SeaMemo
Charter check: boat handover with a proper report
With the SeaMemo charter check you go through the handover of your charter yacht point by point: 16 categories from the hull to the ship's papers. You mark defects with a comment and photos, and at the end you and the charter company's representative sign right on the phone. The result is a handover report as a PDF that you can share.
How the charter check works
- Create a check with the yacht (for example Bavaria 41) and the charter company.
- Go through the categories. Tapping the box marks an item as ok. Tapping the item opens its details: mark it not ok, add a comment and attach photos.
- Finish. The overview shows what is ok, not ok or still open.
- Sign. First you as skipper, then the charter company's representative, both directly on the screen.
- Share the PDF. The handover report contains yacht, company, date, all defects with photos and both signatures.
The 16 categories
| Outside and deck | Systems | Inside and papers |
|---|---|---|
| Hull | Engine room | Galley and gas |
| Deck and superstructure | Bilge and pumps | Plumbing |
| Fittings and rigging | Seacocks | Interior |
| Sails | Electrics and electronics | Tank levels |
| Anchor and chain | Safety equipment | Ship's papers and documents |
| Dinghy and outboard |
Each category has specific items. For the hull, for example: bow, stern, both sides, waterline, transom, bathing platform, rudder blade and cracks or repairs in the gelcoat. A full printable list is in the guide charter boat handover checklist.
Why it is worth the effort
At check out your deposit is at stake, often several thousand euros. If a scratch in the gelcoat or a tear in the sprayhood turns up and it was not documented at check in, it is your word against theirs. A report with photos, timestamps and the charter company's signature usually ends such discussions straight away.
Handover tip: Do the report together with the charter company on site and have every existing defect noted in their paperwork too. Also record a short handover video (outside, engine, interior); two to three minutes is enough.
Limits
The charter check replaces neither the charter company's report nor a surveyor. It is your own structured record. How seriously the other side takes it depends on whether they sign it too, which is why the step with both signatures matters most.
Get SeaMemo for free
Logbook, travel journal and crew in one app. For iPhone and Android, works offline at sea.
Frequently asked questions
Which categories does the charter check cover?
Hull, deck and superstructure, fittings and rigging, sails, engine room, bilge and pumps, seacocks, electrics and electronics, anchor and chain, safety equipment, galley and gas, plumbing, interior, tank levels, dinghy and outboard, and ship's papers and documents.
Does the charter company need the app?
No. Their representative simply signs on your phone. You can then send them the finished PDF by email or messenger.
Can I finish if not everything has been checked?
Yes. Open items are listed as not checked in the report, so it is also documented what you did not look at.
Does the charter check replace the charter company's report?
No, it complements it. Still sign the company's report and have every existing defect entered there. The charter check is your own structured record with photos.