Buying a catamaran with management: opportunities to seize
A Simple and Ideal Way to Sail Several Weeks a Year
Many boat owners only use their boats a few weeks a year but spend a lot of time maintaining them and managing everything involved: insurance, dock space, hull cleaning, oil changes, etc. For some, it’s a pleasure. For others… a chore! A leaseback program allows you to enjoy your boat – or an equivalent model at one of the charter company’s bases – several weeks a year without having to worry about anything other than provisioning and finding the best anchorages! The boater invests in a boat not to own it, but to sail without the constraints of traditional ownership. Leaseback is above all about embracing a mindset of freedom, travel, and discovery. Sailing in tropical waters in winter and in the Mediterranean in summer, for example. It’s the freedom to choose according to your desires and schedule, nothing is imposed. Leaseback contracts allow investors to sail at a lower cost because all unavoidable expenses (dock space, comprehensive insurance, maintenance costs) can be paid by the operator. As a bonus, you benefit from a guaranteed, net income, paid each month. This income will not be taxable, as it is generally linked to a lease with an option to purchase (LOA) type of financing, which allows the investor to generate no taxable profit.
In concrete terms, the principle is very simple: you buy a boat from a charter company so that it manages, maintains, insures, etc. In exchange, it pays you an income that will offset all or part of your leasing (depending on the initial contribution). At the end of the contract – usually after five and a half years – the boat is resold (the charter company takes care of everything). A financial operation that can allow you to sail on one of the charter company’s boats for up to 12 weeks a year for 66 months for a surprisingly reasonable budget! It’s a contract without financial assumptions because everything is guaranteed; you know your monthly cash requirement to the penny and de facto the total cost of the investment at the end of the operation.
And How Much Does It Cost?
Charter companies work closely with the largest shipyards to offer boats perfectly suited to the demand of renters. Monohull or multihull sailboats, the units chosen and carefully configured by the charter company are all very well equipped and meet very specific criteria to maximize your investment. Let’s take a concrete example with an Excess 14 catamaran. Equipped and ready to be rented in the Caribbean, the boat costs a little over 900,000 euros including VAT. With a down payment of 25% (it can be higher depending on the arrangement and your expectations), the difference between your monthly leasing payment (over 120 months) and the guaranteed income is 203 euros! At the end of the management period (five and a half years), once the resale of the boat and the leasing are settled, you will have sailed between 33 and 66 weeks over the period for a little over 1,500 euros per week. An unbeatable price for sailing enthusiasts who have the time to fully enjoy their boat!
The Right Boats for Good Management
The most popular boats for rent are catamarans whose size is between 12 and 14 meters. They offer a very comfortable platform for 8 to 10 people, real privacy with separate cabins and their adjoining bathrooms. Among the “best-sellers” are logically the catamarans from the most popular French manufacturers, whether Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Bali or Excess.
- Lagoon 43: The Lagoon 43 is a concentrate of the shipyard’s know-how: impressive living volumes on board, including the brand new front cockpit and many innovations and practical details designed to make the most of your cruise (new front cockpit, easy access through a side opening, new bench on the flybridge, new rigging…).
- Fountaine Pajot New 44: Barely announced, the New 44 – its code name for the moment – from the Fountaine Pajot shipyard is already causing a sensation. XXL volumes (90 m2 in 13 meters of length), fine bows to maintain real marine qualities, a single-piece saloon-cockpit with a door that disappears completely in the open position, the New 44 will certainly be a great success in rental!
- Excess 14: A great classic from the Excess shipyard, the 14 is a catamaran with innovative solutions. We appreciate of course its marine qualities, its helm stations at the rear of the floats for pleasure in sailing. In terms of comfort, the Excess 14 offers four double cabins each equipped with a bathroom with separate shower. A real plus in rental!
- Lagoon 46 Iconic: The new version of the Lagoon 46 is called Iconic and it is no coincidence for one of the most popular boats in the manufacturer’s range. New design and especially a redesigned living area at the front, with more sunbeds and a new secure access to the sea to fully enjoy the anchorages.
Enjoyed this post by Thibault Helle? Subscribe for more insights and updates straight from the source.
