i got onboard two motoryachts at a recent charter show that happened to be docked side-by-side. One was a 77-footer, and the other was a 75-footer, both built by the same shipyard. They had base rates just $500 apart.

These were the kinds of yachts whose brochures you might compare when it comes time to choose your charter yacht. You might tell yourself, “These boats are quite similar in size and price. I’ll just choose the one whose decor I like best.” You’d look at pictures like these, showing how one master cabin is more elegant while the other is more casual:

It all sounds quite reasonable–choosing one of these two similarly sized and priced yachts based on looks–but in reality, the detail you should be asking about (or that your broker should be mentioning) is the difference in each yacht’s crew.

Far too many people choose a charter yacht based on how it looks. When two yachts are equal in terms of space and price, interior decor really shouldn’t be your top concern. The crew should be your top concern. Which yacht has a better one? Which yacht has a crew that is more likely to make your vacation fabulous?

In this case–as in most cases–the answer is not going to be found in a brochure. A reputable charter broker would have told you that one yacht has a full-time captain who brings on temporary help for charters, while the other yacht has a full-time liveaboard couple who work as a regular team.

For my money, no matter what the yacht’s decor, I want the regular team providing my service during a yacht charter. The service is likely to be better, and service is what charter is all about.

The next time you’re comparing yachts, trying to decide among two similar options for a charter vacation, remember to ask your broker about things that aren’t in the brochure. Look beyond the photographs. Ask about the crew.

You’ll have a much better charter yacht vacation if you do.

There was a horrific story posted yesterday out of the Bahamas, where a 7-year-old boy from Cincinnati, Ohio, was killed while riding on a Jet Ski during a cruise ship excursion. According to the article, a water-sports vendor in Nassau allowed the second-grader to ride on a Jet Ski with his mother. The boy fell off and may have had his head run over by family members riding other Jet Skis nearby.

This is obviously a tragedy, one that should stick in the memories of every parent who thinks Jet Skis are just another water toy.

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard yacht captains tell stories about parents who want to let small, inexperienced children climb onto Jet Skis and go racing off across the water at upwards of 50 mph. The best yacht captains always refuse these parents’ requests. Sometimes, the parents hold it against them by denying a decent tip at the end of the charter.

The truth is, Jet Skis are powerful machines that can be dangerous and, yes, even deadly. The last time I rode onboard one in the Bahamas, I barely got up to 35 mph before I felt like I had to slow down for safety’s sake. Do you really think a 7- or 10-year-old boy is going to have the same level of caution?

If you are planning to charter with children and think your yacht captain will be nonchalant about licensing rules and age limits for using Jet Skis, think again. Onboard most yachts, children have to be well into their teens before they’ll be allowed to use the Jet Skis. Just because you see Jet Skis in the brochure photographs does not mean your kids will be allowed to ride them.

And for good reason. Just ask that poor, poor mother from Ohio.

I received three e-mails yesterday that gave me a real boost of enthusiasm about the way CharterWave is helping people all over the world discover yacht charter.

The first e-mail was from a reader who said he’d always booked cruise ship vacations but wanted to try something new. He looked online and discovered CharterWave, and now plans to book his first charter in the Virgin Islands next winter through one of our featured reputable brokers.

The second e-mail was from a reader writing to thank me for some advice I gave him after he sent questions through CharterWave’s Ask Our Experts section. He’d been having trouble with a broker who was asking for unusual things, and had since learned that this broker was not a member of any reputable professional groups–something he didn’t know existed until he read CharterWave. Now, he’s on track with a reputable broker and is looking forward to his upcoming charter.

The third e-mail I received yesterday was from a reputable broker who is based in New Zealand, about as far away from my home office in the United States as a person can get. She was calling to thank me for connecting her with a man who read about her on CharterWave and is planning to book his first yacht charter ever–in Fiji.

This kind of feedback tells me that CharterWave is doing a good job of introducing yacht charter to the general public, and vice versa. If you’re like any of these folks and have questions to ask to get started, please don’t hesitate. We’re at your service, too!