How 84-Day Bareboat Charters Operate

Under the San Marino Ship Register framework, privately registered yachts may undertake up to 84 days of bareboat charter per calendar year without mandatory reclassification as commercial vessels, provided all registry conditions — including insurance, safety equipment, and charter documentation — are met.

Key features of the 84-day bareboat rule

The 84-day bareboat rule permits private yacht owners to rent their vessels on a bareboat basis: the yacht is handed over without crew and the charterer assumes full operational responsibility during the charter period. This limited-charter model is intended to let owners offset maintenance and mooring costs while retaining the administrative advantages of private registration.

Essential conditions that apply

• Charters must be conducted strictly as bareboat charters — no crew provided by the owner.
• The total number of charter days across the year must not exceed 84 days.
• Owners must maintain appropriate insurance coverage that accommodates commercial-like risks during charter periods.
• Local and flag-state regulations can impose additional documentation, safety checks, or port notification procedures.
• Some registries require evidence that the owner is not operating the yacht as a commercial enterprise beyond the permitted days.

Operational and regulatory obligations

Practically, the rule places several responsibilities on owners and charterers. Prior to handover, owners typically must confirm the charterer’s competency, validate insurance endorsements, and prepare the vessel’s inventory and safety equipment to meet both flag and port-state requirements.

Checklist before a bareboat charter

• Valid and specific insurance endorsement covering bareboat operation.
• Signed bareboat charter agreement with defined period and responsibilities.
• Proof of the charterer’s qualifications (licenses, experience logs).
• Updated safety equipment and compliance certificates as required by the flag state.
• Accurate logging of charter days to ensure the 84-day cap is not exceeded.

Insurance, liability, and taxation

Insurance plays a decisive role. Standard private yacht policies often exclude commercial operations; therefore an endorsement or temporary commercial cover is usually necessary for each charter. Liability exposure also changes: because the charterer operates the vessel, contractual clauses must clearly allocate responsibility for damage, salvage, and environmental liabilities. Tax and VAT treatment will depend on cruising area and flag-state rules and can differ markedly between private, limited-charter, and full commercial statuses.

Comparative overview: registration categories

Historical context and regulatory evolution

Bareboat chartering evolved as recreational yachting expanded in the latter half of the 20th century. Initially, most private registrations prohibited any form of chartering because commercial activities trigger stricter inspection regimes, mandatory crewing standards, and different liability rules. Over time, flag states and registries sought to balance the recreational market’s flexibility with safety and fiscal controls. The introduction of limited-charter allowances — such as the 84-day model — reflects a compromise: it recognizes the economic reality of private owners occasionally offering charters while retaining a simplified administrative regime for privately flagged yachts.

Registries that offer these allowances usually do so with careful paperwork and reporting obligations, aiming to avoid circumvention where a vessel functionally operates as a commercial charter business while nominally remaining private. This approach has influenced other flags and regional regulators to design parallel schemes that permit occasional chartering under tightly controlled conditions.

Practical implications for owners, charterers, and marinas

For owners considering using the 84-day allowance, the model can unlock revenue to cover berthing, maintenance, and seasonal depreciation without the overhead of commercial registration. However, it also requires diligent record-keeping and proactive risk management.

For owners

• Track all charter days accurately; an accidental overrun can trigger commercial reclassification or fines.
• Ensure your insurance and contractual paperwork are updated for each charter.
• Assess whether occasional charter income justifies additional administrative effort.

For charterers

• Confirm your qualifications and the scope of your responsibility under the bareboat contract.
• Understand the insurance coverage and what it excludes, particularly for third‑party liability and salvage.
• Expect handover procedures similar to those for a rental car: inventory checks, demonstration of systems, and clear return conditions.

For marinas and captains

Marinas must verify vessel documentation during check-in and may require proof of permitted charter activity. Professional captains occasionally get contracted by private owners to run single charters; however, under a strict bareboat arrangement, hiring a captain converts the charter away from pure bareboat status and can affect compliance and insurance.

How this affects the wider yachting and charter market

Limited-charter schemes can increase the supply of modern, well-maintained yachts available for short-term rent in popular cruising grounds, which may reduce pressure on commercial charter fleets and diversify offerings for travellers looking to rent a yacht or book a captain. Marinas, brokers, and local tourism stakeholders may see growth in ancillary activities — provisioning, mooring services, and onshore excursions — as privately owned yachts participate in the charter economy.

However, regulators watch for abuse: repeated or continuous chartering under a private flag undermines safety standards intended for commercial operators and can create unfair competition with licensed charter businesses.

In summary, the 84-day bareboat allowance provides a legally bounded way for private yacht owners to generate charter income while avoiding full commercial conversion, but it carries distinct obligations for insurance, documentation, and safety compliance. Owners and charterers should remain diligent about record-keeping, confirm flag-state requirements, and consult professional advisors before offering or accepting bareboat charters.

The key points: the San Marino Ship Register permits a capped 84-day bareboat charter window for private yachts; charters must be bareboat; insurance and correct paperwork are essential; and overstepping the limit risks commercial reclassification. For anyone involved in yacht rental, charters, or marina operations, understanding these rules influences choices about vessel management, potential income from rent or sale, and relationships with captains and local yachting services. For travellers and operators seeking yachts, charters, or superyacht experiences across marinas, seas, gulfs, and lakes, an informed approach helps match destinations, activities, and budgets. Discover more yacht, charter, and boat news and practical listings on GetBoat.com — an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, ideal for finding options from small sailing boats to superyacht charters, and a useful resource for those looking to rent, sell, or crew for destinations with clearwater bays, fishing grounds, beaches and busy marinas.