The Insider’s Guide to Yacht Charter Check-In

How to protect your security deposit and avoid paying for damages You Didn’t Cause

By: Ronen Inbar, Skipper and Founder of SEA4SOUL – Yacht Charters & Marine Experiences

Dear Skipper,

Congratulations! You’ve finally arrived at the marina abroad. Your crew and family already have beers in hand, the kids are eager to jump onboard, and the excitement to set sail is at an all-time high. On the dock stands the local charter company’s base manager, rushing to clear you out because they have 15 more boats to hand over today. They hand you a clipboard with a four-page document in English or Greek and say: "Everything is good, we already inspected the boat. Just sign right here."

STOP. This is the single most critical moment of your entire sailing trip. A hasty signature here means you are accepting full legal and financial responsibility for thousands of dollars in damages that might have been caused by the skipper who chartered the boat last week.

As a skipper who has participated in and led dozens of yacht charters worldwide, I’ve put together the ultimate hidden check-in checklist for you—the exact things charter companies hope you won’t inspect, which is precisely where unsuspecting skippers get caught at the end of the week.

The Dinghy and Outboard Motor Trap

This is the most common "penalty" category in marinas across Greece, Croatia, and the rest of the Mediterranean.

• The Hull: Flip the dinghy over on the dock or raise it using the davits. Inspect the bottom thoroughly along the centerline (V-hull). Look for deep gouges, punctures, or old fiberglass/glue repairs that are failing.

• The Outboard Motor: Don’t just take their word for it because the motor idles at the dock. Pop the engine cowling and check the oil. More importantly, inspect the propeller. If there is even a minor chip or bend in one of the blades, the charter company will charge you for a brand-new propeller ($150–$300) at check-out, claiming you hit a rock. If there is a defect, photograph it and demand it be logged on the form. Personally, I always lower the dinghy into the water, run the engine for a few minutes, and test the forward and reverse engagement.

Underwater: Checking the Waterline and the Keel

Many charter companies send a diver down on Friday or Saturday to inspect the yacht's undercarriage. If they find a fresh scratch on the keel, your security deposit is in jeopardy.

The Insider Tip: Don’t be shy. Take your smartphone (wrapped in a secure waterproof pouch), attach it to a selfie stick—or just grip it firmly in your hand—start recording video, and dip your arm into the water underneath the stern and along the sides of the boat. Capture the rudder, the prop shaft, and the keel. If there are pre-existing scrapes, you will have ironclad video proof with a clear timestamp showing they were there before you left the marina.

Marine Toilets and Blackwater Systems (Holding Tanks)

A clogged marine head is the ultimate nightmare of any sailing vacation, and charter companies love to blame the skipper, claiming the crew flushed wet wipes or toilet paper.

• The Pro Inspection: Brief your crew before setting sail about exactly what can and cannot go down a marine toilet, and the consequences of a clog. During check-in, open and close all the seacocks for the toilets and holding tanks. Ensure the valves move smoothly and are not seized. Pump the manual heads a few times to check for stiff resistance or pre-existing blockages, and test all electric drainage pumps for both the showers and the heads.

The Battery Bank and Marine Refrigerator

A refrigerator that fails to cool during the scorching Mediterranean summer can ruin an entire vacation (and spoil hundreds of dollars worth of groceries you just bought at the supermarket).

• The Pro Inspection: When you arrive, the boat is usually plugged into shore power, meaning the DC panel will read 13.5V or higher. Disconnect the shore power cable for 15 minutes and turn on the fridge and all interior lights. If the voltage on the panel immediately drops below 12.2V, the boat's house battery bank is completely shot. Do not leave the marina! Demand that the base mechanic replace the batteries at the dock. Out at sea, you won't have shore power to bail you out.

Sails and Rigging

Never sign off on the sail inspection form while the sails are furled inside the mast (in-mast furling) or packed away in the lazy bag.

• The Pro Inspection: Insist that the charter representative unroll both the jib/genoa and the mainsail completely inside the marina (if winds permit) or immediately just outside the marina breakwater. Scan for minor tears along the stitching, especially at the corners and attachment points (Clew / Tack). A tiny tear under a 20-knot gust will turn into a massive rip, and you will end up paying for a brand-new sail.

The Golden Rule: "If It's Not Photographed, It Didn't Happen"

Before you sign the final paperwork and cast off your lines, take 5 minutes to do a continuous video walkthrough of the entire deck, the gelcoat, the bow, and the interior cabins. If you spot a defect, never accept a verbal "Don't worry, I'll make a note of it." Ensure it is written down by hand on the official check-in form and that the company representative initials right next to it.

Remember: It is far better to waste an extra hour at the dock on day one than to deal with a critical failure out at sea.

Need Help Booking Your Next Yacht Charter Abroad?

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