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SHOULD YOU PUT YOUR BOAT INTO CHARTER?

Putting your yacht -- either power and sail -- into charter

makes sense and dollars, says Southwest Florida Yachts

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – Should you put your boat into charter? It's a good time to do it, say the owners of Southwest Florida Yachts. The charter yacht firm is having a strong year and, well, they need boats to meet the demand.

"We need power and sail yachts, especially sailboats, in the 34 to 40 foot category," said Barb Hansen, owner and manager of the North Fort Myers operation, which will mark its 30th anniversary in 2014. Hansen said the preference is for yachts less than 10 years old but she will consider any well-maintained yacht. She noted that the firm has had good success over the years chartering Catalina and Island Packet sailing vessels and Grand Banks, Mainship and Sea Ray power yachts.

Revenue generated from chartering is a major advantage for the boat owner, said Hansen, but there are other benefits, too, including the owner knowing the vessel is maintaining its value because it undergoes regular maintenance and is used regularly. Also, when the owners want to use the boat, they know it's in ready-to-cruise condition.

Southwest Florida Yachts, founded in 1984, maintains its fleet of power yachts at Marinatown Marina on the Caloosahatchee River in N. Fort Myers. Its fleet of sailing vessels is based at Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda. Cruisers explore the coastline and attractions along scenic Gulf of Mexico barrier islands like Sanibel, Captiva, Useppa and Cayo Costa.

Yacht owners and those who wish to consider chartering as a way to help purchase a vessel may contact Hansen at 1-800-262-7939 or, via email,

For more information about Southwest Florida Yachts and Florida Sailing & Cruising School visit www.swfyachts.com , www.flsailandcruiseschool.com , www.swfyachtsales.com, and Facebook.com/SWFYachts. Mailing Address: 3444 Marinatown Lane, N.W., N. Fort Myers, FL 33903. Telephone: 800-262-7939 or 239-656-1339, or email .

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