07/31/2020
To all potential boat owners out there. . . I little something you should be consider when hiring a captain or making a buying decision and hiring a captain to deliver the vessel to its final resting location.
1. Weather and Seas play a major factor in timelines for moving a vessel to its final location.
2. If there is a named storm in the Atlantic, Insurance companies typically won't bind/issue an insurance policy for the vessel.
3. Don't expect the captain to meet unreasonable or unrealistic time frames to get the vessel to its final location as weather, mechanical issues, and other things can crop up while running a vessel. Things may have been working when the vessel departed the dock, BUT it does not mean that they will remain operational with extended hours of continual running.
4. Captain and Vessel prep is key to a successful trip. It takes time to prep a boat to make extended journeys. It is probably best to do most of your vessel maintenance prior to the trip: oil changes, fuel filter changes, water pump service, clean all strainers and the like. This is cheap insurance for the boat and help eliminate overheats, engine failures, and other system failures along the way.
Remember: When moving anything on the water, patience is key. It is the captain's responsibility to deliver the vessel safely. Their responsibility is to the safety of the vessel and crew. YES . . . MOST can adapt and handle precarious situations while on the water, BUT this should not mean they intentionally put themselves, crew and vessel in those situations on a regular basis.
If you do find an eager captain that is willing to forego the 4 items listed above . . . Look For Another Captain! You may not get your vessel in that same condition that you purchased it in and the expenses will be MUCH higher than originally expected.
