Hawaii big island bareboat charter co???

[SiXeVeN]

Anyone aware of a bareboat outfit based on the big island of Hawaii? Any leads would be appreciated!

[US27inKS]

I've searched, but haven't had much luck finding a bareboat anywhere in the Hawaiian islands. I suspect it's because the cruising area is much more challenging than most yacht owners would be comfortable with. I wouldn't want to hand over my new half million dollar boat to a lake sailor like me and send him out into the kind of seas and winds that are a regular occurrence just offshore. Seems like it would be a good way to lose your boat.

[SiXeVeN]

Yes, I think that is a very likely reason for the apparent lack of any charter companies. However, i'm hoping there is SOMETHING that could be found as I actually enjoy the kind of seas and wind that are found offshore there

It would be a shame if the only sailing one could do around the islands would be in a boat you brought in from 4000+ miles away

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by SiXeVeN

Yes, I think that is a very likely reason for the apparent lack of any charter companies. However, i'm hoping there is SOMETHING that could be found as I actually enjoy the kind of seas and wind that are found offshore there

It would be a shame if the only sailing one could do around the islands would be in a boat you brought in from 4000+ miles away

US27 has hit the head of the nail. Not a shame at all. It's exactly what I plan on doing ........i2f

[bellefonte]

Originally Posted by SiXeVeN

It would be a shame if the only sailing one could do around the islands would be in a boat you brought in from 4000+ miles away

That sounds like the majority of the fun...Then on to Fiji

[jrd22]

I've looked several times while on the big island and haven't found anything. There are a couple of boats that sail out of the harbor just north of Kailua (Honokahau?) but they are crewed charters ($$$). There is a sailing club based there, mostly smaller boats, that you might try contacting. Kona Sailing Club, I think that's the name.

[bubb2]

Hawaii Sailing, Hawaii Yacht Charter, Hawaii Sailing Charter, Sailing Hawaii

[imagine2frolic]

Hawaii is the Big Island, and the rest of the chain is called the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu is on O'ahu, and quite a distance away.

You can no doubt get on a sailboat, but you being the captain? That I doubt very seriously. There is also a sailing club in Hilo. SkiprJohn from CF sails out of there. He might be able to point you in the right direction?.......i2f

[bobmcgov]

US27's post matches what others have said -- that it's just not a Disneyland cruising playground like the BVIs. The islands require serious local knowledge and would hammer inexperienced cruisers -- who, let's be honest, make up a fair percentage of the BVI charter economy. Might not even be possible for a charter company to get insurance. I hear Puerto Rico is the same way: tricky harbors, rough currents, and lack of a charter infrastructure.

OTOH, lots of people sail downhill to Hawaii and fly back to the States, unwilling to bash back home. Some buy a boat for the voyage, fit it out, and sell it once their dream is achieved. For not much more than the cost of a 2 week charter, you could buy a sailboat, cruise wherever you want for as long as you want, and put it up for sale when you leave. We could create a great revolving-ownership culture there, kind of like public-use bicycles in Amsterdam.

Some candidates HERE and HERE. Good luck!