| VAT |
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 All Clarity's prices include VAT
 Be aware of companies that don't make it clear whether VAT is extra & always check |
| Does the price quoted include or exclude VAT? Always ask, as it is a common way to mislead you by making the price seem less than that from a competitor. When you're spending a significant amount of money on a charter, suddenly adding VAT on top will make a big difference to the price you pay. As an individual it's unlikely you'll be able to reclaim the VAT, and as a business it is also unlikely as chartering will almost certainly be classed as 'entertaining'. Look at it another way - if you are able to reclaim the VAT then it's a bonus, but always ensure that when weighing up prices you compare them with VAT included. |
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| Fuel |
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All Clarity's prices include up to 50 nautical miles per day. Excess mileage fuel supplements are quoted at the time of booking
Be aware of companies that quote fuel as an 'extra' & always check |
| Again, another common way to make a price seem lower, is to quote prices exclusive of fuel charges. Fuel typically makes up around 15% of the cost of a charter, and a 50 foot flybridge motor yacht can use around £5 worth of fuel per mile at today's oil prices. For a typical day out covering say 50 nautical miles, this would add up to £250 to the charter price! You wouldn't get on a train or plane and expect to receive a bill for fuel at the end of the trip - so don't charter a yacht without knowing how much it will cost. |
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| Professional Charter Association Member? |
| The PCA is the UK's skippered yacht charter representative body and speaks for the industry to the outside world. It also promotes safety, best practice and the highest operational standards among its members, whose aims are to provide the best service and entertainment afloat. Other trade organisations include the Professional Boatman’s Association and Yacht Charter Association. |
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Clarity is an active member
Companies who are not PCA members - or who don't belong to a similar professional organisation, may not strive to attain our high standards |
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| Coding |
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All Clarity's yachts meet the strictest safety standards
NEVER charter an uncoded or unlicensed yacht
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| Coding is the certification process that assesses a yacht's safety and suitability for commercial operation. Yachts may be coded by the MCA - the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or the local authority. Don't just take someone's word that a yacht is coded - ask to see the documentation. It is a requirement that documentation is carried on board at all times while on charter. Coding a yacht is a thorough and costly process and is usually the first step that a rogue operator will miss out. Remember, you wouldn't get into a car or onto a plane that didn't meet safety standards - so definitely don't get onto an un-coded boat! |
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| Skippers Qualifications |
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All Clarity's Skippers are well-trained, experienced and very familiar with our cruising areas, and hold all relevant qualifications
NEVER get on board a yacht if you are unsure of the Skipper's level of competence |
| To be able to legally skipper a yacht for commercial use, a Skipper must hold relevant qualifications. These are normally a commercially-endorsed RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster's certificate or a local authority 'boatmans' licence for operation in a limited geographic area. Unscrupulous operators may have inappropriate or no qualifications, and could put your safety at risk. |
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| Insurance & Liability |
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Clarity has all these insurances and has legal agreements with all its suppliers to cover liability
NEVER charter through a company that cannot show adequate levels of insurance |
| Suitable insurance is a pre-requisite in these modern times. You need to be sure that everything is covered should something go wrong. Insurance policies should be endorsed for skippered charter or they will likely be invalidated. The yacht should be insured with public liabaility cover of a suggested minimum of £2 million and the charter company should also hold third party liability insurance to a sensible minimum of £2 million. |
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| Boat Specification |
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| Most people buy a yacht charter without ever seeing the yacht, which is why it's vitally important to have confidence in the company you're buying from. Some companies use images of newer yachts or even a completely different model to the one you'll actually end up on - so always ensure you know exactly the yacht you'll be offered before you hand over any money. A legitimate company will always let you visit to view the yacht prior to you making payment if you're unsure. |
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All our yachts are described accurately, with images of the actual boat or an identical example
Be aware of vague specifications and images of bigger boats! |
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| Operator or Agent? |
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| Always know exactly who you're dealing with. You can purchase yacht charter in many different ways and from many different sources. A company that operates its own fleet of yachts will have a better understanding of the boats and their cruising areas than most agents. You're also more likely to get the best price. |
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Clarity operates its own fleet and deals direct with owners for managed yachts to offer you the best deal and the best service
Agents can supply to agents, who can supply to other agents - and you the customer can end up paying for the charter several times over! |
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| Mobile Phones & 'Dodgy' Websites |
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Our levels of service are guaranteed
Be aware of mobile phone-only contacts and companies with websites looking like they've been thrown together |
| If you come across a website advertising yacht charter at prices too good to be true, then don't waste your time. If there is only a mobile 'phone number to call, or an e-mail address to contact - with no landline or address, be careful! It could be that the boat on offer is not the boat you see advertised, the price is not the price you'll end up paying, or they could be an illegal operator and your safety may be put at risk. |
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| 'New' versus 'Used' |
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All our yachts are either new or nearly new and are superbly specified and impeccably maintained
Older boats may be cheaper, but don't always offer better value and certainly won't provide that 'Wow' factor! |
| If you're looking to hire a car for your holiday or business trip, do you prefer a new or nearly new model, or one several years old? Older yachts may appear to offer good value, but charter boats work for their living so after a few years can look decidedly tatty! Clarity's values are about first class service in high quality surroundings - which add up to an unbeatable experience. That's why all our motor yachts are either brand new or nearly new. |
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