Ownership Overview

Do You Want To Own Your Own Boat But Have None Of The Financial Woes Of Traditional Ownership?

I am delighted that you have found your way to this page because here I will introduce you to a totally different way of owning a boat. With FlexiSail you receive a substantial income, have your bills paid etc, but most importantly you do not ‘give up’ your valuable asset to a ‘charter company’ who will allow just about anyone to use and abuse your boat. This is your asset that is being used by people, many of whom do not care! Our business is structured differently in order to protect your boat’s value, reduce depreciation and therefore reduce true cost of ownership.

At FlexiSail we provide you with a wonderful vehicle to own your own Yacht or Motor Cruiser. We make ownership affordable and we will provide you with the advice to guide you smoothly through the process. We enable you to afford a better quality, larger and newer boat than you might otherwise have contemplated.

We ensure that your valuable time is spent enjoying your boat and that you are not bogged down in management headaches, lost time spent doing maintenance, or have the worry of the costs that private owners know about all too well!

A new Owner of an existing FlexiSail Yacht said:

“We fancied owning a boat and not having the hassle of looking after it week on week.  We were looking for a good quality second hand boat and found our Beneteau Oceanis 40 already in the FlexiSail fleet.  She was a 3 year old yacht in great condition — better in fact than other privately owned used boats that we had seen.

We have been delighted with the FlexiSail programme and the service we receive. The social events are fun and we have enjoyed meeting the actual members that have access to our boat.

We sleep well at night knowing that our boat is being professionally looked after and the bills are paid — we have none of the heartache of boat management.”

Justin and Jennie Carter — Owner-member, Fat Lady (Beneteau Oceanis 40)

Everyone appreciates that buying a boat and just using it for the odd few days here and there, whilst for the majority of the year it lies unattended, is not a sensible use of an expensive and depreciating asset. However few boat owners realise that there is an alternative to ‘chartering’ that gives you more access, better protects your asset and provides a higher level of income. Here are some important questions that you may already be thinking about.

How important are the following to you?

• To Receive a net income over and above the running costs to cover the interest on your loan and a good part of your boat’s depreciation?
  With a substantial net income flowing to you from our guaranteed income plus revenue share you really are getting the best of all worlds. Your boat is looked after, your boat is actively managed and the bills are paid — you sail for free while we pay down your loan!
  
• Not having to pay the cost of marina fees, insurance, everyday maintenance, sail and covers valeting and repairs, engine servicing, cleaning and haulouts, antifouling, polishing and buffing?
  It is easy to forget that buying a boat is only half the cost. It is perfectly normal to spend 20% of the boat’s value every year on its upkeep. We have 2 full time staff plus part time help doing nothing but looking after our fleet of 14 boats. That averages out at a whole man-day every week throughout the year just looking after YOUR boat! We have set the highest standard in the marine  industry.
• To have your boat maintained and looked after as well, if not better, than you could do yourself?
  Be impressed, come and see some of our older boats, now 5 years old.
• To have the flexibility to sail when planned and to be able to sail at short notice?
  Let us show you our online iCalendar, it is designed for flexibility and to ensure that you enjoy the same fair access whether you are first or last to make your bookings.
• Having the weight and responsibility of maintenance, the time that management takes and the hassle of ownership removed and taken care of for you?
  Never under-estimate the time involved with looking after a boat properly and keeping everything working as it should. For some people it is their hobby, but for most of us it is just another thing to do and it is very rare that the rest of the family think it’s fun!
  
• To enjoy the reward of owning a new or nearly new boat, fully equipped with everything working as it should?
  There is something rather nice about enjoying a new boat with everything working optimally; the sail shape is good; the hull slips through the water nicely; and the engine starts on the first turn of the key. The boat is warm; the beds are comfortable… and the whole family enjoy the experience.
• Personally knowing the other people who have access to your boat?
  With only 7 other people having access to your boat, you have the opportunity through our many social events to meet and to get to know each other. Each member is using your boat for their exclusive use on a regular basis and guess what… they develop a real love and affinity for your boat and as a result treat it like THEIR OWN BOAT.
  
• To have instant access to our own Yachtmaster Instructors and our own full time maintenance staff for help, advice or training at any time?
  Buying a boat, especially if it your first, is daunting. We provide a supported environment 24/7 that helps to ensure that you develop your sailing skills safely to become competent and confident owners and sailors. There is always someone available to talk to and help sort a problem at any time.

From a FlexiSail Owner perspective

“I joined as an owner member 4 years ago. Living in the Midlands limits our time for sailing and the boat sharing scheme is ideal. We have been delighted with the standard of maintenance and the care with which other members treat ‘their’ boat. Shadowfax still looks really smart. Richard and Sue look after their members with just as much enthusiasm.

With FlexiSail to share the costs and maintain our boat, we can just enjoy our sailing.”

Alex Stephenson — Owner-member, Shadowfax (Beneteau Oceanis 343)

• To Sail from the best marinas in the ‘premier locations’ in the Solent with access at all states of tide and with simply the best facilities?
  FlexiSail operate from Port Hamble Marina in the historic village of Hamble with direct access to the centre of the Solent and Lymington Yacht Haven in Lymington the beautiful Georgian town at the western end of the Solent accessed through the New Forest National Park. Hamble is just 10 minutes off the M27 junction 8 and Lymington is just 30 minutes off junction 2 of the M27.
• Being part of a sailing community and having access to social events that have something for everyone?
  Sailing can be lonely so it is nice to have other likeminded people to socialise with and for the kids and teenagers to have others to interact with, making everything so much more fun for everyone.

At FlexiSail we have a genuinely unique offering that brings together boat access, training and an active social programme that promotes a real sense of community. It is unlike anything that you have come across before and is as close as you can get to a complete sailing solution.

If you are serious about owning your own boat, appreciate that for most of the year your boat will be under-utilised and wish to investigate the opportunity to almost completely offset the cost of ownership, do contact us. We can make a really valuable difference to you.

Some words from a FlexiSail Member-turned-Owner

“There were two things that the FlexiSail scheme offered that attracted us to yacht ownership. Firstly, we felt that without the potential for income from the ownership revenue share scheme, we could not justify buying a new yacht and have enough time to sail it at a busy time of our lives.

Secondly, the condition of the boats that have been in the scheme for 5 years was excellent and probably in better condition than an equivalent second hand private yacht of this age. Along with the FlexiSail approach of a maximum of 8 dedicated members to one yacht (unlike other similar charter schemes) this gave us confidence.

Initially after meeting some members, we realized there was some sense of ownership towards their named yacht, leading to a more responsible attitude to chartering a boat, which comforted us as prospective owner members.

Ultimately, the greatest benefit for us is that we will own our well maintained boat outright by the end of the scheme, having had some financial help towards the mortgage and enough sailing time locally that we can manage.

The added bonus of joining FlexiSail is that we have met some like-minded fun people along the way through the varied well-organised social activities.”

Nickie and Tony Dixon — Owner-member, Howler (Dufour 325)

Take this opportunity to find out more and see how Ownership with FlexiSail is so much more than simply management of your boat.

Call us now on 01590 688008 or visit our web site www.flexisail.com

The Great News is that we are currently expanding our fleets at both Hamble and Lymington during 2011 and are currently actively seeking new or nearly new boats to join our existing fleet of 14 boats as follows:

The way that we do things is radically different to what you might already have seen or experienced in the past. Now is the time to give us a call to find out more and discover for yourself.

From a FlexiSail Motor Cruiser Owner

“One of the main challenges of boat ownership for me has been day-to-day maintenance and care of my boat as I live a distance away from the Solent. Flexisail provide peace of mind with their highly professional organisation. All aspects of boat ownership are taken care of, particularly daily boat-keeping, regular routine servicing and unscheduled maintenance.

The membership scheme ensures that a limited number of vetted and regular members only use the boat. Members feel an element of ownership themselves and look after all aspects of usage much better than normal charterers. Siriana looks newer every time I get a chance to take her out. The booking system and a fixed number of members means that I rarely cannot go out for a cruise when I want to.

Sue and Richard are a pleasure to deal with and work hard to make the experience of being an owner or member highly enjoyable and sociable.”

Jonathan Pegler — Owner-member Siriana (Nimbus 340 Commander)

We will guide you with our advice gained from experience to make the right choice of boat and specification. We are a family run business and passionately believe in our product, which at the end of the day is all about our members and owners and the community that we have created. Do take this opportunity to see if it is right for you too.

It does not matter that you may be at the early stages of contemplating boat ownership — the more that you know, the better informed decision you can make. We simply want you to make what is the right decision for you.

To find out more simply give me, Richard Pierpoint, a call:
01590 688 008

Alternatively, leave your details below and I will send you more detailed information — entirely without obligation.

We look forward to helping you to realise your ownership ambition.
www.flexisail.com
01590 688008