The check-in takes an hour or two on the first afternoon, and it is the least glamorous part of a bareboat charter. It is also where most deposit disputes are won or lost, and where the small failures that spoil a week are found while someone can still fix them.
Take it seriously, bring one crew member who is methodical, and do not let the base rush it.
Before you arrive
Have the documents ready: skipper’s licence, VHF certificate, passports for the crew list, and the card for the security deposit in the name of the person present. Read the base’s check-in and check-out times and ask about the fuel policy, which is usually full to full.
The walk-through
The base technician will go through the boat with you and hand you an inventory. Follow the sequence below and tick things off yourself rather than trusting the form.
Hull and deck. Walk round the boat from the pontoon and photograph every scratch, chip and scuff on the topsides, the bow and the stern. Check the gelcoat around the anchor and at the corners of the transom. On a catamaran, check both hulls and the bridgedeck.
Engine. Start it. Watch for cooling water at the exhaust, listen for it at idle, check the oil and coolant levels and look for leaks in the engine bay. Note the engine hours. Ask when it was last serviced.
Rig and sails. Hoist the mainsail at the dock, or at least pull it out of the bag or the mast, and check for tears, especially along the leech and the batten pockets. Unfurl the genoa. Check the reefing lines are led and work. Look up the mast at the halyards and the wind instrument.
Steering. Turn the wheel lock to lock. Find the emergency tiller and confirm it fits.
Electrics and instruments. Switch on every instrument: depth, log, wind, GPS or chartplotter, VHF, autopilot. Check the batteries charge with the engine running. Turn on every cabin light, the navigation lights and the anchor light.
Anchor and windlass. Drop and raise a few metres of chain. Check the chain markings and ask how much chain there is. Confirm the windlass breaker and the remote.
Below deck. Test every tap and both heads. Run the shower pumps. Check the fridge is cold. Open every locker and hatch, and check that hatches seal. Look in the bilge for water.
Tender and outboard. Inflate the dinghy if it is deflated and check for leaks. Start the outboard, ideally in the water. Confirm the oars, the pump and the painter.
Safety. Count the lifejackets against the crew, find the flares and check their dates, locate the fire extinguishers, the first-aid kit, the liferaft if fitted, the bolt cutters and the horseshoe buoy. Ask where the seacocks are.
Galley and inventory. Gas bottle connected and a spare aboard. Count the fenders, warps, boat hooks, winch handles, the deck brush and the bucket; these are the items most often charged against deposits.
Photograph everything
Take time-stamped photographs of the hull from every angle, the deck, the interior, the instruments showing the engine hours and fuel level, and every existing defect. Have the technician write each defect on the inventory before you both sign it. A photo taken at check-in is the whole argument at check-out.
Ask the base
- How the fuel is measured on return, and where the nearest fuel dock is.
- The base’s emergency phone number and what happens if something breaks mid-week.
- Any areas the boat is not allowed to go, such as international waters or particular islands.
- What the weather forecast source is that they use locally.
- Where and when the boat must be back, and whether the last night on the pontoon is included.
What to do if something is wrong
Most bases will fix minor faults on the spot. For anything that affects safety or the week, such as a dead autopilot, a torn sail or an outboard that will not start, insist on a fix or a replacement before you leave, and get it noted in writing. Leaving with a known fault and hoping is how a small problem becomes a lost day.
Check-out
Return on time, with the fuel as agreed, the boat tidy and the inventory laid out. Be present for the inspection, bring your photos, and get the deposit release confirmed before you leave the base. Most check-outs take twenty minutes when the check-in was done properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a bareboat check-in take?
One to two hours if done properly, including a full walk-through, a sail check and the paperwork.
What should I photograph at check-in?
Every side of the hull, all existing damage, the interior, the instruments showing engine hours and fuel, and the inventory once signed.
Should I hoist the sails at the dock?
Yes, or at least unroll them. Tears found at sea cost a day; tears found at the dock get fixed or noted.
What if the base is rushing me?
Slow down anyway. The inventory you sign is what your deposit is measured against.