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FAQs

Q:What are the "normal"additional expenses for a bareboat charter?  
A: Here is a list:
Fuel(diesel, propane & gasoline) -$150-200
Food cooked on board (calculate to cover the crew)$75-150/person
Lunch or Dinner on shore $20-60/person
Alcohol$16-25/case of beer
$8-18/liter of rum
Drinks on shore

$3-5/beer
$5-8/mixed drink
$6-10/blended drink

Park fees (perhaps twice)$25-35/night
Q: I've never done anything like this before. What's it like?
A: It's exotic camping on a fast floating sailboat, which will take you to places you've never dreamed were so beautiful and fun. Yes, we have a stereo, limited hot showers, queen size beds in private staterooms and terrific galley, but it is not resort living. 
Q: When does the week begin and end?  
A: 4pm Saturday through 10am Saturday.
Q: Do I need a passport?
A: Yes
Q: Do you have snorkeling/dive gear?  
A: We have snorkeling sets for adults and a few for children. But we highly recommend that you bring your own and use them before you come. We have found that it takes time to get used to using new gear and someone else's gear doesn't always work out. So to insure that you are able to get the most out of your vacation, we recommend that you bring your own and use it a few times before you come down. If you need dive gear, there are dive shops which have gear available for a week. The water temperature is typically 78-82 degrees, so you don't usually need a wet suit. However, some of the snorkeling spots are shallow, so you may want one to keep you from getting abrasions from the coral. .
Q: Can we dive from the boat?
 A: Yes. However, we highly recommend that you utilize a local dive company. We can work with the dive company to rendezvous or drop you off. The local dive prices are very reasonable.
Q: How much does it cost to rent dive gear?  
A: Tanks are approximately $9/day
     Full Scuba Gear is approximately $36/day $110/week   
Q: Can you refill dive tanks on board?  
A: No, however, there are several places to get tanks filled around the islands.
Q: Who does the provisioning for the bareboat charter?  
A: Typically the guests like to do it themselves, so they can experience the local culture. However, you can send us a list and we will shop and have it on board for you. If you choose this option, you will need to send money to cover the estimated cost. Any overage will be applied to other incurred expenses. Provisioning on the outer islands is limited so good planning is very important.
Q: Can we eat dinner on shore?  
A: There are many good restaurants and fun night clubs on the main islands and we are happy to make recommendations. Please keep in mind that if this is a bareboat charter and you have a few meals on shore, please consider the crew will be your guests.  
Q: I've never done provisioning before can you help?  
A: Jill will be happy to provide sample menus and grocery lists. 
Q: Can we bring food with us?  
A: Yes you can bring everything except fresh fruits and vegetables. We recommend that you bring a coolers of frozen food and suit case of dry goods to defray the cost of food here, and insure the quality. Beer, wine and soft drinks are equivalent to US prices, however alcohol is much less expensive.
Q: Can we smoke on board? 
 A: Unfortunately no. For safety reasons, we have a no smoking policy on Dragonfly and the dinghy. We appreciate people honoring that policy. 
Q: Can we bring our kids? 
 A: Kids have a great time on the boat. We can install netting around the cockpit and gates for the entrances to the hulls for the toddlers. It is typically a good idea to bring games or videos for them during the sailing time.
Q: Do the kids need to be a certain age?  
A: We have had kids as young as 3 months and old as 78 on board.
Q: Where you pick us up and drop us off? 
 A: Depending on the plans for the charter and schedules of the previous and subsequent charters. Once you select the week your interested in we can work with you regarding the location for pick up and drop off. We will finalize the specific meeting place at that location 1-2 weeks before the charter begins. If there is a specific location you would like to be picked up or dropped off, please let us know and we'll see what we can work out. 
Q: Can we fish off the boat, spear fish or go lobstering?  
A: A license is required in the Virgin Islands and no spearfishing is allowed. In the Bahamas, spear fishing is not allowed in protected areas. On the outer islands there are guides who for a very small fee and beer/lunch are happy to take you fishing in their local waters. The lobster season ends Feb 15th in the Bahamas.
Q: Can we choose the locations?  
A: Absolutely. This is your vacation, and we've found that no two weeks are exactly the same. We will sit down with you on the first day to discuss what you would like to do and make a tentative plan for the week. As the week progresses, we'll  adjust the plan based on what you would like to do more or less of.
Q: What is the hardest thing for a person who hasn't done this before?  
A: Lmited water and power.

Limited water: Most people are used to taking a long shower 1-2 times a day. It takes us 1 hour of running a noisy generator and watermaker to replace 15 gallons of water. You should consider your swimming and snorkeling as your primary source of clean-up with a brief shower (1-3 gallons) taken to rinse off the salt in the late afternoon. Many of our guests only take a fresh water shower 2-3 times during the week.

Limited power: Most people are used to leaving lights, fans, and PC's on. We have to generate our own power, so you need to make sure that everything is turned off, when you leave your stateroom.

Q: Will I get seasick?  
A: Dragonfly is the most stable sailboat that you will probably ever be on. If you are prone to motion sickness it is probably a good idea to get the Scopolamine patch and put it on before you come aboard. Otherwise, we find that most people are fine. The trick is to have a small amount of food in your stomach before we sail and stay up on deck looking at the scenary until they determine how you will do.

Q: Will I get sunburn?  
A: The sun is very intense here. It is difficult to get away from it. Even if you are sitting in the sun, you can still get the affects of the reflection off the water.

Pre-tan: We recommend that you have a few sessions at the tanning booth before you arrive, so you have a base tan.

Sunscreen: We recommend that you bring sunscreen that is 30 or greater protection and plan on putting it on first thing. Sunscreen with zinc oxide for sensitive areas, like ears and nose is a good idea. Also lip balm with sunscreen in it is a good idea.

Protective swimwear: Many people end up wearing t-shirts while snorkeling. Bringing a lycra shirt which protects your neck and arms is a great idea. A wetsuit is even better.

Protective clothing: Hats or sunvisors are important. It is also good to have a lightweight long sleeve shirt to cover-up on the hikes after a few days of sun.