This is a rewritten version of the author’s note: Written by James Carter, a seasoned sailor with eight years of experience in the catamaran charter business in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, He has personally managed the charter operations and maintenance of over 40 catamarans from various brands, hosting hundreds of first-time chartering families from Europe and the U.S. each year. He has firsthand experience with the maintenance mistakes beginners often make, as well as the wear and tear on boats in the unique environment of the Virgin Islands.
Chartering a catamaran to cruise the Virgin Islands—it sounds wonderful.
But did you know that many first-time charterers run into one problem after another within just three hours of leaving the dock? It’s not that the boats themselves have any defects—it’s purely because the users lack the proper knowledge of how to operate them.
I’ve witnessed many similar scenarios: A family happily boards the boat, tosses the captain’s manual aside, fills the cooler with beer and rum, and then—the desalinator stops making noise, the toilet gets clogged, the anchor chain gets tangled, and the air conditioner starts leaking water.The most tragic incident involved a guy who scraped off the zinc anodes from the hull; three days later, the engine cooling system started leaking, resulting in repair costs of $2,000.
Don’t panic. You can absolutely avoid these pitfalls.
The first thing to do when you board the boat: don’t take pictures—inspect it first
You might be thinking, “I rented this boat from a big company—it should be fine, right?”
You couldn’t be more wrong.
At charter companies in the Virgin Islands—even big names like Moorings, Sun Yacht, and Dream Yacht Charter—their boats are caught in a cycle of “heavy use, followed by a quick refurbishment, and then back out for rent.”The previous guest might have just run the boat aground on a coral reef—or used the toilet as a trash can.
My personal habit is to bring a printed checklist on the day of handover and go through each item one by one in front of the staff.
Here are a few points that must be verified on the spot:
For the freshwater pump and water heater, turn on every faucet, wait for hot water to flow, then turn it off, and turn it on again. On many boats, the water heater only operates when connected to shore power; once the generator is turned off, the water turns cold. This isn’t considered a malfunction, but you need to be aware of it.
For the electric toilet and black water tank, flush once and listen for any sounds. If the motor runs but doesn’t draw water, it’s likely clogged by a foreign object—the previous guest probably threw a wet wipe down there.This is extremely common in the Virgin Islands because some boat companies post signs next to the toilets stating “Only toilet paper allowed,” but first-time guests often ignore them.
Anchor winch: After lowering and retrieving the anchor, check the entire process to see if the chain is tangled, and listen for any unusual noises from the winch.If the windlass gets jammed—especially in a popular anchorage like Cane Garden Bay—you’ll just have to sit there and wait to be berated by other boats.
Take a look at the zinc anodes in the engine room. If they’re nearly completely corroded away, it indicates the boat hasn’t been properly maintained recently, and aluminum components—such as the heat exchanger—are likely already damaged. You can confidently request a replacement boat.
Practical Tip: Bring a smartphone lens attachment specifically to photograph the hull and the area below the waterline. Many rental companies only take photos above the waterline when handing over the boat. If you have photos of the area below the waterline, you’ll have an extra “get-out-of-jail-free card” when returning the boat.
Freshwater System: You Think It’s Unlimited, But It’s Actually Just a Small Tank
Tap water in the Virgin Islands is surprisingly expensive, and the water tends to be hard.The freshwater tanks on many charter boats range from 300 to 400 liters. For a 40-foot catamaran, with four people showering, washing dishes, and flushing the toilet as usual, this supply will last about two and a half days.
What’s the most common mistake beginners make?
Hosing down the deck with fresh water while complaining, “Why isn’t there enough water?”
Once, I took a group of guests from France out to sea. By the next morning, I discovered they had been using fresh water to rinse the anchor chain for two whole hours, and by the afternoon, the fresh water supply had already triggered an alert.As a result, they had to stand in a long line in Spanish Town, waiting for a water truck to deliver fresh water, and ended up wasting the entire morning.
My advice to you:
1. Set a clear rule: each person is limited to a maximum of three minutes per day for showering.Don’t think this rule is too strict; at sea, three minutes is more than enough time. First, wet your body, then turn off the water, lather up with soap, and finally turn the water back on to rinse off—this is basic etiquette that must be followed on board.
2. When washing dishes, rinse them with seawater first, then give them a quick rinse with a small amount of fresh water.Catamaran kitchens are typically equipped with sinks on both sides, one connected to a seawater pump and the other to fresh water. If you don’t rinse with seawater first, your fresh water tank won’t last until the third day.
3. Do not leave the faucet running continuously. Many people are accustomed to leaving the faucet running at home while shaving or brushing their teeth, but this is absolutely not acceptable on a boat. Turn it on, then off, and turn it on again when you’re ready to use it.
Another underrated yet practical item is a freshwater filter. Some high-end charter boats (such as Leopard models 50 and above) come equipped with one as standard, but the vast majority of Lagoon 42s and Bali 4.0s do not.If the water on board has an odd smell, it’s highly likely that algae or bacteria have grown in the water tank. The solution is quite simple: before setting sail, buy a few 1-gallon bottles of drinking water at the marina. Use bottled water for cooking and drinking, and use the water on board for showering.
Toilets: By far the most vulnerable part of the boat
How can I put this? Out of every ten catamarans available for charter, eight have faulty toilet systems. The issues range from a broken vacuum pump to a black water tank that’s so full it’s about to overflow, or leaks in the vent pipes.
Why is this the case?
Because too many people treat the toilet as if it were a flush toilet on land.
Items absolutely prohibited from being flushed down the toilet:
Wet wipes (even if they say “flushable”)
Tampons, condoms
Food scraps
Hair (watch out for hair you drop in the sink)
These items can jam the pump’s impeller in just a few hours. Repair costs start at $150 and have no upper limit—there’s no ceiling; the price just keeps going up.
Proper usage:
First, add a small amount of water to moisten the toilet bowl before use.
After use, perform a “dry pump” cycle first (i.e., keep the pedal pressed or the button held down without releasing) until the waste is fully removed, then flush with water. Many people flush immediately, which prevents waste from being completely flushed away, leading to continuous buildup.
At the end of each day, after the last person has used the restroom, perform two additional flushes to thoroughly clear any waste or residue remaining in the pipes.
I once saw a boat owner at Yacht Harbor in Virgin Gorda who had posted a note in the restroom that read:
“Here, dear guest, if you throw anything into that toilet that doesn’t belong there, this boat will give off a stench so unbearable that you won’t be able to stand it. Remember, please respect this boat.”
It may be crudely put, but the point is true.
Anchoring: A Hundred Times More Complicated Than You Think
At that anchorage in the Faroe Islands, water depth, seabed conditions, and wind patterns all vary greatly.That five-star anchorage you see marked on your phone app—once you arrive, you’ll be shocked to find it’s nothing but seaweed, making it impossible for the anchor to hold.
I once witnessed a particularly dire incident: a novice sailor was anchored near The Baths. He used an anchor windlass to lower the anchor but shut off the engine before it had settled firmly. The boat then spun 180 degrees in the wind, causing the anchor chain to wrap around the propeller. It ultimately took four hours to call in a diver to untangle the chain, costing $500.
Correct Procedure:
1. To choose a good spot, you must first observe the wind direction and current speed. In the Faroe Islands during the winter—December through April—the northeasterly trade winds are very stable. However, during the summer—June through October—thunderstorms occasionally occur, causing sudden shifts in wind direction. You must always keep the bow of your boat facing the wind.
2. When dropping anchor, the bow must face the wind and come to a stop. Many people drop anchor while reversing the boat, which often results in the anchor chain becoming tangled.
3. The length of anchor chain to be deployed should be between 5 and 7 times the water depth.For example, in water 5 meters deep, you should let out at least 25 to 35 meters of anchor chain. If you let out too little, the anchor will slip as soon as it’s subjected to force.
4. After letting out the anchor chain, reverse the boat to apply force to the anchor and check whether the boat is securely held in place. If the boat can still be blown off course by the wind while reversing, this indicates that the anchor has not gripped the seabed firmly; repeat the procedure.
A common mistake made by beginners is that when dropping the anchor chain, it piles up into a “clump” rather than spreading evenly across the seabed. If the anchor is subjected to force in this state, the clump will collapse instantly, causing the anchor to come loose. The correct procedure is to let the boat move slowly in reverse while dropping the anchor, so that the chain spreads out naturally and evenly.
I recommend two apps: one called Navily and the other called iNavX. Both apps feature user reviews of anchorages, which can tell you whether the seabed is sandy, muddy, or covered in seaweed—they’re very useful.
Engines and Generators: Would You Rather Spend an Extra 15 Minutes or 1,500 Yuan?
Catamarans have the advantage that you don’t always have to rely on the engine, but they also have a disadvantage: if the engine fails, you have absolutely no way to fix it—which is a real headache!
The quality of diesel varies in the Viking Islands; at some marinas, the diesel is contaminated with water or bacteria. When bacteria get into the diesel, the filter clogs within a few days.
Prevention:
After each refueling, record the engine’s operating hours. Under normal conditions, your diesel filter should last 200 to 300 hours. However, in the high-temperature, high-humidity environment of the Virgin Islands, it’s recommended to shorten the replacement interval to every 150 hours.
Every morning, before starting the engine, open the diesel filter’s drain valve and release a very small amount of fuel. If you detect any water in the drained fuel, this indicates a problem with the fuel, and you should immediately contact the charter company to arrange for a boat change.
The generator should not be left running continuously for more than twelve hours. Many catamarans are equipped with Onan 9kW or 11kW generators, which have limited cooling capacity. If you fall asleep with the air conditioning running while the generator is on, it will shut down due to overheating the next morning. I usually offer the following advice: Use solar power and batteries to build up energy reserves during the day, and run an electric stove for a few hours at night to generate electricity, which is then stored and used to balance the load. This approach usually meets your needs.
On one occasion, we were anchored off Anegada when the boat’s generator suddenly stopped running.Upon inspection, we discovered that the impeller of the seawater pump had broken, and the debris had clogged the cooling pipes. Since there were no spare parts available, we had no choice but to make do with shore power for two days, then wait a week in Tortola for the parts to be shipped.All the rental fees for that week went down the drain.
Deck and Hull: Coral Is Harder Than Iron
The coral reefs of the Virgin Islands are notorious as “hull killers.”
Above the surface, you might see nothing but deep, azure waters, but just one or two meters below, massive brain corals and staghorn corals are very likely lurking.Many novice captains, glancing at their phone navigation apps while steering their boats right along the edges of the reefs, end up with a long gash scraped into their hulls.
Important Reminder:
The accuracy of nautical charts for the Virgin Islands varies widely; particularly around some of the smaller islands in the BVI, charts may have errors of up to several dozen meters.Do not rely entirely on the water depth displayed by your GPS; instead, rely more on visual observation of the water’s color. Near coral reefs, the water color can suddenly change to light blue or green.
Once the anchor chain has been dropped, do not rush to haul it in. First, bring the bow to a stop facing the wind, then slowly haul it in. Many people haul in the chain while turning, causing it to rub against the hull and scrape off all the antifouling paint.
If there are minor scratches on the hull, don’t panic. As long as they aren’t deep enough to penetrate the fiberglass, most rental companies’ liability waivers cover minor “scratches and scuffs.” However, if there are obvious signs of impact, you’ll have to pay for the damage.
According to statistics from the BVI Port Authority, there are an average of 80 to 120 claims each year for hull damage caused by collisions with coral reefs, with an average payout of approximately $2,800. As for this figure, just take note of it—you don’t need to verify it yourself.
Weather and Communication: Don’t Just Stare at Your Phone
The climate of the British Virgin Islands can be summed up in one sentence: mornings are typically clear and cloudless, while afternoons carry the possibility of thunderstorms.
In particular, the period from June through November is hurricane season. Even when there are no hurricanes, localized thunderstorms and gusts are common between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day, with wind speeds suddenly surging from 15 knots to 30 knots.
What beginners often overlook:
Don’t rely solely on weather apps on your phone—signal is often lost at sea, so you need to learn how to read the clouds. When cumulus clouds rise high and fast, and their bases begin to turn black, a thunderstorm is imminent; you must quickly find a sheltered anchorage.
You must know how to use a VHF radio. Many beginners think VHF is “old-fashioned,” but in many anchorages in the Virgin Islands, cell phone service is unavailable. The only way to contact other vessels and the Coast Guard is via VHF. Channel 16 is the international distress channel, so you must monitor it at all times.
Buy a waterproof VHF radio and mount it next to the helm. Once, while we were playing on a beach in Jost Van Dyke, a sudden gale kicked up, and our boat immediately began drifting.I called out over the walkie-talkie, and an experienced captain from a nearby anchorage immediately came to my aid in his small boat and helped me secure the boat. If I hadn’t had the walkie-talkie, by the time I ran back to the boat, it might have already collided with something.
Frequently Asked Questions (not necessarily in order—I’ll write as they come to mind)
Q: When renting a boat, should I purchase full liability waiver insurance?
A: I’ve heard this question a hundred times. My answer is: Yes, buy it. Even at the higher end, liability insurance in the Virgin Islands costs only a few dozen dollars a day.However, if you don’t purchase it, even a minor scrape could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damages. This is especially true for catamarans—given their size and dimensions, it’s very easy to scrape the hull while backing into a berth.I witnessed firsthand at Road Town Marina a novice sailor backing into a concrete berth and causing a scratch nearly a meter long on the starboard side of the boat, which ended up costing over $3,000 to repair. He had only purchased basic insurance, with a $5,000 deductible.Do you think he slept well that night?
Q: Why doesn’t the air conditioning on the boat I rented ever get cold?
A: There are several possibilities, and the exact number is uncertain. The most common scenario is that the seawater pump’s filter is clogged. The air conditioning systems on catamarans are water-cooled; once the filter becomes clogged, cooling efficiency is significantly reduced.The second most common issue is that the air conditioner’s condensate drain is blocked, preventing water from draining out, which causes the unit to automatically shut down. To fix this, open the air conditioner access panel yourself, locate the filter, and clean it with a toothbrush.If the steps described above do not resolve the issue, contact the rental company. However, do not attempt to disassemble the unit on your own—there have been instances where someone disconnected the wires on the air conditioner’s main board, rendering the entire system completely inoperable.
Q: Can I bring a drone on board?
A: Yes, you can, but flying is prohibited in many national parks and protected areas in the U.S. Virgin Islands (such as The Baths).The specific regulations are as follows: In the U.S. Virgin Islands, drone takeoffs and landings are strictly prohibited within national parks, though flights are permitted in airspace above the water at altitudes not exceeding 400 feet. Regulations in the British Virgin Islands are even stricter, with flights prohibited in nearly all national parks and marine reserves.It’s best to check the current regulations before you leave, or ask the rental company directly. Also, if a drone falls into the ocean, it’s virtually impossible to recover it—three of my friends have had this happen to them.
Q: I’ve never operated a catamaran before. Can I rent one?
A: It’s possible, but it depends on the situation. Most charter companies require at least one crew member to have basic sailing experience or to provide a captain’s resume. If you have absolutely no experience, you can hire a local captain to accompany you for approximately $200 to $350 per day.I strongly advise first-time charterers to hire a skipper for the first day or two to help you get familiar with the boat’s handling and the characteristics of the anchorages in the Virgin Islands.I’ve seen plenty of people who claim, “I’ve sailed a small sailboat,” only to be completely flustered the moment they step onto a catamaran—it’s much wider than a monohull, has a much larger turning radius, and is much harder to dock.
Q: What should I keep in mind when returning the boat?
Fill up the fuel tank—this is extremely important—and empty the black water tank; this is also crucial.Many rental companies clearly stipulate these two points in the contract; if you fail to comply, they will deduct the corresponding fees directly from your security deposit—and the amount deducted is usually much higher than what it would cost you to fill up the tank yourself at the marina.Additionally, be sure to take your trash off the boat. Many marinas in the Virgin Islands have very strict waste management policies, and littering will result in a fine. Finally, take photos of every corner of the boat, especially the areas below the waterline, to serve as evidence when you return the boat.
One last thing: renting a boat and heading out to sea is completely different from buying a car and driving it yourself. A boat won’t take care of itself—you’ll need to personally inspect, maintain, and repair every single item on board.Yet it is precisely this “hands-on experience” that sets sailing apart from ordinary travel. It is through these small details that you’ll truly remember every sunrise on the open sea.