The yacht owner's delivery checklist
Before you hand over the keys to a stranger and a six-figure boat, run through this. 24 items across five categories. Print it, tick the boxes, sleep easy.
Captain credentials
- Valid Yachtmaster or USCG Master licence, sized for the vessel and route
- Commercial endorsement (if you're paying for the passage)
- STCW Basic Safety Training — current, not expired
- ENG1 or equivalent seafarer medical, valid through the delivery dates
- VHF / SRC operator certificate
- First aid certification — advanced for offshore work
- Passport with at least 12 months validity at both arrival and departure
Insurance & liability
- Your hull insurance policy permits paid delivery captains
- Policy lists the captain's required minimum experience (often 'Yachtmaster Ocean + 25,000NM')
- Captain holds personal liability coverage (Professional Indemnity)
- Crew coverage in place (separate from hull policy)
- Geographic limits cover the planned route + a weather buffer
Contract & terms
- Written agreement signed before departure — never verbal
- Clear scope: route, vessel, expected duration, crew count
- Itemised costs: captain fee, crew fees, travel, fuel, dockage, provisioning
- Cancellation terms with cause + force majeure clauses
- Liability for damage during the delivery clearly assigned
Vessel handover
- Photos of every system at handover (engine, rigging, electronics, hull)
- Inventory of everything onboard with serial numbers for valuable gear
- Engine hours, fuel level, and water level logged at start and finish
- Spare keys + emergency contact list onboard
- Captain has tested every critical system before slipping lines
Comms during passage
- Daily check-in via satellite (Iridium GO, Starlink, or PredictWind tracking)
- Pre-agreed escalation path for emergencies
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