Chartering an Uninspected Boat -
Inspection and certification ensure that boats are safe, well-maintained, and prepared for emergencies. These processes help vessels comply with the rigorous standards set by the U.S. Coast Guard to maintain safety on the waters.
Inspections are mandatory for all boats carrying more than 12 passengers, but the regulations for boats with less than 12 are not as clear.
The preparations necessary to pass an inspection require a lot of effort, are time consuming, and cost money. As a result, many boat rental companies rent out their boats as an Uninspected Passenger Vessel (UPV).
Uninspected Passenger Vessels (UPVs)
While most commercial vessels carrying passengers need to undergo regular inspections to ensure they meet safety standards, some charter boats may fall outside these requirements.
The USCG does not require inspections for vessels carrying 6 or fewer passengers (the “six-pack” boat) as long as they meet basic safety standards and are not used in certain commercial contexts (like ferrying passengers for hire).
Even without inspection, the vessel must still comply with basic safety regulations
The Bareboat Charter (Self-Operated Vessels of 6 to 12 passengers)
A bareboat charter is when you rent the boat and operate it yourself without any crew or captain provided by the boat owner. While the USCG requires inspections for boats that carry more than 12 passengers, vessels carrying fewer passengers (usually between 6 and 12) may avoid regular inspections if they fall under specific exceptions. In particular, the bareboat charter.
If you are chartering an uninspected boat and you have between 6 and 12 passengers, you are doing a bareboat charter. The bareboat charter is where the charterer is responsible for the entire operation.
The guidelines for bareboat chartes can be complex. In the past they were also controversial, so I wrote a separate blog on the bareboat charter.
