The scheme is based around 1 person (the owner-member)buying a yacht and then leasing it back to SailTime for an agreed monthly fee. There can then be up to 7 members who use this yacht via a booking system and pay a monthly fee (for their Falmouth base this starts from ?450/month).

This looks like a really well thought out scheme. Although it is not true fractional ownership it does offer sailing at a great price.

Take a look at http://www.sailtime.co.uk/ for the UK or http://www.sailtime.com/ for the USA.

For someone used to slightly smaller sailing yachts the interior of this one has to be seen to be believed – it is stunning!

The full purchase price of this yacht would be ?3.25 million, but fractions (giving 4 weeks use) are available for an initial payment of ?165,000 plus additional finance payments.

Yacht can be used either in Mediterranean or Carribean.

Visit http://www.oysterfractionalsail.com/ for more information.

How Often Does Your Boat Really Get Used?

When I was young and had no commitments I owned a boat. I was really keen on my sailboat and tried to get out on it as often as I could. When I look back at this period I can see that I still only used it for a maximum of 7 times (weeks or weekends) in a season. Now this was a massive waste of money. Given that the sailing season was nearly 28 weeks I was using it for approximately 25% of the available time. I was still doing a lot better than some people though. There was one particular boar that was put in the water at the start of the season and I think it was probably only used once. By the end of the season it sometimes had grass growing on it!

Most People Who Own Boats Have Commitments!

The example I gave above was for me as a young man with no family commitments, an undemanding job, and few domestic responsibilities. This doesn?t fit the normal profile of someone owning a boat. They would typically be of an age where they had children, possibly their own business or demanding career etc. etc. In these circumstances it becomes even more difficult to allocate the time/resources to maintaining and using a boat. It can be quite common for the opportunities to use it to be only a few times in a season. In these circumstances does it really make sense to own your boat and leave it unused for 80% of the year or more?

What Are the Advantages of Fractional Ownership

For a boat the advantages of fractional ownership are even more compelling than they are for property/real estate. You can afford to have a bigger boat (or make the one you have cheaper to own). You can reduce the maintenance costs. It makes it easier to afford to have the boat professionally maintained leaving you free to enjoy using it rather than painting it! All the accessories and inventory that help to make using a boat more enjoyable or safer can be more easily afforded if sharing the cost with others.

Types of Fractional Ownership

You could find some like-minded individuals to buy a boat together (making sure that you have an ownership document detailing rights and responsibilities). There are also many companies that sell fractions of specific boats or opt for one of the many sailing club arrangements that are on the market. When entering into a ?club? type arrangement be sure to understand how your joining/subscription fees are being spent and whether you have any right to a refund. However you decide to do it I virtually guarantee that you will enjoy your boating more!

Fractions in a brand new Delphia 37 yacht, total cost approximately GBP80,000.

This yacht has superb accommodation for its size, with a forward and 2 aft cabins and spacious saloon giving 8 berths. The lifting keel (only 0.75m draft with keel lifted) gives access to shallow creaks that would be impossible for fin-keel yachts to visit.

To be based South Coast marina. It will be equipped with cabin heating to enable use in the colder months! It will be fitted with a 30hp diesel engine.

Fractions to be allocated in 50th (cost GBP1,600). 1/50th is the minimum fraction size, 1/5th is the maximum fraction size (cost GBP16,000).

Running costs tba, but would be in the region of GBP700 pa per typical 10th fraction or GBP140 per 50th fraction.

For fractions below 1/10th (GBP8,000) the weeks to be used in each year will be allocated by lottery, 1 week for each 50th share.

Each 10th fraction would entitle the fraction owner to 1 week high-season use, 1 week mid-season, and 3 weeks low season. The yacht will be out of use 2 weeks in each year for maintenance. The order in which the weeks are chosen by the fractional scheme members would rotate, with the initial order being decided by lottery.

To use the yacht a minimum level of competence would be needed. This would be provided either by possession of certificates (e.g. Day Skipper, Yachtmaster) or by proof of experience/trial.

To express interest in this syndicate please email neil@thefractionaltimes.com

Fractions in a brand new Delphia 29 yacht, total cost approximately GBP47,000.

This yacht has superb accommodation for its size, with a forward and aft cabin and spacious saloon giving 6 berths. The lifting keel (only 0.58m draft with keel lifted) gives access to shallow creaks that would be impossible for fin-keel yachts to visit.

To be based South Coast marina. It will be equipped with cabin heating to enable use in the colder months! It will be fitted with a 20hp diesel engine.

Fractions to be allocated in 50th (cost GBP940). 1/50th is the minimum fraction size, 1/5th is the maximum fraction size (cost GBP9,400).

Running costs tba, but would be in the region of GBP500 pa per typical 10th fraction or GBP100 per 50th fraction.

For fractions below 1/10th (GBP4,700) the weeks to be used in each year will be allocated by lottery, 1 week for each 50th fraction.

Each 10th fraction would entitle the fraction owner to 1 week high-season use, 1 week mid-season, and 3 weeks low season. The yacht will be out of use 2 weeks in each year for maintenance. The order in which the weeks are chosen by the syndicate members would rotate, with the initial order being decided by lottery.

To use the yacht a minimum level of competence would be needed. This would be provided either by possesion of certificates (e.g. Day Skipper, Yachtmaster) or by proof of experience/trial.

To express interest in this fractional ownership scheme please email neil@thefractionaltimes.com

Own a fraction in a Classic Yacht

Fractions of classic wooden yacht (of Hillyard type), total cost approximately GBP 35,000.

To be based South Coast (e.g. Gosport) on swinging mooring in Summer, marina in Winter.

Fractions to be allocated in 50th (cost GBP 700). 1/50th is the minimum share size, 1/5th is the maximum share size.
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Running costs tba, but would be in the region of GBP 500 pa per typical 10th fraction or GBP 100 per 50th fraction.

For fractions below 1/10th (GBP 3,500) the weeks to be used in each year will be allocated by lottery, 1 week for each 50th fraction.

Each 10th fraction would entitle the fraction owner to 1 week high-season use, 1 week mid-season, and 3 weeks low season. The yacht will be out of use 2 weeks in each year for maintenance. The order in which the weeks are chosen by the fractional scheme members would rotate, with the initial order being decided by lottery.

To use the yacht a minimum level of competence would be needed. This would be provided either by possession of certificates (e.g. Day Skipper, Yachtmaster) or by proof of experience/trial.

To find out more/express interest please email neil@thefractionaltimes.com