How do I avoid losing my bareboat charter deposit?

Document the yacht's condition before you sail — across hull, deck, engine, sails, safety gear and interior — with timestamped, cryptographically hashed photos that a third party (your bank, insurer or court) can verify independently. HandoverBoat walks you through 16 critical zones in roughly 30 minutes (plus 11 optional zones if you want stronger evidence), SHA-256 hashes every photo at the server, and ships a PDF you can send to the charter company before you leave the dock. €19 once.

What should I check during a yacht handover?

The 16 critical zones cover the high-risk surfaces in a bareboat handover: hull (port, starboard, bow, transom), deck and cockpit, anchor and chain, sails and rigging, engine and bilge, safety equipment. 11 optional zones cover lower-risk areas: galley, heads, electronics, dinghy and outboard, and onboard documents. The order matters — start at the waterline and walk fore-to-aft, then move below deck. HandoverBoat enforces this order and shows one example photo per zone.

Is HandoverBoat better than Floatist for charterers?

Floatist is the charter base's tool — the PDF belongs to the operator. HandoverBoat is the guest's tool — you run it, you own the PDF. If your base uses Floatist, run HandoverBoat anyway. Two independent evidence records protect you better than one. Floatist is also typically charged at €380+/yr per boat to operators; HandoverBoat is €19 once per charter to the guest.

Can I use HandoverBoat photos for a Visa chargeback?

Yes. The PDF is pre-formatted for Visa/Mastercard chargeback procedures within the 120-day dispute window and for UK Section 75 Consumer Credit Act claims (amounts £100–£30,000). Each photo carries a SHA-256 hash and a server-side UTC timestamp the bank can verify against the public verify URL. The Pro tier (€39) adds an automated chargeback package generator with bank-specific filing steps for major EU/UK banks.

€19 feels like a lot for a PDF. Why not just use my phone gallery?

Phone gallery photos have editable EXIF, no cryptographic integrity and no Document ID — a charter company lawyer or a chargeback team can dismiss them in one sentence. Deposit insurance costs €135–€430 per week (Pantaenius, YACHT-POOL, Sealogy). Operator damage waivers are €200–€980 (Moorings, Sunsail). HandoverBoat at €19 is roughly 1/10 of insurance and 1/30 of a waiver, and the evidence holds up where phone photos do not.

HandoverBoat — Protect Your €1,500–€5,000 Yacht Charter Deposit

Quick answers

What is HandoverBoat?

A 45-minute structured photo inspection of your charter yacht across 16 critical zones (plus 11 optional), with SHA-256 hashing, server-side timestamps and a public verify URL — for €19 once.

Who is it for?

Bareboat charterers in the Mediterranean who paid a €1,500–€5,000 deposit and want independent evidence of the boat's condition at handover — not the operator's version of it.

How does it protect my deposit?

It creates a third-party-verifiable record. If the charter company claims damage, your bank, insurer or court can open the verify URL and confirm the photos are authentic and timestamped at handover — which helps shift the burden of proof onto the operator.

§ 01 / Try it before you pay

Walk the first two zones for free — and watch your report build itself in real time.

02 zones free

No card. No login. Just the boat and your phone.

Port-side hull and bow. You'll see your preview PDF — cover page, your photos, timestamps, your unique Document ID, the verify URL. Everything visible. Only the download button is locked until you pay €19.

Zone 3 — Bow inspection with photo points marked

Sample PDF

Or open a full sample report — before you photograph anything.

A real handover of a 38-foot yacht in Split, covering all 16 critical zones plus 11 optional zones with three documented defects. Then decide if €19 is worth your €2,500 deposit — about €3.16 per person on a group of six.

Zone 13 — Anchor, chain and windlass with photo points marked

§ 02 / How it works

Three things you do at the dock — 30 to 45 minutes, no app store, no jargon.

Step 01

Open the link, walk 16 critical zones in order (+ 11 optional if you want stronger evidence).

Hull, deck, cockpit, sails, anchor, engine, bilge, galley, heads, safety, dinghy, documents. Each zone: illustration, one-line instruction, example photo. Built for first-time charterers — no yacht terminology homework.

Step 02

Snap photos in-app, tag any defects.

Every photo gets a SHA-256 hash and a server-side UTC timestamp the moment it leaves your phone. Mark existing damage with a tag (scratch / dent / chip / wear) and one sentence. Auto-saves after every zone — keeps your progress through brief signal drops at the marina.

Step 03

Get a signed PDF you can actually send.

Unique Document ID, public verify URL at verify.handoverboat.com, email delivery. Send it to your charter company before you leave the dock. Return inspection at week-end included — same zones, before/after, no extra charge.

§ 03 / Why HandoverBoat and not the alternatives

What else you might try — and why it doesn't hold up.

Phone gallery photos — free, what most people do

Editable EXIF, no cryptographic integrity, no Document ID. A charter company lawyer or a chargeback team can dismiss them in one sentence.

Operator damage waiver — €200–€980 (Moorings, Sunsail, Pitter)

The waiver reduces your liability cap, but the charter company still decides what counts as your damage. HandoverBoat gives you independent evidence — so the decision is based on what's documented, not on the base manager's word.

Floatist — operator-side PWA used by some bases

Floatist is the base's tool — the PDF belongs to the charter company. HandoverBoat is the guest's tool — you run it, you own the PDF. If your base uses Floatist, run HandoverBoat anyway. Two independent records protect you more than one.

§ 04 / FAQ

Practical answers — for the moment before you tap "Pay €19".

Q.01What if the charter company refuses to look at my PDF?

That's fine. The PDF isn't a tool you wave at the operator — it's an independent evidence record built for third parties. Anyone — your bank, your insurer, a small-claims court — can open the verify URL and confirm the photos are real, hash-matched and timestamped at handover. The burden shifts: the operator has to prove your record wrong, not the other way around. The PDF is pre-formatted to support a Visa/Mastercard chargeback within 120 days and a UK Section 75 Consumer Credit Act claim for amounts £100–£30,000.

Q.02€19 feels like a lot for a PDF.

Deposit insurance is €135–€430 per week (Pantaenius, YACHT-POOL, Sealogy). Operator damage waivers are €200–€980 (Moorings, Sunsail). HandoverBoat at €19 is 1/10 of insurance, 1/30 of a waiver. On a group of six it's €3.16 each — less than a coffee in Split.

Q.03How does the verify URL work?

Every report has a unique Document ID and a public link at verify.handoverboat.com/YOUR-ID. Anyone — the charter company, the marina manager, your bank's chargeback team — can open it and confirm the PDF wasn't altered. Each photo carries a SHA-256 hash checked against the one we recorded the moment you took it.

Q.04What about refunds, data and privacy?

Refunds: available for technical errors, duplicate charges, or charter cancelled before handover with reasonable evidence — within 14 days, 24-hour response SLA. Data: photos and PDF stored 12 months, geolocation is opt-in, never shared with charter companies without your explicit action. Email info@handoverboat.com to delete your account. Full details: Terms · Privacy.

Q.05Won't the base manager rush me through the handover?

Auto-save after every zone means you can pause and resume. The product ships with ready-made polite phrases to slow the handover down without conflict: "I just need 5 more minutes to finish documenting — it'll save us both time later."

Q.06Is this a legal document? Does HandoverBoat guarantee deposit return?

No. HandoverBoat is a tool for creating a structured photo record with timestamps and optional geolocation. The report is not a marine survey, not a certified inspection, and not legal advice. It does not guarantee deposit return and does not replace your rental agreement. For a significant dispute, consult an attorney qualified in the relevant jurisdiction.

Q.07I run charters or rent out my boat — is there a plan for me?

Yes. HandoverBoat has monthly plans for skippers and small owners who need to document every handover, keep a season-long archive, and forward reports to agencies, owners, or renters. See plans for skippers & owners →

Document the boat before you sail — protect a €1,500–€5,000 deposit for €19.