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  1. #1

    Another Illegal Charter

    https://content.govdelivery.com/acco...letins/2b6f52b


    I get a news release of probably 2 or 3 of these a week in my email. Are there that many of these kinds of charters going on in S. Fla.? You would think at the least, word would start getting around this isn't a good idea. I'm assuming the ones they catch are still a small percentage of the ones actually operating. I had no idea charters were that popular either.

  2. #2

    Re: Another Illegal Charter

    There should be a fine for just having such a butt ugly boat.
    Everyone should believe in something - I believe I will go fishing - Henry David Thoreau

  3. #3

    Re: Another Illegal Charter

    There's a Facebook group that covers that topic, and this type thing happens all the time. The only thing missing is a follow up to see exactly what happens after this type "bust" occurs. Sort of like the $100K fine for a single drop of diesel hitting the water, the, "up to", amounts for the fines are probably never even close to what happens in reality. Seeing the number of repeat offenders seems to back that up.
    Randy Register - Kingston, TN
    www.yachtrelocation.com
    www.Safes4Guns.com
    aka Freebird aka Sparky1
    1965 41DC #93

  4. #4

    Re: Another Illegal Charter

    Probably so. Just hard to believe there's that many of those operating down there, seems like none have a clue

  5. #5

    Re: Another Illegal Charter

    It's the norm there. Don't be surprised.
    Scott
    41C117 "Hattatude"
    Port Canaveral Florida.


    Marine Electronics and Electrical Products Distributor.

  6. #6

    Re: Another Illegal Charter

    The one that was on here either got legal or doesn't care. He is still going strong

  7. #7

    Re: Another Illegal Charter

    Quote Originally Posted by Briankinley2004 View Post
    The one that was on here either got legal or doesn't care. He is still going strong
    I can see maybe sneaking around but when you post videos all over the internet, its like asking for a fine.
    Sky Cheney
    1985 53EDMY, Hull #CN759, "Rebecca"
    ELYC on White Lake--Montague, MI

  8. #8

    Re: Another Illegal Charter

    Day charters are huge in SoFl especially Miami although the “quality” of the clientele has dropped drastically in the last few years... we don’t do day charters anymore.

    Most of these illegal charters become illegal because of technicalities due to the bareboat charter rules. Most day charters are groups over 6 people, usually 10 to 12. The only viable way to take 12 people is on a bareboat contract since getting a vessel inspected is pretty much financially impossible. There are 7 conditions that must be met for a bareboat charter to be valid: charterer must have the option to pick his own crew, crew must be contracted and pay separately, charterer must pay all expenses (fuel, provision), owner can’t be on board etc

    Where most bareboats fail is that the owner and broker sell an all inclusive day on the water for a flat fee. USCG boards, asks for the paperwork and either the captain didn’t know or didn’t care To do it right and doesn’t have the separate boats and crew contacts. If that happens, USCG says it s not a valid bareboat therefore it s an illegal charter. And rightly so.

    When we used to do day charters a few years ago, I would always have the right contracts on board for the charterer to sign upon boarding since most brokers would never provide the right paperwork.

    Add the fact that for years the USCG didn’t care and brokers, owners and captains have become sloppy.

    Now actual fines is a question I have often raised on the FB group and the coasties are always very vague. Sure fines can be up to $50k for the first offense but in reality these are negotiated down and amount to a slap on the wrist.

    The biggest issue is really that regulations haven’t kept up. Years ago, most charters where much smaller... so the 6 pax limit made sense. Nowadays the average day charter here is probably around 70/80’ where 12 passengers is perfectly safe. This forces owners to go the bareboat road but you have to follow the bureaucratic rules...
    Last edited by Pascal; 01-15-2021 at 10:54 PM.
    Pascal
    Miami, FL
    1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
    2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
    2007 Sandbarhopper 13
    12' Westphal Cat boat

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