Bareboat Charter
Captain your own adventure [hand-picked yachts for hands-on sailors]
WIN YOUR CHARTER FOR FREE!!!
Book your charter by the end of February and go in the draw to win your charter for free!
What is a 'Bareboat Charter'?
Bareboat is essentially exactly as the name infers. You rent the boat, with its equipment, you choose the options you want to add and you drive/sail yourself. We help you find the right yacht then as captain you take care of everything else for your yacht and your crew.
Bareboat charters are freedom for experienced skippers – your crew, your course, your pace.
Nick explains the different options in this video.
Who is it for?
• Qualified, confident skippers
• Crews that prefer independence and flexibility
• Sailors who enjoy plotting their own days
You are responsible for
• Your final yacht choice, on time payments and security deposit
• Completing the check-in process and technical inspection
• Watching the weather and making your own informed choices
You handle
• Route, daily decisions and onboard chores
• Skippering, safety, contacting the ports
• Refuelling the yacht at the end of your charter
• All mooring/docking fees and provisioning
Search, Locate & Book your Charter with 45D
What’s the process?
Once we receive your enquiry, we match you with the right yacht, size, layout, performance, and condition based on your indicative budget and send you ideal options (highlighting the pros and cons of each).We then meet virtually (whether you end up chartering with us or not), to answer all your questions and extend your search if necessary.
Then once we find the right yacht and you say YES we handle the booking, the admin and make sure the boat is ready for your arrival. We keep you informed of any changes that you may need to make and help with any auxiliary bookings you may want pre/post charter.
Check out our concierge services and itinerary planning
What’s included (typical)
• Charter-ready yacht with standard safety gear and inventory
• Base check-in/check-out and local documentation
• 45D team online support throughout the process
What’s not included
• Professional crew (skipper/host/chef)
• Day-to-day itinerary planning or concierge services
• Fuel, moorings/dockings, food & drinks, transfers
Requirements
You’ll need suitable skipper qualifications (and VHF where applicable). You can confirm if your licence is acceptable here: Link to licences
Give us your dates, crew size, and comfort preferences, we’ll propose the best-fit yachts for a clean, no-surprises bareboat charter week.
Let's get started!
Click on ‘Plan Your Charter’, complete the questions, book a discovery call with Nick
Within 2 days
Initial Selection emailed to you based on your criteria within 48 hours
Discovery Call with Nick to discuss initial selection
45D search, locate and book your preferred yacht – you pay your deposit to secure
Stay up to date with monthly emails and charter tips from 45D leading up to your holiday
8 weeks prior
Pay the balance of your charter and any extras you have ordered
2 weeks prior
Receive your boarding pass and final information for your charter
Date of charter
Arrive at the Marina and check-in to your yacht!
Why Choose 45 Degrees Sailing?
We’re here to make your bareboat week cleaner, safer, and less risky, without getting in your way
Why 45° Sailing for your bareboat
• The right boat, not the nearest boat. We hand-pick yachts that fit your crew, skills, and expectations (layout, sail plan, power, AC/generator, comfort).
• Trusted fleets only. We work with bases that maintain well and stand behind their boats—because condition matters more than brochure shots.
• No-surprise pricing. Clear on obligatory extras, security deposits vs damage waivers, and what’s actually included before you pay.
• Paperwork done right. We check skipper/VHF licenses and crew lists early so check-in is smooth and compliant.
• Turnaround day handled. Priority holds when possible, smart add-ons (SUPs, nets, Wi-Fi), and a tight handover so you can leave the dock with confidence.
Bareboat Charter - Case Study
First time charterer in Croatia
RYA Day Skipper and VHF licence. 10pob
Colin came to us as a new charterer, a little nervous about taking on this responsibility. We got on a call and quickly deciphered what would suit him and his crew best.
We set them up with a Bavaria 51 Cruiser with generator and air conditioning, and itinerary plan tailored to them specifically and our premium ‘Bareboat Assist’ package to help them our 24/7 through out the week.
We even hooked up with them a few times in the week as we were out on our own tour, allowing us to help them further with some hands on tuition.
Extras Booked:
Bareboat Assist, 2x SUP
Ready to go?
Complete the form and lets get this started!
Working with an Agent
Frequently Asked Questions
To sail in Croatia, you need to have a valid and accepted Skipper’s license as per this list. You also need to possess a valid and accepted VHF license (short range radio).
Hire a professional skipper. You still enjoy the yacht and itinerary you want—just without the boat-handling stress. Visit our Skippered Charters page for more info.
The options for a seven day itinerary in Croatia are so vast that it is hard to sum it up into one or two single itineraries.
Many factors will come into making this decision such as where you depart from, the type of vessel you are Sailing, the ability and nature of your crew, and most importantly, what sort of week you are after.
For first time visitor to Croatia, we often suggest the route from the Split region through the islands of Hvar, Brač, Vis and Śolta offer a great variety of hidden coves, calm bays and picture old towns to explore.
For more adventurous itineraries wanting to do more hours on the water, you can heat out to islands like Lastovo and Sušac to get away from the crowds and get full in touch with nature.
Each charter company is different with what they include and all should have standard safety gear and inventory that you can check in the yacht details. Not included: fuel, moorings/berths, tourist tax, national-park fees, and any optional extras (e.g., skipper, host, early check-in).
Passports, your original skipper/VHF licenses (if bareboat), boarding pass. Before check in you should have already completed your crew list of all onboard.
Yes, if you want extra help, check out our concierge services and add itinerary planning (for route only) or bareboat assist (for route and bookings etc) to your booking so you keep the freedom of a private yacht with a smoother day-to-day.
More info here: Itinerary Planning
For charter guests, tourist tax is typically collected by the charter company at check-in – usually paid in cash. It is €1.33 per person per night. Note sometimes included in the yacht charge you need to check that they are only charging you for the POB not the total amount you can have onboard.
Yes see our Itinerary Planning Page for some free itineraries you can access and more information about out planning services.
That’s awesome and we are not in the business of price cutting. We are not going to be the cheapest as we value our team and the services we provide. So while you might pay more, we know you will get so much more for your money with less hassles and a personal service.
The American Sailing Association licenses are accepted in Croatia through the agreement with the European Union and the addition of the IPC license. International proficiency certificate.
You can apply for the certificate through the ASA if you hold a qualifying ASA certificate.
The IPC can also have a VHF endorsement included within the license. Which covers you for the VHF license required here in Croatia to charter a vessel.
A security deposit is the amount you leave on hold on your credit card or in cash at the charter office in case of damages to the boat. If on return, you have damaged the boat to the value of €1000 then you will have that deducted from your security deposit. If you damage the boat beyond the amount of the security deposit (let’s assume the security deposit is €3000 for this example) then €3000 is the maximum amount you will be charged. It is effectively the excess on the insurance policy the yacht has. If you return with no damage, then the entire security deposit is returned to you.
Deposit insurance is when you purchase a separate insurance policy to insure your €3000 security deposit.
In this instance say that policy is €400 plus a €400 refundable portion. If you return the boat undamaged then you will receive €400 back. But you have paid €400 for the policy. If you return with damage, then the maximum amount lost €800. So you just do not receive back the refundable amount.
insurance, damages, claim, credit card, deposit waiver
JOIN OUR COMPETITION!
2026 Free Charter Giveaway
After the huge success and excitement the last 2 years, we’re thrilled to bring this offer back for another season.
🌟 Win Your Charter for FREE! 🌟
When you book your 2026 charter with 45 Degrees Sailing before the end of February, you’ll be entered into a draw to WIN YOUR CHARTER FOR FREE! How amazing is that?