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Taking a dog on a charter: what does the base ask for?
Short answer
Whether the dog comes aboard is the base's decision, and it belongs in the contract.
Damage to the boat falls on the charterer.
A bite in the marina falls on the owner,
which is a question for your own pet or personal liability cover and whether it works abroad.
Plenty of owners take the dog on their own boat without a second thought. A charter yacht is different, because next week it goes to a family with a toddler or a guest with an allergy. Many charter companies therefore exclude pets altogether, and others allow them only on certain boats, against an extra cleaning charge or a higher deposit. Ask before booking and have the permission written into the charter agreement. A dog the base first sees on the pontoon is a reason to refuse the handover.
Aboard, different things matter. Cushions, teak and mooring lines mark easily, and scratches or chewing are damage that normally comes off the deposit. Pack a dog buoyancy aid with a lifting handle, plan for shade and plenty of fresh water, and work out how the dog gets ashore twice a day, usually in the tender. Travel rules count too. Within the EU a dog needs an EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination. Owners travelling from Great Britain need the documents the UK government currently asks for, so check the official guidance well before departure. Some marinas, beaches and protected areas do not admit dogs at all.
Settle the liability question before you go. If the dog bites another guest in the marina or jumps onto a neighbouring boat, the owner answers for it, and that is a matter for your own liability cover rather than the charter yacht. Check that it applies abroad and on a hired boat. Bring the vaccination record and the details of a vet in the cruising area, photograph the cushions and deck at check-in, and hand the boat back clean enough that nobody finds dog hair in the aft cabin.
Worth remembering
The base
Decides whether the dog may come and puts it in the contract
The owner
Answers for damage to the boat, to people and to other yachts
Get the base's consent in writing, check your liability cover, and only then book.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
Can I just bring my dog along?
No. Whether a dog is allowed aboard is the base's decision, and it should be written into the charter agreement. Without it the base can refuse the handover or charge extra.
Who pays if the dog damages the cushions?
The charterer, normally out of the deposit. Photograph the upholstery and deck at check-in so that older marks are not put down to your dog.
What paperwork does the dog need abroad?
Inside the EU, an EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination. From Great Britain and for countries outside the EU other rules apply, so check the official guidance in good time.
Related
Not sure whether you qualify?
Whether it is “Taking a dog on a charter: what does the base ask for?” or another question: send us your residence and the flag your boat flies. You will get a straight answer in one email; including a no, if that is the answer.
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