Conference unifix::sailing

I can not give you much help as regards sailing conditions or weather on the
west coast of Florida, however I CAN give you a good pointer about a charter
company to stay away from.

DO NOT go to Hirsh Yacht Charters. I used them two years ago (1987) for a
charter from Dania (Port Everglades) to the Bahamas. I can go into the details
off line for those who want to know, but the long and the short of it was that
they were unprofessional, their boat was unsafe and ill-equipped, their captain
(I was crossing the Gulf Stream and had no ocean experience) was about the
worst match with my family I could picture. The captain was something close to
incompetent and Hirsh decided to back him up all the way. They demonstrated no
desire to provide remuneration for a basically lousy 10-day charter.

Boat/US, of which I am a member, could not get them to budge and as a result
Boat/US now has Hirsh on their 'Do not send members to' list. Various
Florida-based consumer agencies also failed to get Hirsh to provide any
compensation so the best I can do is provide a hearty STAY AWAY here in this
forum!
    
    Carl

    I would highly recommend Ed Hamilton and associates in N. Whitefield,
    ME. as a charter broker.  We have used him twice for charter
    arrangements and found him to be most helpful.  His knowledge of the 
    charter companies, types and conditions of boats, services etc. was 
    excellent.  They also will put together a package of information for
    you comparing each company, the boats, costs etc.  I don't have the
    number handy but it is in the 207 area code.  I don't know if you
    are set on thelocation but Florida in February can be chilly.  The
    cost of going to the Caribbean is probably the same or at most slightly
    more expensive.  
    
    Brian  

	Ed's number is (207)-549-7855.  I've taken a coastal cruising and
a nav course from his company that gives the ASA series of courses.

	Dave

    Hi Steve,
    
    I work in the Tampa office and sail a ODAY 34 up and down the west
    coast. Their are lots of things to condider but if you give me a
    call I'll try to share what I know. DTN 357-6714.

    I am planning to charter a sailboat on the EAST coast of Florida
    very soon (May '90). This is a request for any info regarding charter
    companies (good/bad), conditions, suggestions, recommendations, etc. 
    Looking for a sailboat of 30 - 36ft.
    
    Target area for charter would be: 
    
    Del Ray 
    Boca Raton
    Deerfield Beach
    Pompano
    Lauderdale 
    
Please reply by sending mail to WREATH::DROTTER, rather than reply to this
note, as I shall delete this base note just before I leave for Fla.

Thanks in advance,

Joe

    Looking for charter info on Florida gulf coast area and/or Mobile Ala.
    area--going first week of October 1990.
    
    Thanks,
    Anne

    I am going to be in Tampa for a couple of weeks in February. I am
    interested in finding a boat out in the Gulf for 3 or 4 days. I am an
    experienced sailer and have done some chartering in the BVI's. I will
    have my wife (first mate) and two small children along. Therefore I am
    looking for a 40 footer or multihull that is set up for safe,
    comfortable family sailing. 
    
    Does anyone have a suggestion of a particular boat or reputable company
    that I could contact.
    
    Regards,
    
    Scott Barnard
    @OTO
    OTOO01::BARNARD
    DTN 633-3894
    
    

I'm looking for a 25' to 40' sailboat to rent in the vicinity of Jacksonville,
for daysailing or possibly 2-3 day midweek charter, week of Feb 17. 

Does anybody know of any charter outfits in Jacksonville or therabouts?

--RS