I hate to do this, but I’ve been put in a new situation regarding a fishing charter. Our chartered boat has had maintenance issues the first 2 days of the charter and we have one more day tomorrow. Yesterday wasn’t too bad. We may have missed out on about an hour of fishing. Today we only fished for about 4 of the 8 hours due to engine trouble. Tomorrow, I’m hoping for the best, but I feel like I should be getting a little refund or not tipping the Captain and Mate, at the very least. Can anyone help me with protocol on this problem?
have you asked for a refund?
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NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
A refund is appropriate for any time lost due to boat issues if you paid in advance. The mate should still be tipped based on the services performed. It ain’t his fault the boat broke. The Captain, based on his attitude about the situation, tip him or not.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
I haven’t discussed any monetary issues with the Captain, yet. I will tomorrow. I’ll plan on tipping the Mate, still. I did pay in advance, and the Capt has run a good boat. I just feel like I paid a lot of money to fishing, and we ended up with more of a boat ride today.
The Arsenal: 17’ home-built jet sled, 1996 F-350 Powerstroke CrewCab.
“Fish don’t catch themselves.”
Glad to see you’ll be taking care of the mate for sure.
I’ve seen headboat captains give extra time to the customers (up to a couple hours) for days even when the fishing sucked and we spent a lot of time slugging around to find active reefs. If even those guys are making good on their time, this charter should as well.
You sound to me like you’ve been patient with them, keep a good attitude toward them but DEFINITELY make it known to the captain before you trip even leaves the dock that you’d like to know what the captain plans on doing to make good on what you’ve spent. Either refund, or give you time out fishing that satisfies what you think is fair.
A charter service is no different than an airline or bus or train. It is incumbent upon the service provider to maintain their equipment to complete the service as both parties agreed.
If an airline had to cancel your flight or if they have to make an emergency landing in route, they will compensate you with a free ticket and other goodies like food and lodging.
At the least, you should ask for another trip to be comped.
Just my $.02
“If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel .” Benjamin Netanyahu
Ecclesiastes 10:2
GW 205
F200 Yam
Thanks for all the responses guys. We had mx problems again today. It didn’t cost us any fishing time today but we had to get a ride back to the marina on a different boat. I’m sure the owner and I can come to some type of agreement on proper compensation. On the plus side, I got my rooster fish, 4 mullet snapper, 3 rock fish, 2 dorado, and a couple jack crevalle to add to my species list. My wife got a monster dorado today, 4 ft long and about 30 lbs! Dinner is served!
The Arsenal: 17’ home-built jet sled, 1996 F-350 Powerstroke CrewCab.
“Fish don’t catch themselves.”
You didn’t mention that you are in central america. Having engine/boat problems there is quite different than in america. You could always book a different boat and not have same boat 3 days in row and see a different style or attitude towards the fishing but sounds like ya’ll had a good time
All the boats I have fished off of in central america have been owned by an american and crewed by natives! They all busted ther buts to please us and if any problem came up they would more than compencate!
We once run out of beer at noon and they were going to come in and get more beer and go back out!
Hope this trip will not keep you from booking anoyher one.