Tel: 01270 760 770
We know that you’ll have lots of questions about Carefree Cruising, our service and how it works.
Here we’ve provided answers to some of the more frequently asked questions,but if you still have any questions you’d like answering, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01270 760 770
or e-mail us using the contact form.
Frequently asked questions
BUYING AND SELLING YOUR SHARE
Is this a Time-Share scheme?
When I buy my share, what do I have to pay in advance?
Can I sell my share in our boat?
THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF OWNERSHIP
Is there a co-ownership agreement?
What proof of ownership will I receive?
How long will I own my share for?
How do I know the maintenance money that I pay you is secure?
Can the owners manage our boat themselves?
YOUR BOAT
Can I choose the name and colour of our boat?
Do you provide boat handling tuition?
Can my Son, Daughter or my Friends use our boat?
Where will our boat be based?
How often can I use our boat?
Can I have two weeks together?
Can I go on one-way trips with our boat?
How does the "Carefree Cruising" ownership allocation system work?
Can I hire out my unused weeks or offer my weeks for skippered hire?
Can I bring my dog?
Will I meet the other co-owners?
What is expected of co-owners using our boat?
CARE OF YOUR BOAT
Who looks after our boat?
BREAKDOWNS OR ACCIDENTS WITH YOUR BOAT
What happens if our boat breaks down?
What if I have an accident?
ABOUT CAREFREE CRUISING
Why is Carefree Cruising different from the other shared-ownership companies?
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No. There are several fundamental differences between shared-ownership and time-share schemes
The first is that you own an actual share in your boat. With time-share, you only have the right to use one of the time-share companies boats.
The second is that you own your share of the boat indefinately (with time-share, you purchase the right to use one of the time-share company's boats for a specified period, say 10 years).
The third is that you can also extend your use of the boat by making use of any weeks that your co-owners cannot use themselves. With time-share your entitlement is fixed, even if the boat stands unused for the remainder of the year.
When I buy my share, what do I have to pay in advance?As a sign of commitment, we ask for a small holding deposit when you agree to buy your share. We then ask for a small initial payment when the build of the boat commences. The balance is due on delivery of the boat. It's as simple as that.
Can I sell my share in our boat?You can sell your share any time after the end of the first year of your ownership. As the new owner(s) of it will need to enter into the same shared ownership agreement that you did, we will help you sell your share, but YOU DECIDE THE PRICE that you want to offer your share at. (We will give you advice as to what we think that your share is worth)
Is there a co-ownership agreement?A formal agreement is made between each owner and Carefree Cruising. This is designed to be fair, non-contentious and to protect the interests of all of the co-owners equally.
What proof of ownership will I receive?You will receive a receive a copy of the co-ownership agreement that you entered into with Carefree Cruising and the other co-owners when you purchased your share. This clearly details your ownership of your part of the boat.
How long will I own my share for?For as long as you want to!
Our boats are very high quality and this, coupled with the ongoing maintenance that they receive, means that they have a virtually unlimited lifespan.
Over 75% of the co-owners must be in agreement before the boat can be sold. If the co-owners decide to sell the boat, Carefree Cruising will market it on the co-owners' behalf through a reputable independent boat brokerage business. The sale monies will then be divided between the co-owners in proportion to their shares.
How do I know the maintenance money I pay you is secure?Each syndicate has its own bank account. These are designated "Client Accounts" and as such are ring-fenced and totally separate from our own business funds. In the unlikely event of any problems with Carefree Cruising, your money is separate and secure.
Can the owners manage our boat themselves?Yes.
Carefree Cruising manage your boat on a year by year basis. The syndicate can vote to either re-appoint us or to mange the boat themselves at each and every annual meeting.
We DON'T tie you in to six year management contracts, or worse still, management contracts that you can't terminate at all..
Can I choose the name and colour of our boat?When we’ve sold a boat to you, it’s yours. So we don’t paint the boats in a “corporate” livery with our name on the side, or use “linked” name themes so that people in the know can work out which shared-ownership company sold the boat to you. Your boat will be painted in individual private-owner livery and will be indistinguishable from single owner boats.Because it's free!
If you reserve your share before your boat has been built, you can put forward suggestions and then all of the co-owners vote for their preferred name & colours.
Do you provide boat handling tuition?On your first use of your boat, we will take you through your boat and explain ] in detail how every piece of equipment works.
If you feel that you would benefit from a boat handling course, we can arrange one for you for a small additional cost.
Can my Son, Daughter or my Friends use our boat?Up to two people can be named as owners.
You can also have two additional named users, giving four named users of your boat in total.
Where will our boat be based?Initially, your boat will be based at either our own premises at Sandbach on the Trent and Mersey Canal. This allows us to get to know you and you to get to know us.
This base also give an exceptional variety of cruising routes including the Cheshire Ring, Four Counties Ring, South Pennine Ring, Caldon Canal, Huddersfield Canal, Rochdale Canal, Llangollen Canal and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
After the first year, the boat will be based wherever the co-owners decide they want it to be based.
How often can I use our boat?This will depend upon the share of the boat that you purchased. For a one twelfth share, for example, your entitlement is four weeks, which is broadly split as two weeks in the main sailing season and two weeks in the remainder of the year. You can also, with the agreement of any other co-owner, obtain extra weeks by using their entitlement if they are unable to do so. The only extra costs you incur are for diesel and pump-out.
Can I have two weeks together?Of course! Our ownership allocation system is specifically designed to allow this.
With our “flexible cruising” scheme, you can have 2 weeks together if you own a 4 weeks share, 3 weeks together if you own a 6 weeks share and 4 weeks together if you own a 8 weeks share.
Can I go on one-way trips with our boat?Yes, provided the co-owner following on from you agrees in advance to bring your boat back to its operating base. Any additional charges incurred, such as temporary mooring fees, will be your responsibility.
How does the "Carefree Cruising" ownership allocation system work?We operate a fair and flexible scheme designed to offer you the maximum time on the water when you want it.
For details as to exactly how it works, please click on "Flexible Weeks Scheme" on the menu to the left and then click on the link at the foot of the page.
Can I hire out my unused weeks or offer my weeks for skippered hire?No - commercial use of the boat would invalidate the insurance.
If you are unable to use the boat for your full entitlement, your "spare" weeks are available to other co-owners to use. This, of course, also works the other way and so you are able to take advantage of any "spare" weeks that the other co-owners may have.
Can I bring my dog?Yes. Your boat is provided with a Dyson vacuum cleaner with dual filters. This should ensure that the following co-owner doesn't suffer from your pet's hairs! You must, however, bring your own pet bedding and pets are not allowed on the beds or upholstery. Your pet must not be left alone on your boat at any time.
(Please note: if you have bought in to a “pet free” boat then you will not be allowed to take pets onto your boat under any circumstances)
Will I meet the other co-owners?Each co-owner is provided with full contact details for the other co-owners and you may communicate freely with them. You will be given the opportunity to meet your other co-owners at the "launch party" for your boat. Once per year, the co-owners meet to discuss their requirements for the following year, including where they would like the boat to be based for the coming year.
What is expected of co-owners using our boat?Each co-owner is responsible for the boat whilst it is under their control (or the control of one of their additional users) and they are expected to take the same care of it as if they were the sole owner.
At the end of each holiday period, each co-owner is responsible for re-fuelling and pumping-out their boat at their own cost. They should also check that the gas bottles do not need replacing (this cost is met out of the boat's operating fund) and clean their boat to ensure that it is ready for the next co-owner.
(Please note: some bases provide an optional boat cleaning and/or bed linen hire service at a small addiitional cost)
Who looks after our boat?Carefree Cruising contract with operational bases to provide permanent moorings, operational support, (such as diesel and pump-outs), and maintenance and servicing for the boats. All of these costs are passed to you directly. We do not add any charges or make any hidden profits.
We also arrange full breakdown and engineering support in the unlikely event that our owners require it whilst cruising the boat. Each year a full winter maintenance programme is carried out to a predetermined and fully costed schedule.
What happens if our boat breaks down?Our schedule of regular maintenance is designed to make breakdowns unlikely. If, however, you are unlucky enough to suffer a breakdown whilst cruising, call the emergency breakdown number in the boat's manual. The cost of any breakdown is met from the boat's operating fund. We will then arrange for a qualified boat engineer to fix the boat promptly.
What if I have an accident?Accidents causing damage are very rare.
However, if you are unfortunate enough to have one, the boats are fully insured for full replacement value. Each co-owner is responsible for the first £250 worth of damage caused during their control of the boat (this is the insurance policy excess). Any claims above this amount are covered by the boat insurance policy. There is a third party liability limit of £2m.
Why is Carefree Cruising different from the other shared-ownership companies?We believe that our scheme offers excellent value for money compared to those of our competitors.
We don't compromise on quality, specification or equipment of our boats. We use high quality shells, with a superb quality fit out by our sister company Elton Moss Boatbuilders to an exclusive Carefree Cruising design. Our boats come equipped with a fixed full width double bed (4'6", not the "normal" 4' narrow boat bed), without fiddly extension pieces or flaps, complete with a luxury sprung matress. There is also a TV, video, microwave, full domestic size washing machine and tumble drier and stereo radio/CD player as standard.
We also operate a very flexible ownership allocation system. You don't have to keep the same weeks usage each year. You don't have to rotate your entitlement by one month each year. Your don't have to drawn your weeks out of a hat. Instead YOU CHOOSE when you want to cruise - EACH AND EVERY YEAR!
When we've sold a boat to you, it's yours. So we don't paint our boats in a "corporate" livery with our name on the side. or use "linked" name themes so that people in the know can work out which shared-ownership company sold the boat to you. Our boats are painted in individual private-owner liveries and are indistinguishable from single owner boats.
Finally, we care about you and your investment. To increase your enjoyment of your boating our boats come equipped with binoculars, bird guide, waterways plants guide and, of course, a full set of canal guide books.