Guillaume Caffin, head of rental management programs for The Moorings/Sunsail, explains how this program works and why it is so important.
Who can benefit from rental management?
The rental management is perfectly adapted to customers who regularly rent boats. Indeed, if you want to have a boat at your disposal full time or if, on the other hand, your active life does not leave you enough time for leisure, this program is not suitable. However, for people who regularly rent boats for 2 to 3 weeks a year (or more), our program is perfectly suited.
This program is suitable for people who have a "rental mindset", less those who have a desire to own, to buy. In fact, this program is an intermediary between classic rental and ownership. By joining the program, you are assured of having a sailboat or motorboat anywhere in the world to ensure your vacation for the duration of the program.
In some cases, if you manage to get the program out of the way, you can buy your boat back and continue with it, but in most cases clients sell the boat (through The Moorings/Sunsail brokerage network) and start a new program.
What are the differences between The Moorings and Sunsail?
In absolute terms, there is no difference between the charter programs. The Moorings and Sunsail offer the same contracts. With the same rental income. At that level, it's identical. What will change are the boat models offered in either structure. For example, we will find more monohulls at Sunsail or motor catamarans are only offered at The Moorings. But for the core range between 40 and 45 feet, they are the same boats. A Moorings 4000 is identical to the Sunsail 404. These two 40-foot catamarans (Leopard 40) will be equipped in exactly the same way.
This is an important point, a client who chooses a rental management program has the choice of the boat model, the number of cabins (when available) and the name of the boat. But that is all! No customization is possible, neither on the color of the cushions nor on the onboard electronic equipment.
How does it work?
For each case, there is a study of the file according to the desired boat and the available contribution. But let's say that with between 20 and 30% down payment, one can enjoy a vacation during the whole period of the contract (6 rental seasons) with the assurance of a controlled resale value at the end of the contract. With this resale value, the client can then recover his contribution (recover his capital) or reinvest it in a new program. It is therefore risk-free with the added assurance of a nice vacation during the period!
What are the customer feedbacks
With over 50% program renewals, we can say that our customers are satisfied. For this to work, there must be no traps. You need simple rules to be respected by both parties. And a bit of rigor. For example, to book cruises, you have to do it in advance, not at the last minute during the high season.
Among our "old" clients, some might reproach us for always sailing from the same bases, visiting the same sailing basins. This is true if you only book a short stay. However, our smartest clients accumulate their annual six weeks and thus offer themselves beautiful cruises with more sailing away from the bases.
Our clients also appreciate the opportunity to sail on different boats. Some have booked a program on a catamaran, but choose monohulls to sail more sporty with friends or from certain bases. Or they apply for a motor catamaran and ask for charter boats. This is the flexibility that The Moorings and Sunsail can offer with their fleets that include all types of boats and their numerous bases.
