- A charter boat company owner typically is the captain of his vessel. As such, he knows his yacht well and is a licensed captain with many nautical miles under his belt. While a yacht chartering business owner spends much of each day with clients, crews and contracts, a good portion of every day is devoted to the ship. A charter boat captain can live on board a boat, though most live on shore and visit the yacht first thing every morning. He checks the yacht for damage and makes sure that the ropes are securely tied to their moorings. After the morning inspection, the captain either prepares for the day's guests or begins to work through a list of other duties.
- A yacht charter company owner hires crews to clean the boat and tend to its mechanics. A full-time minimal crew is usually employed to take care of the daily cleaning. The yacht must be washed and polished after every cruise and rinsed off and wiped down daily. Interior cleaning includes dishes, vacuuming and general housekeeping. The owner checks the food and beverage reserves and makes a list of needed supplies for the next charter. The captain checks the calendar and schedules routine mechanical maintenance during the times the boat is not booked. Extra maintenance crews need to be called in regularly to handle specialty jobs, such as varnish touch-ups, carpentry and painting. The charter boat captain oversees all these outside contracts throughout the morning.
- A yacht owner utilizes a number of marketing techniques to bring in charters. By being hooked up with local tourism bureaus, hotels and travel agencies, the captain can count on a good number of referrals. Follow-up in the afternoons with previous clients through phone calls and emails keeps him apprised of upcoming available cruise times. Many charter boat companies maintain a website that must be checked for inquiries and responses sent on a timely basis. When not on a charter, the captain may set up luncheons and speaking engagements with tourism related trade groups or local business associations. Travel trade shows typically take up a few weekends out of every year.
- The best days for a charter boat owner are when he is out to sea. As the captain, the owner must greet the guests first thing in the morning and make sure they are set and comfortable before launching the boat. He goes over the day's itinerary and explains the rules of the boat. Crew members take over the tours and serving the guests throughout the cruise. The captain spends the bulk of the day in the pilothouse steering the yacht. Sailing yachts require a bigger crew and more stringent oversight of the boat's operations. The captain may join the guests for a meal, but typically doesn't have to see the guests until they depart. Charters that last for more than a day keep the business owner out to sea for longer periods, when business is conducted in the captain's cabin through marine telephones and satellite Internet connections.
