How to Choose the Perfect Sailboat for Rent in Croatia

How to Choose the Perfect Sailboat for Rent in Croatia

When talking about the perfect sailboat, it is difficult to determine which one that would be, but we can define our needs and find the ideal sailboat for us based on them.

Very important factors that play a role in choosing the perfect sailboat for rent:

• the number of people coming on boardthe
• manufacturing date of the sailboatthe
• equipment you need
• the level of sailing or nautical knowledge
• whether you are hiring a skipper or not
• the price of the sailboa
• tthe departure location

Number of People Coming Aboard the Sailboat

The key factor to pay attention to in this step is the number of cabins, i.e., the number of berths on the boat. Typically, each cabin can accommodate two people, and two more can sleep in the saloon. Most rental sailboats have between 2 and 4 cabins. If you want everyone to have complete comfort, ensure that no one sleeps in the saloon and that all guests are accommodated in cabins. For example, if there are 8 people on the sailboat, look for a boat with 4 cabins.

Additionally, consider whether you are hiring a crew, such as a skipper or a hostess. If so, it is advisable to find a boat with a designated crew cabin, which is usually located in the bow or has bunk beds. If you do not rent a boat with a crew cabin, you should allocate one of the regular cabins for them. Keep in mind that if the skipper and hostess are not a couple, they will usually require separate cabins.

It is important to respect the sailboat's capacity and not exceed the allowed number of people (including small children), as this is legally prohibited.

Manufacturing date of the sailboatthe

The year of manufacture is a very important factor for some when choosing a sailboat for rent in Croatia. It not only significantly affects the price but also influences changes in design, space layout, and the modernization of equipment over the years. Based on our experience, newer sailboats generally have better space utilization, so it is common to see a newer sailboat, which is a few feet smaller than an older one, offering more space.

It is often the case that older sailboats may not be as well-maintained, meaning that various components may be faulty or non-functional. However, this is not always true—many older boats are well taken care of and can sometimes be in better condition than some newer ones.

Charter sailboats can come with a variety of equipment, but here we will focus on the essentials, which include:

• generator
• air conditioning
• inverter
• water maker
• the choice of sails
• a dinghy

Generator

If you are planning a trip during the summer months, you will almost certainly encounter high temperatures. Besides cooling off by swimming in the sea during the day, many people will want to use air conditioning to cool the boat, especially at night for more comfortable sleep.

For those who choose a sailboat with air conditioning, it is very important to check whether the boat also has a generator. Without a generator, the air conditioning will only work when you are in a marina and connected to shore power. A generator will not only allow the air conditioning to function while anchored in a bay, but it will also power all the onboard sockets, enabling the use of higher-consumption appliances such as a hairdryer, an ice maker (if available), chargers, and more.

Inverter

An inverter will allow one or all sockets to function, but when it is running, you can only use low-power devices such as phone chargers, laptops, or similar electronics. If you sail a lot, use the engine sparingly, and haven't been connected to shore power in a marina for a few days, it would be a good idea to run the engine for a while to recharge the batteries. Of course, this only applies if you don’t have a generator; if you do, the generator can take care of charging the batteries.

A Water Maker

A watermaker is a very useful feature that not every sailboat has and is more commonly installed on catamarans. It comes in handy when you're running low on water, don’t have a marina nearby, or simply don’t plan to dock. To operate a watermaker, you will most often need a generator.

Keep in mind that before turning on the watermaker, you must have at least 20% water in the tank—so don’t wait until you completely run out of water, as it won’t function at that point. Of course, if your boat is equipped with a watermaker, the mechanic at check-in will provide you with detailed instructions on how to use it.

The Choice of Sails

If you are not hiring a skipper and will be sailing the boat yourself, the choice of sails might be important to you. For beginners who are not yet very skilled at sailing, a recommended option is a sailboat with a self-tacking jib. This type of foresail automatically adjusts during tacks and gybes, eliminating the need to manually trim the sheets and switch sides.

Many sailors also prefer a furling mainsail system, where the mainsail rolls into the mast for easier handling. However, if not operated correctly, it can sometimes get stuck while furling or unfurling, which can cause issues. While a traditional mainsail that hoists from a sail bag might initially seem more complicated, it is often the simpler and more reliable option.

A Dinghy

A dinghy is something you will frequently use to get to shore when your sailboat is anchored or moored to a buoy instead of being docked in a marina. Dinghies with a hard bottom are easier to maneuver but heavier to carry or lift onto the bow. A more powerful engine will allow for faster travel and easier navigation, especially if multiple people are in the dinghy. However, that same stronger engine will also be heavier and more challenging to lower, mount, and remove from the dinghy.

Cost of Sailboat Rental in Croatia

We come to perhaps the most important factor for many, which is the price. All these accessories and equipment on the boat are nice and sometimes necessary, but they increase the price. You need to determine what you really need and what your budget is, and then choose the sailboat accordingly.

To simplify this entire process, you can use the simple search filters on our website, where you can select everything from the price range, boat length, number of cabins, to the equipment.