5 Reasons Why Seawind are Australia’s most Popular Charter Catamaran
If you have ever bareboated a catamaran in Australia or have done a cruise on Sydney Harbour or one of Australia’s many other ports and harbours, there is every chance it was on a Seawind Catamaran. There are more Seawind catamarans on charter in Australia than any other single brand and the designs remain in strong demand charter fleets all around the country. Here are the key reasons why:
1. Ease of operation
The Seawinds are all designed to be shorthanded and operated by one person. This means all the controls back to the helm, the helm located on the same level as crew and passengers to remain in touch, and with the addition of an electric winch, push button operation of the boat. This makes them super easy to operate, be it a first time bareboater or a experienced skipper.
2. Robust finish and durability
The materials used and construction techniques on the Seawind range lend themselves to having better durability than other designs and less wear and tear over a period of charter use. From the internal finishes through to rigging and even bow rollers for moorings, the overall spec is a higher grade, meaning less breakages and therefore less maintenance costs that cut into net profits. Plus the surfaces are low wear so they are easy to clean and maintain.
3. Versatility
There are multiple markets in Australia for chartering, from bareboating in the Whitsundays, to corporate cruises on Sydney Harbour, to exclusive cruises for small groups offshore. Therefore Seawinds have been designed to handle these demands, but are also designed first and foremost to be excellent cruising boats. This means you are not restricted to one business model of chartering, which can also help with resale later down the tract. For example, used charter Seawinds are in high demand at present on Sydney Harbour, not for bareboating as they have done previously, but for skippered charters now.
4. Compliance to multiple Australian Survey classes
As Seawind have been building Australian charter boats for many years, they have the capacity to make the custom changes required to built to not only the 4D class for bareboating (8pax), but also 2C for offshore charters (10 pax) and 1E for higher passenger capacity on smooth waters (28 pax). Some of their day charter vessels can even get up to 40 passengers in 1D for partially smooth waters. These high passenger survey classes have different rules and it is a much more involved process to pass these survey classes, rather than just using the CE standards that help pass bareboat charter boats. This includes a higher level of systems and safety equipment including higher safety rails, fire suppression systems in the engine rooms, grey water tanks, Australian approved electrical systems and much more.
5. Resale
When it comes to resale, Seawind have always shown strong results compared to many other brands on the market. This is due to a combination of factors including the above noted items, however it is the simple fact that a Seawind is a good charter boat and an excellent cruising boat that allows them to have a life after charter. These boats often sell to cruising retired couples who are not looking for maximum bathrooms and cabins, but a comfortable cruising boat that is easy to handle, safe and sails well. It is important to factor in your expected resale after charter rather than just your ROI.
