Marine Max Jumps In
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 05:45PM MarineMax, the largest recreational boat and yacht dealer in the United States, has jumped into the bareboat charter pond with a fleet of Dufour luxury sailboats based out of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
Chris Caswell PhotographyCalled MarineMax Vacations, the bareboat program will initially offer 15 Dufour sailboats and intends to follow that with a fleet of bareboat powerboats as well. Aiming to appeal to a higher-end charter clientele, each of the boats will have $50,000 in upgrades that include a generator, air conditioning, and a watermaker, which sets them apart from other BVI bareboats.
Two sailing models are now available: the MarineMax 413 and the 433. The 413 is actually the Dufour 405GL, a 40-footer with three cabins and two heads. The 433 is the Dufour 425GL, a 42-footer with three cabins and three heads.
Arriving later in 2012 will be two power catamarans: a 38-footer with a two-cabin/two-head layout and a 45-footer with four ensuite cabins plus a flybridge.
The fleet will be based at Hodges Creek Marina, which is in Maya Cove on the east end of Tortola and just a short taxi ride from the BVI airport on Beef Island.
Until March 31, 2012, the company is offering 20% off bareboat charters of five days or longer when booked before January 31.
We expect this to be a serious contender, since MarineMax Vacations president Lex Raas and VP Raul Bermudez both held those positions for many years with The Moorings, and clearly understand bareboat chartering.
MarineMaxVacations, 888-461-5497, www.marinemaxvacations.com