Sunday, November 21, 2010

A World of New Boating Opportunities with Fractional Yacht Ownership

By Kristen Wesch


Fractional yacht ownership is much like timeshare for boats. By definition, one takes part ownership associated with a yacht and shares expenditures with a number of other owners. This can certainly be an attractive alternative option buying a boat of your own for a number of reasons.

Not too many boat owners have the luxury of being able to devote 365 days a year to their passion. Statistics show that the average owner only uses their boat between three and six weeks in a year. When an owner takes into consideration the cost of maintenance, financing, repairs and storage, it is easy to see why fractional ownership makes good sense. An additional and quite attractive benefit is the opportunity to be able to afford a share in a much larger yacht while staying within your budget.

In response to the unfavorable recent economic climate, many yacht brokers have begun offering fraction ownership opportunities in addition to their sales and charter services. Their ability to openly and instantly communicate online through sites like MarineSource.com has opened up a whole new world of ownership opportunities for the economically conscientious boater.

In order to ease an owner's dislike of using other people belongings, such as linens, silverware and dishware, management companies now provide a service that will prepare the yacht with your personal items upon request - right down to the artwork on the walls.

Now that we have covered the very basics of fractional yacht ownership and the reasons behind it's rising popularity, let's explore the details of the process.

In an ordinary ownership arrangement, the shares of the yacht are separated among anywhere from two to ten participants. A share holder may purchase more than one share if the option is offered. Payments usually include a maintenance fee which may be calculated as monthly or annually, in addition to the original amount of the share purchase.

When shopping for a fractional ownership opportunity, you should definitely confirm that the maintenance fee being charged includes; administration and scheduling, dockage, insurance, some sort of valet service, and crew. You will most likely be required to pay additionally for customs and port fees, fuel and provisioning.

The availability of fractional ownership opportunities internationally may very well be an ideal option for an owner who wishes to explore far from home. For example, if you reside in North America and would like to boat in Europe or Australia, you can purchase shares in a yacht in that country. This eliminates the hassle and expense of transporting your yacht to your desired destination, and also makes certain that the yacht will be professionally managed and overseen while you are away. Ownership structure can vary slightly from country to country, so you should definitely get detailed information if you are exploring yacht ownership options beyond your country of residence.

Fractional ownership is available for a number of yacht sizes. Smaller yachts are often offered to be enjoyed in a very specific geographic area. Larger yachts may offer more range and can include trans-oceanic opportunities. The amount of money you may be considering to shell out for sole ownership of a smaller yacht could be used to purchase a share in a more substantial, more luxurious yacht which might take you places you only dreamed of visiting before.




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