Embarrasing Question, what in definition is a charter?

[KainX]

I am embarassed to ask this question, but I see it everywhere and I don''t fully understand what it is. My girlfriend and I live in the middle of the country and I myself have neve even seen the ocean (and I am 21 years old, thats pretty pathetic anyways, we have made the final decision that we want to live on the ocean and explore while we can... but there are many things I don''t know yet, please help.
Thank You,
Jared

p.s. we are also looking for crew work I am a bartender by trade and she is a waitress so we may not be that usefull, but we are fast learning. plus, I can make a mean ceaser
thanks again

[Stede]

Kainx,

To "Charter" a boat basically means to rent it. It could be chartered with a skipper (Captain) or (bare-boated) without one. I''m not sure where the term charter came from, but I''ve always imagined it had something to do with the multi-page legal document that you sign to get the boat. It''s full of fine print.I''ve never read all of it, but I''m sure there is probably something in there about giving up your first born to the owners if you should wreck the boat.You mention that you and your girlfriend want to live on the water.As a sailor,and dreamer, I would be the last to shoot down your dream, but I think you need take into consideration a few things. First,have either you or your girfriend ever been on a boat? If not, I think you should save some money and take a trip on one to see if that is what you really want.There are all kinds of ways to do that.Windjammer cruises, working as crew for others, etc.Before you sell the farm and go for it, you need to understand that there''s a lot more to being out there when you''re own your own than sunsets and Margaritas.Running aground,storms,gear failure,1st mate whinning,and a whole multitude of other problems will create a "shaken,not stirred" life for you.Make sure that you and your girlfriend have a good understanding of that before you start,or you will probably loose the dream,and each other.

[KainX]

Stede,
Thank you for the advice!
I myself havent been on a large boat before but I can tell ya right now that I am the least picky person in the world. I always find my way around the negative things another good thing is, we don''t have a farm to sell, we are tied down by nothing, except her chihuahua (spelling?) as for storms and such.... I LOVE storms, yet I will admit I would probably stress out and walk the plank if I were to deal with things breaking all the time. My lifestyle has always been overly full of unpleasent surprises, but at least it will be an adventure nonetheless. I think our main reason for leaving is, there is nothing that we''ll risk,miss, or sacrifice if we go... and I suppose if we don''t like it, we could just find a small island and work in the local pub.
(hey, at least I am being optimistic about it LoL
thank you for your help Stede.

more advice/comments/ideas would be appreciated for you guys,
thankyou in advance
Jared

[Stede]

KainX,

I don''t mean to make light of your "LOVE of storms", but I think maybe you are looking at them a little differently while on land. Let''s see...how can I get you to visulize this? Picture this: Mr.T kicking your ass all over the Wal-Mart parking lot, then glaring down at you through clinched gold capped teeth saying "I pity the fool." I think that would be a fairly accurate comparison to Mother Nature''s treatment of you when you are unfortunate enough to get caught in a storm out at sea. Granted with todays technology, it shouldn''t happen to you often, but believe me...it does! Cheers!

[jbarros]

I strongly suggest saving up some money, then going to one of the ASA certified schools that allows a 7 day liveaboard course for basic keel boat and basic coastal cruising certification.

It''ll get you time in a boat.

It''ll get you time on the water.

It''ll get you all the skills you need to be reletivley confident on the boat.

oh yhea, and they throw in some pieces of paper that some people care alot about. I dont.

As far as loving storms, think of them as a tornado... on the water, and you''re in something not quite as substancial as a moble home. Always remember, Mother Nature is bigger than you. when you doubt it, she''ll remind you.

-- James