The advantages of our fractional lease program are numerous. Financially sharing the excessive costs of boating between a handful of others makes a lot of sense - not only can it allow you to own a larger boat than you imagined, but gives you the peace of mind to know your boat is being professionally managed with all the hassles being taken care of, and you know you will never have any unexpected expenses! However, fractional yacht ownership is not for everyone, that

is why we have created this informational page to illustrate the pros and cons of different approaches to boating (of course fractional ownership comes out on top!)

Traditional Boat Ownership

For boaters who want the maximum freedom to go boating whenever they want, without having to book, plan or confirm their plans, then owning a boat is a great option. Particularly for people who live on the water and are fortunate enough to have a dockage, the ability to wake up and decide to go fishing or take a cruise is a magnificent experience. There are many responsibilities related to owning a boat, and as explained in detail throughout this website, the costs of boat ownership do not stop at the purchase price - there's insurance, dockage, maintenance and cleaning to name a few. However, not only do these factors cost, there is also the hassles involved in organizing everything! There are however many companies, such as our sister company, American Yacht Maintenance, that will fully manage your vessel for you to insure it's in tip top condition whenever you use it, therefore in comparing yacht ownership, it really comes down to is cost - how much is it worth for the few extra benefits of boat ownership?

Charter

Traditionally yacht charters have been the obvious alternative to boat ownership for many years, for people who only wish to use a boat for one or two weeks of the year, the ability to go to a variety of locations and use a different boat for each charter gives a certain amount of freedom, and because you only pay for the time you charter, this is a much cheaper option than owning a boat out right. The draw back however is the ability to take your boat out for a day here and a day there as chartering a yacht for a day can be extremely cost prohibitive. In addition, the quality and condition of charter boats can vary dramatically between companies and locations, sometimes resulting in disappointment when you arrive at your charter destination. Therefore boat charters can be ideal for people who wish to use a boat for a vacation once or twice a year, but can become an expensive option for a full season of boating compared to fractional yacht ownership.

Boat Rentals/Boat Clubs

Smaller boats are available to rent in many boating destinations, and more recently many 'boat clubs' have been formed where members pay a monthly fee and have use of a variety of boats. This is a very cost effective way to get out on the water, and a great entry into the boating world. However, as with many items that are rented, the condition of the boats can vary from one company to another, sometimes during busy periods it can be difficult to reserve a boat, and most importantly rentals and boat clubs tend to be restricted to smaller sized boats, therefore not a realistic option if you wish to use a boat of 30ft and above.

Fractional Lease

A fractional lease offers you the freedom to use your boat when you need to use it, for an afternoon, day, weekend or full vacation. You know that you are sharing with only a set number of people, all of whom have the same pride in ownership as yourself to insure that the boat remains in top condition. Through or strategic relationships with top boat manufacturers you have a huge choice of boats ranging in size from 20ft right through to 65ft and above, all in many convenient locations around the country. For the boater who wants the maximum freedom to enjoy boating in local waterways, fractional yacht ownership and American Yacht Shares fractional lease is the answer!