Phase Out From The Moorings and Sunsail

We’ve been surveying numerous yachts phasing out of Sunsail or The Moorings charter fleet on behalf of potential buyers or existing owners

A few general info to start with: one may always wonder if purchasing a yacht that has been chartered for a couple of years (usually 5 in  case of  yachts operated by Tui Marine, parent company of both Sunsail and Moorings – 5 years being the standard operating time of their yacht ownership program) could be a good deal. Charter yachts have a bad reputation of being used and abused by sometimes negligent or not really experienced charter guests.

Answer to this varies, depending from which base in the Caribbean yachts have been operated from and who was in charge of their maintenance. The good news is that St Martin is actually a very good location for operations, due the ease of spare parts supplies and the skills and experience of the staff. Secondly – sorry if the following statement may not appear fully neutral – truth is that Moorings/ Sunsail general manager Corrado Losi of St Martin base is a very good and skilled professional.

So yes, it is always worth surveying a phasing out vessel from that base.

The typical phase out survey procedure has changed since hurricane Irma and the total destruction of Captain Oliver’s marina in Oyster Pond where Sunsail/ Moorings base was located. It is now  in Fort Louis marina in Marigot and all the yachts are hauled at JMC yard. I would check the boats out of the water and do an inspection afloat, including sea trial and aloft rig check. The tech team would handle what needs to be done following my recommendations, so that vessel is delivered back to her buyer or her owner in pristine refitted condition.

The potential buyer can expect the report to be sent out the next morning after the inspection.