Comparisons Between Moorings and Catamaran Company

We have recently chartered twice in the British Virgin Islands, two weeks each time. We have good opinions of both companies and would charter from either again. There are, however, some interesting differences. Our observations are published here in the hope that they might help other newbee charters as they plan their trips.

For our first charter, we used Moorings, the largest, best known in the business. We also chartered from their newer boats at a slightly higher price. We decided to try a catamaran in the second year and Catamaran Company had a wider selection of models available. We saw many of their boats around the islands the first year and they appeared to be well cared for.

U.S. Staff: Both companies were responsive on the phone and sent complete and easy to understand contracts and other information. With Moorings, we used an third party charter agent so I did not have as much direct phone contact with them. Our charter representative with Catamaran Company was Pat Saks, and I was always pleased with how promptly she responded to our questions.

BVI Staff: I don’t have firm numbers, but Moorings fleet and operation in BVI is much larger than Catamaran Company. To run that larger operation well, they are far more structured in their activities. Their process is crisp and efficient, if perhaps a little impersonal.

If you read our trip report from 2000 you will note that I said that the Moorings expatriate staff were less than friendly. By comparison, all staff at Catamaran Company were cordial and pleasant to work with. They seemed to enjoy what they were doing. Catamaran Company is not as crisp and regimented as Moorings, but they are friendly, flexible, and helpful. I like the smaller operation, but that is just my preference.

At Moorings, there must have been 40 or more skippers and/or mates in the chart briefing, and six of us on one boat getting the boat briefing on a “sister ship.” At Cat Co, there were four of us in the chart briefing, two skippers, two mates, and they came aboard the boat we were sailing and walked us through it. There was more time for questions. The next morning they held another briefing for more people but it was still a much smaller group with more personal attention than I saw at Moorings.

Items furnished: Things Moorings supplied which Cat Co did not were anchorages book with aerial photos of anchorages and their approaches ($30 at Cat Co), at least one foul weather jacket, and shore power cord on boat. Moorings transfers you to and from the airport, Cat Co arranges, but does not pay for, transportation.

Things on the Cat Co boat, not on Moorings were an inverter (so we could use 110v items) and a blender. There were more items for cooking, and serving than on Moorings. Cat Co furnished more cleaning supplies and paper products. There were extra bed linens and towels on board. Moorings furnished the bare minimum.

Price: They don’t charter exactly the same boats, so a direct comparison is not possible but in my opinion, for a comparable quality boat, Cat Co is less expensive.

Accommodations: Cat Co let us spend the night before our charter began on the boat. That saved us a night in a hotel. Moorings did not offer this convenience. Also, because we were there the evening before, they did our chart and boat briefings the night before our charter began, making our first morning much less stressful. Both Lynn and I were there when the provisions came instead of her stowing them alone while I sat in a chart briefing. There were only two of us the first three days so this was no small benefit.

Mid Cruise Clean Up: Both years we changed crews between the first and second week and we wanted the charter company to change the linens and clean the heads, but not do a full boat clean up. Moorings offered this service at $50 but local office staff made sure we knew it was an inconvenience to them.

When I tried to arrange the same thing with Catamaran Company they wanted $200, which just about wiped out the 5% discount on the second week. It seemed I could get the full boat clean up, or nothing. I chose to not to schedule it ahead of time. I explained to the local staff what I wanted after I got to BVI and they took care of it for me. We tipped the boat cleaner who came aboard, she was there only a short time and she resupplied us with toilet paper, paper towels, linens, and the like.

Emergency Service: Nothing went wrong with our Moorings boat to test their service although we saw them helping others. We did tear a sail (Genoa) on the cat. Cat Co came to us, took the sail and returned it repaired the next day. As mentioned elsewhere, we had an older boat this year and the sails and rigging were getting tired. I suspect, because Moorings has a larger fleet, with many of the same model boats in service at any given time, they might have had a spare sail and might have taken care of the problem in one visit instead of two. Notice I said might.

In a somewhat related item, our mainsail on the catamaran was about ten inches too long on the luff and to get a clean looking rig, I kept it on the first reefing point. It seems the original sail was damaged beyond repair and this one was off another Privilege 37, which apparently had different standing rigging.

Charts and Restrictions: Moorings supplies a “planning chart” with their name on it, which does not include Anegada. They don’t want you to go there unless you have been there before, preferably with their Tuesday flotilla. Cat Co’s chart has a lot more detail and includes Anegada. It is an Imray-Iolaire waterproof chart of the Virgin Islands. When they asked if we were going to Anegada in the chart briefing, and we said yes, they did not balk and gave good advice on where to anchor if we could not get a mooring.

Note: My advice is to always take your own charts. If you never use them again, so what? It is a real comfort to have a high level of detail and if nothing else, they make a great souvenir of your vacation.

Moorings now has available a chart on CD for your computer. As I recall it has little, if any, more detail than their “planning chart.” It is designed to crash after a certain length of time so you do not have an electronic chart of BVI to use forever. Check on this for yourself. Things may have changed since they brought them out in 2000.

Skipper’s Qualifications: Both companies require information on the skipper’s experience and both asked me questions about those qualifications. It appears they are equally careful. Something funny occurred with Moorings. Because it had been several years since I had skippered a boat as large as 41’ they indicated they would put a friendly skipper on board for the first day. We had little choice but to accept and it would not have interfered with our plans. However, during the chart briefing, they asked me if I felt I needed the skipper for a day. I said no. They said “Great, that’s what we wanted to hear.” They did not put a skipper on the boat.

Base Facilities: Moorings base is pretty self contained with dive shop, water toy rental, small provisioner, gift shop, yacht sales office, restaurant, etc. located right at the docks. Catamaran Company has a small office at the docks. There are other services within easy walking distance in Nanny Cay, right along the docks. These include, two restaurants, dive shop, other charters, gift shops, a very small grocer, dive shop, a laundry (where for a small price the lady will wash, dry, and fold your clothes), and a chandler.

FYI, Moorings had a major fire a year ago which burned their restaurant to the ground. They have rebuilt and improved the entire base and it appears everything is up and running.

Summary: These are both good outfits and I would have no trouble recommending either. Moorings appear better organized. Catamaran Company, being smaller, seems friendlier and more flexible.