Boat charter vs co-ownership in Miami

Chartering is the easiest way to spend a day on the water: no commitment, captain included. Co-owning is for people who want that day often, on a boat that is theirs. Here is the honest math, using the same boat.

See the boats Get an honest recommendation

Side by side

	Charter	Galenne
What you pay for	Each day you go out	A 25% share of the boat, plus a monthly contribution
Price example	$1,700 for 6 hours on a 2024 Saxdor 320 GTO (Boatsetter, Oct 2026), before platform fees	$54,500 share of a 2022 Saxdor 320 GTO + $1,350/mo per owner
Captain	Usually included	Drive it yourself after sign-off, or book a captain
The boat	Different boat, different owner, subject to availability	Always the same boat, set up the way you like it
Booking	Book and pay per day, best dates go fast	~90 days a year per share in the Galenne app
What you own	Nothing	25% of the LLC that holds the boat
At the end	Nothing comes back	The boat is sold, usually after about 4 years, and you get your 25% of the sale back
Best for	A few special days a year, visitors, trying boats	People who want to be out often, on their own boat

The numbers, on the same boat

The $54,500 is not spent. It buys 25% of the boat. At the end of the co-ownership cycle, usually after about 4 years, the boat is sold and you get your share of the sale back, less depreciation. We estimate about 8 to 10% a year for a pre-owned boat with low hours, or about 28 to 34% over the cycle.

Day 1$54,500 inYou own 25% of the LLC that holds the boat.

Years 1 to 4$1,350 a monthEverything included except fuel.

End of the cycle~$35,800–39,000 backEstimated. The boat is sold and you receive your 25%.

Charter, 20 days a year~$34,000/yrAll of it spent. Nothing comes back.

Galenne, true yearly cost~$20,100–20,900/yr$16,200 running costs + estimated depreciation on your share. Fuel extra. Around 90 days available, not 20.

Charter, 4 years at 20 days~$136,000At $1,700 a day, and nothing to sell at the end.

Galenne, 4-year cycle~$80,300–83,500$54,500 share + $64,800 running costs, minus an estimated ~$35,800–39,000 back when the boat is sold.

Estimates, not promises. All figures on this page are estimates for illustration. Resale prices, depreciation, running costs and charter rates change with the market, the season, the boat's hours and condition, so your actual numbers can be higher or lower.

Charter: Boatsetter listing, Miami, Oct 2026, captain and fuel included, platform fees extra. Galenne: 2022 Saxdor 320 GTO at Rickenbacker Marina, fuel extra. Resale assumes 8 to 10% depreciation a year over a 4-year cycle on a pre-owned boat with low hours. Resale value is not guaranteed.

Where charter is the better choice

Charter if

You go out a few times a year.
You want a captain and crew every time.
You want a different boat or place each time.
You do not want any commitment.

Choose Galenne if

You would go out 15 days a year or more.
You want the same boat at the same marina.
You want to drive the boat yourself, or sometimes with a captain.
You would rather put money into an asset that mostly comes back than pay per day.

Apples and oranges, not apples to apples

Charter, boat clubs, co-ownership and owning alone are not cheaper or pricier versions of the same thing. Each fits a different stage. The right one depends on how often you go out and how much you want to deal with.

1 · You rarely go out

Charter

A few special days a year. Pay per day, captain included, no commitment.

2 · You are getting started

Boat club

Learn and try different boats for a low entry cost, within the club's booking limits.

3 · You go out regularly

Galenne

You know what you want: a bigger boat, always the same one, at a top Miami marina, around 90 days a year, and nothing to deal with. Built for experienced boaters, and for owning without buying a whole boat.

4 · You are out every week

Owning alone

If you use the boat every week, say once you retire, a boat of your own makes sense. Even then, two Galenne shares (50%, around 180 days a year) cost about half.

Galenne is built for step 3: recurring use, bigger boats, great marinas and nothing to manage.

Frequently asked questions

How many days make co-ownership worth it?

On our estimates for a Saxdor 320 GTO, chartering 20 days a year costs about $34,000. A 25% share costs about $20,100 to $20,900 a year all in: $16,200 of running costs plus estimated depreciation on your share, fuel extra. If you go out more than about 12 to 15 days a year, co-owning usually works out better.

Do I get my $54,500 back?

Most of it. The upfront payment buys 25% of the boat. At the end of the co-ownership cycle, usually about 4 years, the boat is sold and each owner receives their share of the sale. We estimate depreciation at about 8 to 10% a year for a pre-owned boat with low hours, so a $54,500 share would return roughly $35,800 to $39,000. This is an estimate: the final price depends on the market and the boat's condition.

Is a captain included?

Most charters include a captain. With Galenne you drive the boat yourself after a sign-off from a Galenne captain, or book a captain for any trip.

What if I only go out a few times a year?

Then charter is probably the better choice, and we will tell you so.

Can I bring friends and family?

Yes. It is your boat for the day, within the boat's legal capacity.

Is fuel included?

Charter prices often include fuel for a set route. With Galenne fuel is billed by use, at cost, and everything else is covered by your monthly contribution.

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Galenne share prices exclude Galenne's acquisition fee, closing costs and applicable Florida taxes. Fuel is billed by use. All figures are estimates; third-party figures are published prices or typical ranges and may change.