Tournament Charter Responsibilities

[budwiller]

Hey guys, been talking with some buddies about the Big Rock this year. While trying to figure costs, I was wondering what all the charter is responsible for.

Who pays for the fuel, crew or Captain?

Bait?

Obviously we would tip and tip well.

The levels of entry, does the Captain get in on those or do you just share if you win?

Probably just a pipe dream, but I would appreciate the info none the less.

[biebs]

Most captains/owners have a way that "they" do it. Alot of the ways are different. This year we did a daily rate, plus fuel, plus tip for mate. Charter pays to go all in for all entry levels. Pretty simple method. We do not do a lay day fee, some do. Traveling, you will probably pay some travel rate to get the boat to where its going, plus the slip. As far as percentages, they vary. Expect the capt/boat/crew to take 20%-30%.

Good Luck.

Hey guys, been talking with some buddies about the Big Rock this year. While trying to figure costs, I was wondering what all the charter is responsible for.

Who pays for the fuel, crew or Captain?

Bait?

Obviously we would tip and tip well.

The levels of entry, does the Captain get in on those or do you just share if you win?

Probably just a pipe dream, but I would appreciate the info none the less.

[frankypettolina]

On my boat, just for example and sake of argument I will use the WMO.

We charge 4.5 days at normal charter fee (5 day tournament, 3 days fishing). We block the boat off for the day before the tourney and all the fishing days. All bait, ice, tackle, fuel, anything it takes to go fishing is provided.

Charter is responsible for all entry fees and added entry levels.

Boat receives 30 percent of any winnings, prior to any deductions.

I am not sure about the Big Rock, but the WMO costs myu guys somewhere around 25,000 for the 3 days, not counting food drink and lodging.

[WAHOONBOX]

JUST MY OPINION HERE


A PRIVATE BOAT AND CHARTER BOAT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AND DIFFERENT SETUPS APPLY

A BOAT OWNER ON A PRIVATE BOAT (NOT A CHARTER) SHOULD NEVER PAY ANY FUEL....NEVER! HE ALREADY HAS ENOUGH EXPENSES KEEPING HER AFLOAT

THE BOAT ALWAYS GETS A SHARE AND THE BOAT SHARE IS NOT THE CAPTAIN'S SHARE

IF YOU ARE CHARTERING A BOAT....INSIST ON NEW LINE INSTALLED AND EXPECT TO PAY THE COST......... SERIOUS PAYING CREWS SHOULD HAVE NO PROIBLEM DOING THIS......I MEAN SPOOLING 6-10 RODS FOR A BIG MONEY TOURNY SHOULD BE PART OF THE GIG! AND THIS EXTRA EXPENSE USUALLY CANNOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE AVERAGE CHARTER BOAT ON A BUDGET......

[Hallnass282]

On my boat, just for example and sake of argument I will use the WMO.

We charge 4.5 days at normal charter fee (5 day tournament, 3 days fishing). We block the boat off for the day before the tourney and all the fishing days. All bait, ice, tackle, fuel, anything it takes to go fishing is provided.

Charter is responsible for all entry fees and added entry levels.

Boat receives 30 percent of any winnings, prior to any deductions.

I am not sure about the Big Rock, but the WMO costs myu guys somewhere around 25,000 for the 3 days, not counting food drink and lodging.

You got that one right .. our buddy sank 50k last year.I like fishing on a 30 footer for that reason

[frankypettolina]

Box,

I agree new line is a must. Part of the reason for charging the extra day and a half is to cover line costs, loss of potential charter days, added fuel burn to run to the bite (when necessary)double mullet dredges (as oppposed to artificial dredges) etc etc etc.

[catchemup]

Be clear on who is calling in or submitting lay day forms.

[frankypettolina]

on my boat, I take the responsibility of the lay day forms and choosing when we are going to lay. I don't trust anyone else with the lay day forms, too easy to have a few too many and forget. No excuses when they are in my hands.

[catchemup]

Same way on our boat Franky, but I know of a captain that had this problem this past summer. I was looking at the WMO site this day and saw them as fishing and I knew I had seen him on the dock early in the day. I gave him a call and he was up to Harbor Island in a New York minute...pleading his case.

[Squidnation]

A couple things that you may want to iron out prior to accepting terms.

1. Weather Days - If you get weathered out of a tournament day what is the policy. In the past I have seen the following in writing. "If the weather is such that a typical charter would be cancelled and THE CAPTAIN deemed it unsafe and unable to go then that days fishing would be refunded" This usually pertains to only the last day with all lay days exhuasted.

2. This may be a relatively new topic since it seems that many boats are heading this way. If the charter captain opts to do a daily cost plus fuel approach, then how do you tip. Do you tip according to the cost of the fishing and not the cost of the fuel or do you tip on the total price and if so why.

3. Who dictates the method of fishing. IMHO - it should be 100% the captains responsibility. Now that would seem obvious but lets take the PC open. Lets say the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place money in the pts division are a mile ahead of your boat and you know they are across the board. The crew would prefer to troll plugs for a pig but the captain wants to continue trying to point it out. This is a big issue on many tournaments.

4. Mechanical Issues - If a mechanical issue requires your team to abandon a day of fishing then is the charter responsible for that day of fishing. again assuming that a lay day is no longer an option.

5. Here is a huge one. Not because we have been screwed but I have seen people get screwed both ways on this one. WHO SIGNS UP FOR THE TOURNAMENT? The captain or the charter?

6. Franky made a great point. His agreement is 30% prior to any decuctions being taken out. Make sure the % to the crew is either net or gross in writing.

7. Make sure you know who is going to pay for all legal and protest fees. I predict this is going to be the year of the protest. And make sure that this portion comes out prior to any winnings being distributed to anyone


Tournaments can be a blast so long if your only worry is the fishing. If you must worry about the details of the agreement during the tournament then you are already behind 3/4 of the fleet.