Comparing the types of vessel charter before you book a boat in Charleston? The short version: there are three legal structures, and only one of them means a licensed captain handles the boat while you relax. Blue Life Charters runs that one, a captained private sailing charter for up to six guests, with no strangers aboard. See availability on FareHarbor or call (843) 256-6355.

Search results for this topic mix two audiences: shipping professionals reading charter-party contracts and travelers choosing a boat for a day on the water. This guide covers both, in plain English, then explains how the structures work for a recreational sailing charter in Charleston Harbor.

The three main types of vessel charter

Maritime law groups every charter into three structures. The difference is who controls the vessel and who pays for crew and operations.

  • Voyage charter. The vessel is hired for one trip, such as from a load port to a discharge port. The owner keeps operational control and crew, and the charterer pays freight for the passage. This is common in cargo shipping and rare in recreation.
  • Time charter. The vessel is hired for a set period. The owner still supplies and manages the crew and maintenance, but the charterer decides where the vessel goes and how it is used during that time.
  • Bareboat (demise) charter. The owner hands over the vessel without crew. The charterer takes possession, hires or supplies the crew and carries responsibility for operating and maintaining the boat, much like a long lease.

Types of sailing charter for leisure

On the recreational side, the same ideas translate into four options you will see in listings.

  • Bareboat sailing charter. You rent the yacht with no captain and sail it yourself. It requires proven experience, and rental companies check qualifications. Blue Life does not offer bareboat or self-drive charters.
  • Skippered charter. You hire the boat with a licensed captain. The captain navigates and handles the sails, and you choose the pace and what to see.
  • Crewed charter. The captain is joined by additional crew, such as a deckhand or a chef, who handle service as well as sailing. This is common on larger yachts.
  • Shared or per-seat sailing. You buy a place on a boat that sells seats to several parties. It costs less per person, but you share the deck, the route and the schedule.

Blue Life Charters falls into the second and third groups: a captained private charter with a USCG-licensed captain and crew, booked for your party alone.

How U.S. rules shape the types of sailing charter in Charleston

Coast Guard regulations explain why most private day charters in Charleston carry the same number of guests. A vessel carrying paying passengers is a commercial vessel, and an uninspected passenger vessel may carry no more than six paying passengers. A boat that carries more must be inspected and hold a Certificate of Inspection. That is why Blue Life charters are limited to six guests, not counting the captain and crew.

It also explains a rule of thumb worth remembering when you compare operators. If a captain or crew is included, the arrangement is a captained charter, not a bareboat. And if a listing promises a party boat for a large group with one captain, ask about the vessel’s inspection status before you pay.

Types of boat vessels you will meet in Charleston

Charleston’s waters carry more than sailboats. Ask which type of vessel is on offer, because it shapes the experience:

  • Sailboats run on wind. They are quieter, heel gently under sail and give you the motion and sound of a traditional harbor day.
  • Motor yachts run on engines and cover more distance quickly, but they trade away the sailing experience.
  • Catamarans have two hulls, a wide deck and a steadier ride. They are often built for larger groups, which changes how private the day feels.

Blue Life operates sailing yachts only, which keeps the experience quiet and the group small.

Types of sailing boats

If you are curious how sailboats differ, the rig, meaning the masts and sails, is the main distinction:

  • Sloop. One mast, a mainsail and one headsail. It is the most common rig for cruising yachts and the easiest to handle.
  • Cutter. One mast with two headsails, popular for offshore sailing.
  • Ketch. Two masts, with the shorter mizzen mast forward of the rudder post.
  • Yawl. Two masts, with the small mizzen mast behind the rudder post.
  • Schooner. Two or more masts, with the foremast shorter than or equal to the main.
  • Catamaran and trimaran. Multihulls with two or three hulls for stability and deck space.

Blue Life’s Llibertat, a 36-foot Beneteau, and Xocolata, a 32-foot sailboat, are single-masted cruising sloops sized for a small group. Browse the boats to see the cockpit, bean bag seating at the bow and layout.

Which of the types of vessel charter fits your plan?

Match the structure to the trip:

  • A day or evening on Charleston Harbor with no sailing experience: a captained private charter. Book a sunset cruise or a daytime harbor tour and let the captain run the boat.
  • A multi-day cruise with a qualified crew of your own: a bareboat, booked through a company that offers that product.
  • A celebration where privacy matters: private and captained, every time.

Not sure whether a private sailing charter is worth it for a first-timer? Read the private sailboat charter guide, and see the yacht charter cost guide for how pricing works.

Where Blue Life sits among the types of vessel charter

A standard charter runs about 2.5 hours from the Harborage at Ashley River Marina at 33 Lockwood Drive. The captain meets you at the dock, a short safety briefing follows, and then the boat sails past the Battery, Waterfront Park and Castle Pinckney before turning near the Ravenel Bridge or Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter is a landmark you see from the water, not a stop. Guests can take a turn at the wheel, help with the sails or simply watch.

Charters are BYOB with a refrigerator, drinkware, bottled water and sodas on board, and optional catering is available. Blue Life Charters has earned TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice recognition from 2020 through 2024.

Having compared the types of vessel charter, ready for a captained private sailing charter on Charleston Harbor? Explore charter options and book or call (843) 256-6355.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main types of vessel charter?

Voyage, time and bareboat (demise). In recreation, the equivalents are a single trip with crew, a crewed or skippered charter and a no-crew bareboat rental.

Is a captained charter the same as a bareboat?

No. A bareboat has no captain provided by the owner. If the owner supplies the captain, it is a captained charter.

How many guests can a private charter carry?

Up to six paying guests on an uninspected passenger vessel, plus the captain and crew.