How to Choose the Right Yacht for a Bareboat Charter (Size, Cabins, Mono vs Cat)

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:52:26 +0000

NauticEd Sailing and Yacht Vacations - https://www.nauticed.org/sailing-vacations

How to choose the right yacht for a bareboat charter—without guesswork. In this episode, we compare catamaran vs monohull (and power cat), break down size & cabin layouts, and show how the right choice depends on your group, destination, experience, and budget.

You’ll learn
Matching boat to group type: couples, families, mixed friends, kids, older guests
Mono vs cat tradeoffs: comfort & space, sailing feel, docking/med-mooring, costs
Size & layout: 38–42ft vs 43–45ft vs 46–50ft, cabin/heads count, island berths, privacy
Destination fit: Caribbean trades, Med marinas & med-mooring, Bahamas draft/shoals
Experience factors: handling, beam, thrusters, twin engines, performance vs comfort
Must-have gear: A/C & generator, watermaker, bow thruster, dinghy HP, electronics
Extras that matter: flybridge vs sport-top, shade/bimini, cockpit fridge, toys
Budget levers: boat age vs price, shoulder season, add-ons & damage coverage
License/quals: what to check before you book (varies by country & operator)