What does it cost to charter a chase boat for a week in the Med?

EUR 22,000 to 45,000 plus APA for a 12m to 14m chase boat with crew in peak Med season, with daily rates running EUR 4,000 to 7,500 plus APA. Where you sit in that band depends on size, age and the toy package. Off-season and Caribbean rates are roughly 30 percent below those numbers. Larger platforms of 16m and above, and the more bespoke carbon RIBs, sit above the band.

Can I charter a privately registered chase boat?

No. A chase boat used commercially has to be coded for charter in the relevant jurisdiction, which in Europe typically means an MCA Workboat or equivalent flag-state coding, and in the Caribbean USVI or BVI charter licensing. A privately registered boat cannot legally be chartered in most jurisdictions. That is the single biggest constraint on supply at the upper end of the market, and it is why owner-supplied boats rarely move in and out of charter.

What is actually included in the charter package?

Vessel and crew, fuel, toys and insurance, wrapped around an APA. Captain and sometimes a deckhand are included, since chase boats commonly run with one to two crew. Fuel is either included up to a daily allowance or charged through, and it is a significant fraction of total cost on a 14m hull running two to four hours a day. Most charter boats carry the standard tow-toy package, jet-skis, paddleboards and water-skis; dive equipment is usually extra. Hull and P and I cover the vessel, with personal liability carried separately or through the master charter.

Why is there so little chase boat charter inventory available?

Because the regulatory cost of dual-status registration outweighs the revenue for most owners. Inventory is concentrated in operator-owned fleets, a few specialised companies in the Med and Caribbean, plus builder-owned demonstrator boats that come into charter rotation. Owner-supplied boats moving in and out of charter are rare. Plan early if your programme depends on a specific size or toy package in peak season.

When does chartering make more sense than buying?

In three situations. First, filling a gap on a chartered mothership where toy or guest-shuttling capacity is short and the charter party wants more for the week. Second, owner-operated programmes needing temporary capacity for a regatta week, a film shoot or a multi-yacht trip, without buying a second platform. Third, as an acquisition test-drive, where an owner runs the boat for a fortnight before signing on a build slot.

Chase Boat Charter Rates & Contracts

Chase boat charter sits in a different place from yacht charter. The product is not the boat alone; it is a chase-and-support package that pairs with a yacht charter (sometimes the same operator's, often a different one's). This page covers when chase boat charter makes commercial sense, how the contract typically works, and where the regulatory friction sits.

When charter makes sense

Three patterns drive most chase boat charter demand:

Filling a gap on a chartered mothership. The chartering yacht has limited toy or guest-shuttling capacity, and the charter party wants more. A chartered chase boat slots in for the week.
Owner-operated programmes that need temporary capacity. Owner is doing a regatta week, a film shoot, or hosting a multi-yacht trip; they need a second platform for one event without buying another boat.
Acquisition test-drive. Owner is considering a category and wants to operate the boat for a fortnight before signing on a build slot.

What the contract covers

A chase boat charter typically wraps:

Vessel and crew. Captain, sometimes a deckhand, included. Chase boats often run with one to two crew so the operator carries that headcount.
Fuel. Either included up to a daily allowance or charged through. Fuel is a significant fraction of total cost on a 14m chase boat at full programme intensity (2 to 4 hours of running per day).
Toys. Most charter chase boats come with the standard tow-toy package; jet-skis, paddleboards, water-skis. Dive equipment is usually extra.
APA (advance provisioning allowance). Typical for any charter. Covers fuel, dockage, provisioning, and incidental spend.
Insurance. Hull and P&I for the chartered vessel; the charterer carries personal liability separately or through the master charter.

Where the regulatory friction sits

A chase boat used commercially needs to be coded for charter in the relevant jurisdiction. In Europe this typically means an MCA Workboat or equivalent flag-state coding; in the Caribbean, USVI or BVI charter licensing. A privately registered chase boat cannot legally be chartered in most jurisdictions, which constrains supply on the upper end of the market.

The practical effect: charter inventory is concentrated in the operator-owned fleets (a few specialised companies in the Med and Caribbean) and in builder-owned demonstrator boats that come into charter rotation. Owner-supplied chase boats moving in and out of charter are rare because the regulatory cost of dual-status registration outweighs the revenue.

Typical rates (Med, peak season)

Order of magnitude for a 12m to 14m chase boat with crew, in peak Med season:

Daily rate: EUR 4,000 to 7,500 plus APA.
Weekly rate: EUR 22,000 to 45,000 plus APA, depending on size, age, and toy package.

Off-season and Caribbean rates are roughly 30 percent below those numbers. Larger chase platforms (16m+) and the more bespoke carbon RIBs sit above the band.

How we help

We do not operate a charter fleet. We do help owners and captains source a chartered chase boat into a planned programme, including coordinating with the master yacht charter operator on logistics, fuel resupply, and crew handover. The starting point is the contact page with the dates, the location, and the role the chase boat needs to fill.