This is one of my dream possessions, a yacht that is.If I get one I probably will install a yacht wind generator to charge my onboard batteries.

You know the modern yachts now carry a lot of electronic equipment on board things like gps, radar and if you have autopilot that also needs power to run. If you are out on the sea you definetely can not stop and recharge your batteries. You could have solar panels installed but what if there’s no sun. What do you do then?

It makes sense then to have a marine wind generator installed on your yacht, so you can enjoy your ride to the fullest. Nowadays they now even have yacht wind generators that also double up as water generator which generates power by using the water to turn a propellor a the yacht moves. This is kind of like the old hydro electric plant design just on a smaller scale.

One of the most popular such generator is the Duo Gen. They recently released the newer model Duo Gen 2 which has some improvements on the older version, mostly just stronger fixtures and installations to make it more durable and therefore last you many yours to come.

Another type you could consider is the Air-X-Marine. This is a more intelligent generator that has an onboard micro processor to improve all the fucntions including overall performance, battery charging and the reduction of the annoying flatter noise that is common on most other brands.

It also has a built in high wind safe mode that automatically slows the generator down in high winds as well as the auto brake system that stops the wind generator when the batteries become fully charged. It comes with a full marine tower kit for easy mounting on any sailboat.

There’s also the Ampair brand. They produce more heavy duty type marine wind generators. Their generators tend to be all weather proof make up which includes a sealed design which does not allow you any access into the units sensitive areas. You can get them in 3 different power outputs that is the Ampair 600, Ampair 300, and Ampair 100 micro wind turbine.

There are other brands of yacht wind generators available on the market, but I thought I would just mention a few here to let you know that you do have a few choices to choose from. I guess your decision will be based on where you are you are going to be doing most of your sailing.

Yacht charter in Croatia

In this article you will find very useful information about chartering in Croatia, so when you deicide to take a trip to Croatia and maybe rent a boat, you know a little more about it.

First you should know that there are two main charter types - bareboat & crewed yacht charter. If you deicide for bareboat charter you or anybody on the boat must have a boat leader’s license. The license must be related to the sea and open waters and not to the rivers and channels. Also you must have VHF license. But in the lack of the both licenses you can always hire a skipper, what is best solution in the most of cases. You just come on aboard and enjoy, while a skipper take care of the rest.

Charter week (popular called “Check in”) in Croatia started on Saturday afternoon ( 3 pm to 5 pm ) and ends (”Check out”) on Saturday morning ( 8 am to 10 am ). That is because the boats must been cleaned and prepared for a next client.
Yacht’s for charter in Croatia has Casco insurance. The companies ask for deposit to be left in base marina in amount of insurance franchise. Depending on the size of the yacht and insurance contract deposit goes from 500 EUR to 2500 EUR and can be paid in cash or by credit card. Credit card will be just slipped and not charged yet. In case the yacht is damaged the charter company will cover the damage from the deposit left by guest and the rest from the insurance company.
There are over 100 yacht charter companies and over 3000 yachts in Croatia and each one of them has its own price and terms. Personally I prefer the company that I make one or two charter, company name is Waypoint - Yacht Charter Croatia,. They covers complete Croatian Adriatic coast with offices and technical support, whats give them advance.
In the continuation of this article you will find a very common example of General Charter Terms and Conditions in Croatia:
Charter party conditions:
Contractual partners

The charter party is concluded between the charter company and the charterer, and may be concluded through the intermediary of the agency if need be.

Payment, cancellation, non performance of the charterer
1. Unless otherwise stated in the charter party, payment of the first instalment, as defined, of the charter price is due within three days of conclusion of the charter party; the balance is due six weeks before the commencement of charter. Payment must be received before the dead-lines indicated.

2. In emergencies the charter company may withdraw within 4 days of conclusion of the charter party. In such a case the charter company undertakes to repay to the charterer without delay any monies already paid (if need be, through the agent).

3. If the charterer is unable to accept the charter, he must inform the charter company immediately. If a replacement charter is concluded at the same terms, the charterer shall be repaid any monies he has already paid, less any handling costs which have arisen, but which shall be not less than 20% of the charter price. If no replacement charter is available at the same terms, the charter company may claim the full charter price. The charterer is strongly recommended to take out a voyage cancellation costs insurance. The charter company or the agent will be pleased to send a quotation for such insurance.

4. The charter company may withdraw from the charter party if the charterer fails to pay by the stated dead-lines. Instalments already paid will only be reimbursed, less a handling charge of 20%, if a replacement charter is concluded at the same terms.
Obligations of the charter company
1. The agreed yacht will be delivered to the charterer in a clean, sailable, sea-worthy condition, and with full tanks.

2. If the agreed yacht cannot be delivered at the date agreed in the charter party (e.g. because of average, un-seaworthiness as a result of an accident in the preceding charter etc) the charter company may deliver an equivalent yacht without prejudice to the warranty claims of the charterer in so far as there are defects in the replacement yacht.

The charterer warrants and undertakes the following
1. to observe the principles of good seamanship.
2. to possess a good command of seamanship and sufficient experience in the command of a yacht or to appoint a responsible skipper with such capabilities. If the charterer or his skipper does not possess the necessary licence or certificate of competence to skipper a yacht of the agreed class, the charter company reserves the right to refuse to hand over the yacht, retaining the charter price, or to appoint a skipper in the name of and for the account of the charterer.

3. to observe the laws of any country he might visit and to report the arrival and departure of the yacht to the harbour master.

4. not to use the yacht for the purposes of business or trade, not to take on board any persons not being a member of his immediate group, not to hand over or hire the yacht to a third party without the written consent of the charter company and not to transport any hazardous goods or materials.

5. not to leave the maritime region of the charter company without the prior written consent of the charter company.

6. not to make any changes to the yacht or its equipment.

7. to handle the yacht and its equipment with care, always to wear sailing shoes when on board, to maintain the log book in a simple form, prior to the commencement of charter to inform himself in detail about the area to be travelled, e.g. currents, and sea level changes during strong winds etc.

8. not to leave the protective harbour if winds over 7 on the Beaufort scale are forecast.

9. to return the yacht in proper working order, in an orderly condition with all equipment properly stowed and with full tanks; failure to do this will mean that the cost of filling the tanks and stowing equipment will be deducted from the deposit.

10. to inform the charter company immediately by phone or telegraph in the event of damage, collision, average or other unusual events. To prepare a written account In the event of damage to the yacht or injury to persons, and to have this countersigned by the harbour-master or doctor.

11. always to have the yacht towed by its own line in the event of average or similar events, and to make no agreement about towing or salvage.

12. to check the condition of the yacht and check that all its equipment and items listed on the inventory are complete, both on taking over and returning the boat (the check list), and to confirm this by means of a signature.

13. to report complaints concerning the yacht without delay to the yacht’s base and to note these in the delivery or return documents. Claims notified at a later date cannot be entertained.

14. where applicable, to sign charter parties required by law or the charter company’s own contract forms before taking over the yacht.
Repairs, engines and monitoring of the bilges
1. Repairs costing over € 100 must have the approval of the charter company. The original of any part replaced must be retained. Payments for repairs necessary as a result of wear and tear will be reimbursed by the charter company on presentation of invoices accompanied by the corresponding receipt.

2. The charterer must check the level of the oil, the cooling water and the bilges each day. The charterer must check the cooling water flow continuously during the charter. Damage due to the motor running dry are not insured under any circumstances, and is for the account of the charterer. The motor must not be used when heeling under sail at over 10º as in such a case oil or water supplies to the engine do not function.
Cancellation by the charterer or reduction of the charter price in the event of late delivery or defects
1. If the charter company fails to provide the yacht, or at least an equivalent replacement yacht at the time agreed in the charter party, the charterer may withdraw from this charter party, but not before 24 hours from the commencement of the charter, and receive full reimbursement of all payments made under this charter party. If the charter period is two or more weeks, the minimum time before which the charterer can withdraw is increased by 24 hours per additional week.

2. All other claims for compensation by the charterer are excluded, except in the case of intent and gross negligence by the charter company. If the charterer does not withdraw from the charter, he may claim for reimbursement of the charter price pro rata for the time for which the charter company failed to hand over the yacht.

3. Damage to the yacht and its equipment which does not prejudice its sea-worthiness and which allow the yacht to continue to be used in a reasonable manner shall not be grounds for withdrawal. A reduction in the charter price in such a case is also excluded.
Charter company’s liability
1. The charter company shall only be liable towards the charterer and his crew for loss or damage arising from intent or gross negligence on the part of the charter company.

2. The charter company shall not be liable for loss or damage caused by inaccuracies, amendments, mistakes and defects in the ancillary nautical equipment provided, e.g. marine charts, handbooks, compass, radio direction finding equipment etc.

3. Claims by the charterer due to the inability of the yacht for use resulting from damage or total loss caused by the charterer or a third party during the charter shall be excluded.
Agency’s liability
The agency is only liable as an intermediary for intentional or grossly negligent dereliction of duty in the performance of its services as an intermediary.
Charterer’s liability
1. The charterer shall indemnify the charter company against all civil and criminal consequences of third party claims arising from actions and failures to act on the part of the charterer including all legal costs in the country of delivery and abroad. The charterer accepts the yacht on his own responsibility.

2. If the charterer leaves the yacht at any place other than the agreed location for any reason whatsoever, the charterer shall bear the costs for the return of the yacht by water or by land. If the return of the yacht extends beyond the time period of the charter, the yacht shall be deemed to be returned by the client at the time of its arrival in the agreed harbour.

3. Late return of the yacht and non-usability of the yacht caused by the charterer shall be grounds for claims for compensation by the charter company.

4. Attention is drawn to the fact that conclusion of hull insurance by the charter company does not mean that the charterer is not liable for loss or damage not covered by such insurance, or for loss or damage for which the insurance expressly reserved the right of recourse to the charterer. This applies particularly to damage caused by gross negligence, intent or failure to observe the conditions of the charter party, and for any consequential loss or damage.

5. The conditions of the insurance, which we will gladly provide on request, are an integral part of this contract. The deductible excess for each loss is to be borne by the charterer and may differ from the deposit paid. The deposit will be repaid without delay on the return of the yacht and equipment in good condition. Loss and damage will be off-set against the deposit. Loss and damage not covered by the deposit or the insurance shall be paid without delay by the charterer.

Conclusion of an extended “Skipper’s liability insurance” (which covers crew’s liability amongst themselves and recovery of losses to the chartered yacht in the event of substantiated gross negligence) and a consequential loss insurance is strongly recommended. The charter company and broker will be pleased to send all necessary documentation.
Miscellaneous/subsidiary agreements/ information / separability clause
1. The charter period may only be extended with the agreement of the charter company. If there should be obvious errors in the invoicing of the charter price and the extras, the charter company and the charterer have the right and the obligation to correct the charter price in line with the valid price list. This does not affect the legality of this contract

2. Oral undertakings and subsidiary agreements are only valid after written confirmation by the charter company. This applies also to any waiver of the requirement for written form. All care is taken in the preparation of information, but information is given without guarantee.

3. The invalidity of individual provisions shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of the charter party. The parties agree to replace invalid provisions by valid provisions most closely approaching the invalid provisions.
Place of jurisdiction, applicable law
All claims relating to the relationship between charterer and agency shall be subject to the law applicable to the registered office of the agency; the place of jurisdiction shall be the registered office of the broker. All claims relating to the relationship between charterer and charter company shall be subject to the law applicable at the registered office of the charter company, and the place of jurisdiction shall be the registered office of the charter company.

Little girls dream of growing up one day, wearing a white veil and walking down the aisle. However, by the time it is about to happen, perspectives and desires may have changed. No longer wanting a “traditional” wedding, everybody wants to do it differently, some going so far as getting married underwater. That sounds uncomfortable and not romantic at all and, well, wet. One alternative that still manages to be romantic albeit nontraditional is the wedding cruise, sometimes referred to as the honeymoon cruise because the actual wedding is performed at the port. Think Love Boat and you get a picture of how it could be romantic. You still get married surrounded by water but you can dispense with the oxygen mask.

Apparently, however, it is not so uncommon for a couple to decide to go on a cruise ship instead of the church to get hitched. Based on the bewildering varieties of wedding cruse packages being offered, there must be a great demand for the service.

Packages can range from a two-hour private yacht shindig starting at $495 good for 12 guests to an elaborate 7-day cruise with a flat fee of $2,250 for on-board wedding and $1,000 per guest. If both the bride and groom have few friends and no family, then this could be the ideal wedding cruise package. However, it seems to be a bit weird to bring your wedding guests along on the honeymoon, especially if one of them is a hostile father/mother-in-law. Hopefully it is a very big ship.

Short cruise packages are flexible. A couple can opt for a barebones civil ceremony and 2-hour cruise feasting on pastries and coffee, or chocolates and champagnes. Sunrise weddings are the cheapest and sunset ceremonies the most expensive. Most yachts are able to accommodate a maximum of 12 people so it is necessarily an intimate gathering. For a larger gathering, sailing catamarans are used that can accommodate up to 75 people for a 3-hour long celebration, priced at approximately $8,000, including the wedding ceremony and dinner for 75.

Cruise ship packages are more elaborate and can range from a day trip to seven days, and includes all meals and amenities of the ship. Typically, an onboard wedding planner’s services are included as well as licensing fees, photographers, flowers, music, wedding album, wedding cake and even the live web broadcast of the wedding. Some offer free websites for posting the wedding pictures and other paraphernalia. The actual wedding can take place onboard, which is only allowed on Princess Cruises or at port prior to boarding.

Destination weddings is also another type of wedding cruise package in which the couple goes on a cruise, then gets off to get married on land such as a beach or other exotic places before going back on board for the honeymoon. However, this can be quite expensive, depending on the chosen destination, but it usually runs into five figures . Whichever “nontraditional” wedding package you decide to go for just keep in mind that there are many to choose from, so take the time to shop around and get advice from people who have tried it. Turnkey options are available to keep you from stressing out on the details. After all, it is supposed to be your day.