Contents
Start with documents and base contacts
Compare the final contract, handover report and booking confirmation. Check the yacht name, dates, base, guest list and return time.
Save the base’s emergency and technical contacts, the reporting process for damage or delay, and the agreed return procedure. Ask which channel must be used outside office hours.
| Area | What to check | How to record it |
|---|---|---|
| Hull and deck | Scratches, cracks, hatches and windows | Photos close-up and wide |
| Cockpit | Canopy, gangway, winches and lines | Report plus photos |
| Anchor system | Anchor, chain, windlass and controls | Ask for a demonstration |
| Steering | Wheel, autopilot and emergency tiller | Confirm location and use |
| Dinghy | Condition, fuel, oars and fittings | Compare with inventory |
Inspect the exterior before departure
Walk around the yacht with the base representative while she is alongside. Record noticeable marks on the hull, deck, cockpit and fittings before you leave.
Ask how the base records damage below the waterline, propeller or rudder that cannot be inspected from the pontoon.
Find and understand safety equipment
The equipment required depends on the yacht, operating area and local rules. Ask the representative to show lifejackets, first-aid kit, fire equipment, man-overboard recovery gear, VHF, emergency steering and bilge pumps.
Check that lifejackets fit every guest. A generic online list never replaces the equipment and instructions supplied for your specific yacht.
Check cabins and critical onboard systems
Open lockers and test lights, taps, refrigeration and charging points. Confirm the condition of cabins, galley, heads, bilges and the charter inventory.
Ask how to start and stop the engine, use battery switches, read panel warnings, operate the plotter, VHF, autopilot and anchor windlass. Find fuel valves, seacocks, fuses and tools.
Use photos, video and the handover report together
Photos and short video support the report; they do not replace it. Capture existing marks clearly enough to show their exact position.
Ask to include existing damage, missing or faulty items and open questions in the signed report. Do not sign before important observations are recorded.
Common handover mistakes
Rushing because of a planned first passage, photographing only the hull, skipping the anchor or VHF briefing, and failing to ask how to contact the base after hours are common mistakes.
If a system is unclear, ask for another demonstration before departure. This is safer and faster than working it out at sea.
Checklist before leaving the marina
- Match the contract, report and base contacts.
- Photograph existing damage.
- Check anchor, lines, gangway, steering and dinghy.
- Test water, lights, refrigeration, heads and battery charge.
- Locate lifejackets, first aid, fire equipment and VHF.
- Ask for engine, panel, plotter and emergency-steering briefing.
- Record every observation before signing.
- Confirm return time and procedure.
Practical conclusion
A careful handover reduces disputes at return and gives the crew a clearer start. Inspect, record, learn the key systems and keep base contacts available.
Prepare for handover
Tell Helm your charter plan and we can help you prepare the right questions for the base.
Sources