Preparation for Arrival

IMPORTANT: Please STUDY the Notes from the Owner for your vessel before you arrive. Take an hour or so, relax and absorb. It is a pre-requisite for your checkout. (If you haven’t had time to study the Owners Notes before you arrive, we will postpone your checkout time to enable your study.) You will find a link to these notes on your vessel's web listing page. If you are unable to locate them please let us know and we can e-mail you a copy.

Why this study and the self-orientation?

Three reasons: Your safety, enjoyment and your time.

We have found that guests learn better and faster when they tour the boat at their own speed.
Study before arrival gives a solid acquaintance with the boat and systems; the self-guided orientation translates the book knowledge into “hands on”.
Your Checkout Skipper is a “reference encyclopedia” not a boat tour guide. He/she clarifies any unfamiliar equipment, but doesn’t waste your time telling you things you already know.

Our guests have found that this process is not only faster, but improves retention, which makes you more confident and comfortable handling the boat.

Arrival Day

Check-in at the Office:
When you arrive please check-in with our office. We will provide you with your charter packet (a collection of paperwork you will need for that day’s chores and during your charter) and direct you to free parking.

We will also check on the status of your boat. If you have arrived more than 1 hour before your onboard checkout time there is a small chance it may be ready. We say small because most boats come in from their previous charter at noon, so we have only a few hours to clean and do maintenance. Please have patience; we will get you on board as quickly as humanly possible.

Please do not get onboard prior to being given permission, which is normally given by handing you the key to the companionway or entry door. Our boats are cleaned in stages, so it may look clean on the outside but the inside may not be done yet, etc. We also need to make sure the maintenance people have finished with their work.

Basic Timetable and Events for Guests Arriving on Friday Afternoon:
- 4:00-7:00 PM – Arrival at Our Office: About 10 days before your charter we will send you an email that will tell you when your check-out is scheduled. Please plan to arrive about 1 hour before this time as you will need time for the self-orientation discussed below.
- Gain Access to Your Boat: Stop by our office to pick up your charter packet, see if your vessel is ready and get the key.
- Self-Orientation: It is now time get familiar with your boat. We ask that you fill out the provided checklists during this time.
- 6, 7 or 8 PM – Review of Boat with Check-out Skipper: We schedule one-hour check-outs at 6, 7 and 8 PM. You’ll find a reminder of your checkout time on the cover of your charter packet, along with the gate codes for the start and end of your charter. This check-out is where we answer any questions you have about the boat and show you some of the nuances of that boat. Your checkout skipper will expect that you have read the Notes from the Owner for your boat (if you have not it may delay your check-out ) and have completed your checklists to the best of your ability.
- 7:00 to about 9:30 PM – Office Remains Open: We keep crew on hand in case you have further questions or find you need something. Please let us know if we can help.
Basic Timetable and Events for Guests Arriving Saturday Morning:
- 8:00AM-12:00 PM – Arrival at Our Office: Please let us know what time you are able to arrive at our office on Saturday morning at least two weeks before your charter starts. Our office closes at 2pm on Saturdays so you will need to arrive by noon to have time to complete your checklists and onboard checkout before our office closes for the remainder of the weekend.
- Gain Access to Your Boat: Stop by our office to pick up your charter packet, see if your vessel is ready and get the key.
- Self-Orientation: It is now time get familiar with your boat. We ask that you fill out the provided checklists during this time.
- Review of Boat with Check-out Skipper: We will schedule your onboard checkout time for one hour after your planned arrival time, with 1pm being the latest time we can begin an onboard checkout. You’ll find a reminder of your checkout time on the cover of your charter packet, along with the gate codes for the start and end of your charter. This check-out is where we answer any questions you have about the boat and show you some of the nuances of that boat. Your checkout skipper will expect that you have read the Notes from the Owner for your boat (if you have not it may delay your check-out ) and have completed your checklists to the best of your ability.
- Office Remains Open until 2PM: We keep crew on hand in case you have further questions or find you need something. Please let us know if we can help.
Orientation and Onboard Systems Checkout:
We strongly recommend that you do not put your gear aboard, other than food needing refrigeration, until after your onboard checkout is complete. The reason is simple: it gets in the way of accessing compartments on the boat during the checkout process. On larger powerboats this recommendation carries less weight as there is more room and gear is seldom stored under the bunks as it is in sailboats.

To help you get to know your boat we have created two checklists, one for the skipper and one for your Navigation and Safety Officer (NSO). Please complete these FIRST thing when you board the boat...find all the listed items and mentally operate (or, if you are comforatble, actaully operate) the noted systems. At the same time please make sure the items are functional. For example, test the binoculars – the guests before you may have dropped them so they may be misaligned. If you find something which is not functional please let your check-out skipper know and we will get you a replacement. These checklists are customized to each individual boat and will be in the charter packet we give you upon arrival.

When your checkout skipper arrives for the onboard checkout, he or she will ask if you have completed your checklists, if you had difficulty finding anything or if going through the checklists prompted any questions. If you haven’t had enough time, the Checkout Skipper will leave so you can complete your review of essential safety and boat systems. Your check-out skipper’s job is to help you feel comfortable with the boat, so he or she will answer your questions, point out nuances about your vessel, and help you find any equipment you were unable to locate. Once the onboard check out is complete you are welcome to load the rest of your gear and settle in!

Again, our goal is to have you be comfortable and competent handling your boat. Please let us know anything we can do to assist you in that process, including piloting the boat out of the slip for you the first time (especially if it’s windy!)

Return Day

Thursday afternoon (the afternoon before you return):

Please plan to call us (by 3pm if possible) to give us your check-in report on any items needing attention. This will expedite your Friday morning check-in process.
Many guests choose to take advantage of free moorage and electricity, and a relaxed end-of-charter by arriving in their slip Thursday evening. They fuel and empty holding tanks on Thursday afternoon, stay aboard at our docks on Thursday night and often eat dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants in the harbor area or downtown. This leaves Friday morning open for a leisurely breakfast, a nice hot shower, plenty of time to pack and complete the remaining Friday morning items (below) and pick up your rental car.

Friday morning:

Please note it is your responsibility to turn the boat over to our cleaners and mechanics by noon SHARP on Friday. There is a late fee for each hour you are overdue (details on your charter terms and conditions document).
Plan to be back in the marina by 10am at the latest. You will need to top the fuel (may be a line-up) and assure you have empty holding tanks. The holding tank pumpout dock is located next to the fuel dock. There are also rolling pumpout carts available at the heads of Gates 3 & 5, and by the floating Gate 3 restrooms. If you prefer you may elect to have us fill your fuel tanks or empty your holding tanks for a fee (details on your charter terms and conditions document).
If you would like help with lines at your slip, please call us on VHF Ch #80 as you prepare to depart the fuel or pump out dock to allow our staff time to reach your slip.
At the slip, please top off the water, connect to shorepower (assure batteries are being charged) and remove food and garbage.
Extra food? You may leave extra food in the marked bin outside our office. Many of our cleaners are hungry college students! We bring leftovers to the local Mission.
Please stop in the office to say goodbye to our staff, give any updates to your telephoned check-in report, and drop off the boat keys. Then you are on your way! (If you did not call in on Thursday to complete your expedited check-out, please complete a verbal check-out with one fo our office staff before you depart.)

Courses & Stateroom Bookings	Spring & Summer Guided Flotillas		Fall Guided Flotillas
Power Learn-n-Cruise	10-Day Sunshine Coast	7-Day Independence Celebration	7-Day San Juans & Saanich
Refresher & Maneuvering	31-Day Broughton Islands	7-Day Women-only San Juan Islands	14-Day Desolation Sound
Private Courses	7-Day Victoria & the Gulf Islands	7-Day San Juan Islands	10-Day End of Season Hoorah

Preparation for Arrival

Arrival Day

Check-in at the Office:

Basic Timetable and Events for Guests Arriving on Friday Afternoon:

Basic Timetable and Events for Guests Arriving Saturday Morning:

Orientation and Onboard Systems Checkout:

Return Day

Thursday afternoon (the afternoon before you return):

Friday morning:

Special Opportunities