleet vessels. How do I secure the services of II Dolphins Sailing? After the initial contact, you will provide certain information including present location of the vessel, delivery destination, time frame, size and type of yacht, condition of yacht, navigation and safety gear on board, fuel capacity and rate of consumption, and a copy of the most recent survey. II Dolphins Sailing will provide a written estimate of delivery costs. This estimate will be complete and include the daily rate for crew and the estimated number of days, estimates of travel expenses to the point of departure and return from the destination, ground transportation such as taxi or bus, provisions, fuel and dockage en route, rental and return of special equipment such as an offshore life raft, port and customs fees, and any other anticipated expenses. This will only be an estimate, but we generally come in under other estimates. This estimate will not allow for any delays due to mechanical or other failures of the yacht, or for delays due to severe weather. A copy of a delivery contract will be provided with the estimate. Upon receipt of the signed contract and deposit, the departure date will be set. Upon completion of the delivery, an itemized statement of expenses will be presented for payment. A report on the condition of the vessel and any deficiencies identified will be presented along with a copy of the trip log. Is a delivery contract required? Yes and a copy of our standard contract will be provided for your inspection on this web page. Rates are negotiable depending on the size of the vessel, number of crew members, and type of delivery, etc. How is payment made? Payments are made by cash, certified funds, or wire transfer. The minimum pre-departure deposit is 50%. Some vessels, routes, or circumstances will require a higher deposit. Payment of the balance is due on completion of the delivery. Some situations may require the estimated balance in escrow. How much does a Captain and crew cost? The base rate for a captain and professional crew is $350 per day plus expenses. This daily rate may be higher if a larger than normal crew is required because of the type of vessel or the intended route. A lower rate may be charged for some routes, such as the Intracoastal Waterway and other inland routes or when tied to other delivery trips. Travel time and weather or breakdown time is billed at seventy-five percent of the daily base rate. Who are the Captains and crew? The captains are working professionals licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard. We do not employ "vanity license" holders. The crew are experienced personnel with years of boating experience under their keels, and all have owned and cruised their own yachts. We have known all captains and crew members sailing with II Dolphins Sailing for years. We do not use "pick up" crew. Will my yacht be inspected before beginning the delivery trip? All vessels are subject to a thorough inspection before leaving the dock. It is essential that the Captain and crew confirm the seaworthiness of the vessel and the condition of its equipment and systems before sailing. Safety always comes first. The pre-departure checklist includes the hull, standing rigging, running rigging, sails, ground tackle, steering, engine, pumps, thru-hulls and plugs, engine and system spares, engine and system manuals, tools, required safety equipment, charts and navigation gear, documentation or registration, lights, radios, tanks, sanitation system, plumbing, and any other items affecting the vessel's suitability for the intended voyage and its compliance with existing regulations. The delivery will not begin until all deficiencies regarding vessel safety, crew safety, and compliance are corrected. Any deficiencies discovered en route will be corrected if possible and will be detailed in the post-delivery condition report. Owners will save time and money by being certain that their yacht is in seaworthy condition when the crew arrives. Making the captain aware in advance of known problems will enable the crew to anticipate and to prepare, perhaps by bringing along some piece of equipment or gear. Is any gear or equipment supplied by II DS? The Captain and crew will provide their own personal safety gear such as harness, tether, and lights. It is expected that proper PFDs will be onboard in compliance with regulations. Notify the Captain if any needed charts are not onboard and we will probably be able to supply them. If not, we will acquire them at the owner's expense. Notify the Captain of any deficiencies in navigation equipment such as GPS or Loran, and we can supply backup. For offshore voyages requiring special equipment such as a life raft, we can arrange rental and return at the owner's expense. Can I come along on the delivery of my yacht? That will depend on the route of the trip and owner's prior experience. An owner's presence will not reduce the necessity for experienced crew selected by the captain. The presence of the owner will not change the fact that the captain is ultimately responsible for decisions affecting the safety of the crew and the vessel. |