We are often asked why we do not offer a security deposit system, like most other operators. (This is where you pay over a few thousand euros at the start of the holiday, which is usually enough to cover the insurance policy excess, and if you return the boat in one piece you get it back).

Instead we charge a compulsory "security deposit waiver fee" which is a set amount which we use to pay for any damage to the boat or lost equipment.

The reasons why are as follows:

• Bad press: proving that damage to the boat was a result of negligence and not just wear and tear is very difficult to prove, and there has been a lot of comments, on internet forums especially, of clients not getting their security deposit back from certain operators and feeling cheated.
• The last thing we want is having clients leaving our base at the end of a wonderful week, having just paid over several hundred or even thousands of euros for accidental damage - it kind of ruins the holiday a bit and brings on those post holiday blues before you have even hit the M25 on Monday morning!
• As with charging for fuel in advance, we aim to make check in and check out as quick and painless as possible (we are the quickest!).  Negotiating over a charge for a tear in a cockpit cushion or an outboard full of sea water takes time - and I can think of many better things to be doing than that - such as enjoying your final few hours out at sea and not worrying about it!
• There are no reasons for clients not to tell us if they have lost something over the side, touched the bottom on that shallow entry or indeed given the outboard a swimming lesson - as they have no financial exposure.  This is better for us, and better for the next charter clients - which could be you!  All we ask is that as soon as you have a problem, broken or lost something that you inform us, so we can sort it out asap!