Post-purchase boat delivery, seasonal moves and Bahamas crossings by a USCG 50-ton Master with an auxiliary sail endorsement. Published day rates and a written estimate before anything is signed.
You closed on a boat three states away. I meet her at the broker's dock, run a full pre-departure check and bring her to your slip.
North for the summer, south for the winter. Chesapeake to Florida and back, inside on the ICW or outside when the weather allows.
The Gulf Stream crossing is about timing. I wait for the right window, handle clearance and bring your boat into a Bahamas port of entry.
Come along and learn your new boat underway: engine checks, sail handling, watchkeeping and anchoring, taught on a real passage.
Fifteen minutes on the boat, the route and your timing.
I go through the survey, maintenance records and your insurance requirements.
A written estimate and passage plan. A deposit reserves your dates.
Daily position reports, and a call before each offshore leg.
Walkthrough, logbook, punch list and expense receipts.
Day rates are the industry standard for a reason: they never reward a captain for rushing. You pay for the days the passage actually takes.
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| CaptainUSCG 50-ton Master, auxiliary sail | $450 / day |
| MateRequired for offshore and overnight passages | $250 / day |
| Travel daysGetting to the boat and home again | Half day rate |
| ProvisioningPer crew member, per day aboard | $40 / day |
| Weather or lay daysHeld in port for weather or repairs | Day rate |
Rates for 2026. Every delivery gets a written estimate before signing.
Crew labor and provisioning
Planning figure only. Fuel, dockage, crew travel and repairs are extra, and your written quote comes after a call.
Get my written quoteSailboats and trawlers up to 50 gross tons: sloops, cutters, ketches and displacement or semi-displacement trawlers. If your boat is outside that range, call anyway and I'll point you to the right captain.
Two to four weeks is typical. Fall southbound and spring northbound seasons fill first, so book early if your dates are tied to a haul-out, a slip or insurance.
Most policies do, but many require the insurer to approve the captain and the route, especially offshore or outside U.S. waters. I'll send my credentials to your agent so approval is in place before we leave.
We wait. I plan each leg around a forecast window and pick bail-out harbors in advance. Weather days are billed at the day rate and are always my call, never a push to hit a date.
Yes. That includes Gulf Stream routing, online pre-clearance, the cruising permit and entry at a port of entry. The trip can run direct from the Chesapeake or be staged from Florida.
Usually. I review the survey with you and separate the must-fix safety items from the ones that can wait. Some can be handled on the way, and some are better fixed before departure.
Yes, and many new owners do. An owner-aboard passage is billed at the same day rate, and you'll finish the trip knowing your boat.
I spent 25 years in the Army as a diesel and power generation mechanic and operations supervisor, and I'm an ABYC member trained on ABYC marine systems standards, so most engine, charging, battery (lithium included) and fuel problems get diagnosed and often fixed on the spot. Anything beyond a field repair, I call you with options before spending your money.
Daily position updates are part of every delivery. Near the coast they go out by cell phone; offshore, by satellite. I have a strong background in VHF, SSB and satellite communications, and I use Iridium and Starlink aboard my own vessel, so I'm at home with whatever the boat carries.
I also hold an FCC General Class amateur radio license (KB3LVB). FCC rules don't allow amateur radio to be used for business, so it isn't part of how I report on your delivery, but it does reflect years of radio experience and FCC licensing.
A deposit reserves your dates and covers crew travel. The balance of labor and all expenses, with receipts, is settled at handover. PayPal is accepted.
Send the boat, the route and your dates. I'll call you back to talk it through.