You can end up owning in 1/3 the time, for 1/3 the cost compared to what a normal owner pays. You can use your boat as much as you like. You keep it where you want, or follow the sun. The plan is totally flexible. Your boat will be maintained in exceptional condition-- You can earn up to a 20% Return on investment (ROI) with this program.

So who puts boats in our program?

• People who want flexibility.
  • Maybe they want to follow the sun--South in Winter, North in Summer--(Some use their boat all summer, and only offer it for charter in the winter--you may still cover 50% of the total annual cost!)
  • Maybe they want to take off and go cruising when ever they want, for a few months at a time or longer, and then put their boat back in the program.
  • They want an owner's boat, not a charter version boat.
  • They like to have a measure of control and participation and, as a bonus, they enjoy the business tax advantages they receive that are just not available when you don't keep control.
  • They like the flexible investment nature of the program Financing where 10-25% down is typically available. (We offer many creative ways to finance, including a program where you can get your down payments from your stock equity without selling them and without taking out a margin loan!) They can pay the boat off early on any schedule they choose, or just take the profits and invest them somewhere else.
  • They like the idea of trying different bases seasonally.
• Those who want to end up owning the boat (or rolling it over for the one they eventually want to own it). They don't want a charter boat!
• Those who want to use the program with it's profits and tax advantages--to pay their boat off early; or simply to reduce the costs of ownership.
• NOTE: Nowhere in this presentation am I advocating this program strictly as an investment. While it offers significant advantages as a business that offers all of the benefits and risks of any business, what really makes sense is to set up this business when a boat is in the equation. In other words, if a boat is in your future one way or another, then this may be the best alternative for reaching your goal to enjoy the cruising lifestyle with the least possible investment and maximum fun. All of the profits and tax advantages are the perks that come from setting up any business.

Frankly, many of our clients have wondered this. I think the simple answer is that first, you need to have the financial wherewithal to afford what amounts to a substantial investment. This alone cuts way back on the potential.

Lots of people just don't realize this exists. Frankly, we only have limited availability and fill that with minimum promotion. You won't see big, flashy ads like you will with a typical large charter company. Our program is for the select few who take the time to find out how to set their boat up as a profitable business. Some people just don't want to be bothered. (Charter company program or Management program)

See sample business plans here. Click here

See what others have asked, then get a business plan!

Once you've read our material, and registered, I will give you access to business plans and tax planning information that expels many of the myths. Keep in mind, as I will remind you over and over, this is not a Charter Company Plan. That approach is not the same as setting up your own home based business and following their model, you will not qualify for the tax breaks Sandy and I are talking about. Now don't you want to move forward?

Click here or call us at: 410-263-2311

Things aren't always what they appear!

Scroll down to see the graphic, and follow these instructions.

If your eyes follow the movement of the rotating pink dot, you will only see one color, pink. If you stare at the black + in the center, the moving dot turns to green. Now, concentrate on the black + in the center of the picture. After a short period of time, all the pink dots will slowly disappear, and you will only see a green dot rotating if you're lucky! It's amazing how our brain works. There really is no green dot, and the pink ones really don't disappear. This should be proof enough, we don't always see what we think we see.

Are the dots really pink, or are they green? Owning a boat, the way everyone else does, paying $1,000's of dollars a month--is only one way to look at boat ownership. The other way, equally valid, is with our Boat-As-A-Business Plan--find out more below.

Q&A

Bay Yacht Agency Group: Includes: Bay Yacht Agency-sailboats-Jeanneau, Fountaine Pajot Catamarans.   Fountaine Pajot Power Cats.  LetsGoCruising Charters and Management.
Q. What's the difference between a Charter Company Plan and the YPSMP?
A. Charter companies use the Owner's to fund their boats. Boats they spec out for their unique purpose, for their specified programs. They offer little flexibility.
BYA is a Sales Company. We offer our program as a service to our clients. You can choose the kind of boat you want to end up owning. You can equip it the way you want. We can pre-wire, pre-plumb, and pre-build spaces for adding elaborate live aboard equipment and spaces later when you take the boat over for personal use.
(Charter company program or Management program)

Q. What is the LetsGoCruising program?
A. LetsGoCruising is a part of our family of companies responsible for coordinating the management companies we work with. Bay Yacht Agency works closely with LetsGoCruising insuring that there is close coordination between  charterers, owners and fleet managers. LetsGoCruising coordinates the activities of sales, management, marketing and administering of the SailScape/LGC Fun club, really, a loyalty program. As an owner/partner, your boat will be set up by Bay Yacht Agency and then managed and promoted through the LetsGoCruising group of companies. Your company will be a partner with us, and we will set up an individual web site for your new business.

Q. How is BYA related to LetsGoCruising, and the other management companies ?
A. BYA is the marketing company for the boats. Through LGC, we have exclusive management agreements with some top management companies, like CYOA in the Caribbean. These companies typically have a long track record of successfully managing boats in the most popular charter destination in the world--the Virgin Islands, for example.  They are managed by their owners who live on the Island and are committed to their business as their sole source of income. This approach has enormous benefit to the owner. These companies make their profit exclusively from the chartering of boats. They are not subsidized by sales. Therefore, their success depends on your success--exclusively. Likewise, because BYA doesn't have to subsidize it's chartering business, we can sell you a normal boat not a charter boat and sell it at competitive prices with any normal boat dealership. In addition to all of the marketing that each of our individual management companies does, there is an enormous amount of additional promotion done by the member companies promoting each other and LGC promoting to other Brokers, offering the LGC member program and doing additional marketing.

Q. How does the LGC/5 Star Club work?
A. The Club serves two important functions--one for the owner and one for the charterer.

1. For the owner. We've found that virtually all charter companies offer a 10% discount to repeat charterers. They also offer this at boat shows as a promotion. In order to offer more perceived value, we came up with this better idea. It costs almost 5% of revenues simply to acquire a client (5 times more than to keep an existing client). It certainly makes sense to offer greater value to these valuable clients once you get them. In the long run, this approach reduces costs and is one of the principal reasons that a greater percentage of the profits can be passed on to the owner.
2. For the Charterer. It's a proven fact in marketing that people like to feel like they're special. They like to feel that they're a part of a successful group--part of the insider club. Like you they want the best--but they also want to feel they have gotten the most they can for their money. We offer the best boats, better equipped than any others out there, and then, in our club program Charterers receive a host of benefits, including a handsome membership card and set of luggage tags, an electronic newsletter with up to the minute news, a bonus discount program, and specific additional bonus credits to be used for specials that the newsletter promotes. (Used to help get initial bookings on new boats joining the fleet, book slow times, etc.) Further, BYA gives members an equity credit to be used towards the eventual purchase of a boat. 

Q. What is the advantage of the BYA approach, over the typical charter company approach?
A. Each of our management companies is privately owned with the owner living at his location. We're committed. We give the utmost in personal service. We don't support fancy resorts. (We find clients prefer sleeping on the boat the first night rather than in a hotel, anyway!) Our pooling of resources and charter club approach reduces expenses. Our total program allows us to share more of the profit with you! In fact, because you can be an active participant, controlling your own boat, choosing to Follow-the-Sun if you like, and having the option to leave any time--you can qualify for active tax advantages. There is more information on this in other brochures and books we have available when you get more interested.
Q. So what kind of condition do your boats stay in? Don't they get beat up?
A. Charter Companies take control of your boat. They take most of the income and keep the tax advantages for themselves. They fund elaborate properties, resorts, and swimming pools. They are generally controlled by a conglomerate in their owner's country. When the home office lowers the boom and says their division isn't making enough profit, they need to cut costs. What's the one cost they have control of and can cut? Maintenance on your boat! How can they quickly increase revenue? Accept less qualified charterers. Go for volume, not quality. Get it? You pay for their profitability! Less qualified people, and less maintenance spell a bad investment and a poorly maintained boat! You pay a lot for a questionable guarantee that they will pay for the maintenance--based on their idea of how it should be done.
With the LGC,  Profit Sharing approach  you get the largest share of the income. Out of your income, you pay for maintenance. We constantly review everything with LGC and continuously update our database with the latest expense/income information. We suggest (in our projections) a generous allowance for ongoing, preventative maintenance, and refurbishment costs. More than enough. When your boat needs something; anything. We simply do it, and reflect it on your statement. You and we have the same goal. To keep your boat in superb condition! It doesn't cost us anything and we can't increase our profit by not doing proper maintenance. We think the incentives are in the right direction. Your stock broker doesn't guarantee your investment, and neither do we. However, we offer an unbroken chain of commitment since 1972. Ours is a family business and you're a part of the family--a partner in profit! You're more than a number. You're a partner. A part of our growing family. Now over 535 strong.
Q. Do you guarantee the income?
A. No. We guarantee that you get the tax advantages, and you get a boat in great condition whenever you decide to leave. You use a boat set up like an owner's boat, not a charter boat!

What Charter companies guarantee is that they will take most of the profits. They guarantee minimum expenses will be covered and a small amount extra--if anything. They get the tax advantages for expenses, not you. Go to the Library and dig out a Sail or Cruising World magazine from 5 years ago. Look up how many of the companies that were making guarantees then, are still owned by the same owners and honoring those guarantees today. While they may be offering a marketing guarantee, what about achieving the high level of service and maintenance that our program does? They can guarantee all the income they want, but if they don't honor it because of a new owner, or your boat is a wreck after 4 years--what have you achieved? Maximum profits come from achieving proper risk management with your own business--ask your financial advisor!
By the way, did you know that as a participant in other companies programs, if you (or they) haven't set your business up properly, you might be liable for a suit that goes against any member of the management company?
With LGC you become a profit sharing partner. We constantly review the business plan with you. We've got a 30+ year track record of helping owners achieve their individual goals. You always get the largest share of the profit with our approach! You become a legitimate business owner with all of the advantages that implies--see details: When you sign up, review the interview article: "Why Have your own business?"

Tell me what would you rather have: A program where it only takes 5-7 weeks of charter to break even (with tax advantages), or a program without, that takes 22-25 weeks of hard usage in tropical conditions? Let us show you the difference.
Q. Other sales companies offer to place our boats with management companies too. What's the difference with your program?
A. Many dealers have recently jumped on the band wagon. They'll send you off to anyone they can get to take your boat, and there certainly is plenty of demand. The thing is they don't really know these companies well, and don't monitor the performance. In fact, don't try to go back to them--they're through with you.
BYA, LGC and our family of strategic partnered companies establish standards and maintain a long term, partnering relationships with each other. We also act as charter brokers booking the boats we place. We're all linked by common computer programs and the Web. We continuously monitor our companies performance. We sort out situations before they become problems. We're continuously involved as marketing partners. Even if you go off cruising for a year, you can come back and reenter our program. (You can leave with just seasonal notice anytime. You can stay in our program as long as you like. We've had people in for just one season, and others for 11 years.) We're committed to your continuing satisfaction, not just to using this as a gimmick to sell a boat.
Our data base tracks boats at all of our fleets, as well as approximately 700 boats in other fleets. Our final 24 page business plan that we offer after you make a refundable deposit gives you more information than is available from anyone else. It includes:

• Data and Graph for the optimum boat.
• Summary, Graph and Explanation of the program
• Assumptions for the program--based on our interview with you, includes: your use patterns, tax bracket, etc.
• A complete business plan with income and expenses clearly shown in detail. (The preliminary presentation is only 4 pages.)
• Management policy and financial structure of each of the fleets you're interested in.
• Depreciation and full tax consequences with your active involvement--includes disposition options.
• Amortization tables for a full 15-20 year loan, and any shorter period, such as 5 years, in which time you want to end up owning. This information is extrapolated to tell you how much, if any, cost you must meet to own the boat outright in that time period.
• A complete custom price quote for a boat set up exactly as you want it.

In addition we offer tax guides, and information on setting up your Sub "S" or LLC and/or other vehicles to maximize benefits and minimize risks. We have a CPA who will talk to you. We have tax guides, log books and all of the support materials that other successful folks have used. You will have a support network with us.

Q. What about this 50% down, 100% ownership? Can you do that?
A. Over 70% of our owners primary goal is to own their boat outright in 2-7 years. Our program is custom tailored to help you do this for less. Our sample projection for each boat always shows an example. Our projection included here shows that you can own outright in 5 years for less than 33% of the cost of the boat--not 50% (or 60% as they require for Catamarans!) However, you only pay 20-25% {or less} up front! You should look carefully at our program, before committing to theirs! (See the example above.)

Q. What are the main reasons people choose to get involved in a management program with you?
A. There are 5 main reasons.

1. They want their boat maintained well.
2. They want to end up owning this boat. Not a typical charter boat. Our boats are true, live-aboard, offshore cruisers--Monohulls and Cats. Power and Sail.
3. They want to pay their boat off early--have other people, and tax advantages help them build equity. Most often they are on about a 5 year plan.
4. In some cases, they simply want to get the boat sooner--avoiding future price increases and inflation and let the program eliminate 80 to 100% of the cash flow.
5. As a bonus--they get substantial tax advantages-these can translate into equity..

Q. Can I get financing? How do I know how much I'm qualified to borrow?
A. If you have 10-25% (Even 0% is available for qualified individuals) of the boats cost to invest, you're probably qualified for financing. I suggest you visit our Finance Page. Among other information, there is a link to a calculator which will tell you how much you're qualified to borrow. Keep in mind, just from a return on investment point of view, you might get the same or better return on your investment by putting it in this business as you will with other investments and as a bonus, you'll sail for free!
The reason that this is possible is simply because you're setting up your own business that can be profitable in itself, as well as offering tax advantages that more than offset the income-- a little like making a tax free investment.
So check out the financing page, but don't submit any financing application to anyone without talking to us first--see what our financing department says about financing a boat that is also a business.
Q. What if I want a bigger boat, with a permanent crew? (Monohull over 52', Cat, over 46' .
A. These larger boats are not suitable for bareboat charters. The systems and maintenance are too complex. In addition, they require more hands on experience to handle and there's just not enough bare boat Charterers out there that are qualified to make this economically viable.
So what's the alternative? What we call crewed boat chartering. That is, there is a dedicated, full time crew aboard at all times that takes guests who plan their own itinerary. The expenses are usually higher, and the income less (less demand/utilization), but this kind of business appeals to wealthier, businessmen who, perhaps, want some tax advantages and an opportunity to entertain clients, etc. For more information Call us: 410-263-2311
Register now, and get access to sample business plans and more detailed information-immediately.
Bonus Question...
Q. Tell me about some new ideas that I can take to the bank!
O.K. Here goes...

We've recently realized that the Baby Boomers are demanding more and more luxury. There's a cross over market for luxuriously equipped, bare boats (still not crewed boats, but with most of the amenities in place for the owners and for Charterers.) We will review this important option with you.

More one on one, direct marketing. Direct marketing on the web is now possible. We are setting up web pages for owners and others who are marketing our programs and increasing utilization of all the boats while increasing their income and tax advantages. Others talk about it--we do it every day.

Finally, we put the LGC, charter schedule on the web as an interactive data base which will open our boats up to all of the charter brokers and travel agents--greatly increasing utilization.

When you set up your home based business, you can hire your significant other or other family members and their compensation can be tax deductible. There are many, many other benefits that accrue to those who set up their own business--when you register, below, we will give you much more information on this.

We're also working on video conferencing and virtual offices concepts which will enhance our communication capability with you, our associates and fellow brokers.
Q. Who should I get involved in helping me make this life changing decision?
Here are a few helpful hints we’ve gleaned after helping over 500 people set their boat up as a practical business that can help them fulfill a lifetimes goal... since 1972..
Who needs to help you make this decision anyway? Not your sailing buddy. Not your friends. They don’t have your vision and this is very personal. They can’t possibly know all that has led up to get you where you are now. They may be familiar with Charter Company programs, but not understand the difference between a management company program and a charter company program like you do now. Certainly not your accountant. That would be about the equivalent of asking your pediatrician whether you should have a child or not (after you know it’s possible. ) It may make sense to ask your psychologist (In either case!).
Why not include your accountant? I’m actually not advocating not including him, I’m just saying he’s not key in making the basic decision at the beginning. In all of these years I’ve been involved with our program, about 60% of Accountants have encouraged owners to be aggressive about receiving tax advantages. They advocate that owners claim active participation. The rest were more moderate, and suggested only claiming passive losses. In both cases you can write off expenses against income so you don’t pay tax on your new found income. It’s just that in the case of active involvement, you can write off additional depreciation against other income as well. In either case our program works and our projection shows cash flow with no tax advantages and with active involvement. Treat the situation with no tax advantages as the worst case. If you can’t live with that, you probably shouldn’t get involved anyway. This program is not a tax shelter, or tax driven. In fact, the income can be so high that most of the legitimate tax advantages available to any business simply let you make income and not pay tax on it. Essentially, you fund your boat with tax free income.
So, I’m sorry to say that this is one of those times when you may need outside council. You have to base your decision on what you want and on your good judgment. What did the Poet say? “I took the path in the woods and came to a fork. One path was well worn, but I took the path less traveled--and that has made all of the difference!”

We we'll offer you support. Access to a CPA who is fully knowledgeable about this specific activity and who can answer your questions and guide you every step of the way. Some Accountants never get beyond seeing the pink dots--they just don't look hard enough. It's not your job to help them! Our CPA is a trainer for CPA's. She will show them how it works

Here’s your fork. Are you going to go on to undertake the adventure of your life and fulfill your dreams? Over 500 others have gone before you. Truly a small number. Just this fall, 3 owner's have left to follow their dream. Dick and Pam sold their home, business, everything and headed south this past week (as I write this). John just remarried his X wife (did they find romance again on their boat?) and is heading out in February. Dave and Gail finished paying off their Fountaine Pajot and after it finished its final winter's charter season, and they went cruising. They sold their big house and got a smaller condo down the coast and they now split their time there and on their boat.
They're out there doing it. They started 4 years before they wanted to leave by getting involved in our plan and now they're following their dream. When will you start your plan rolling?

Call 410-263-2311 or Click here to get a complete business plan and more details. BONUS, instant access: "Why you should have your own home based business"  (Whether you get a boat or not!)

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 Bay Yacht Agency, "On the harbor, Annapolis"  Since 1972

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Charter (Let's Go Cruising--offering America's 5starfleet.com): 1-888- 995-BOAT or 410-263-1818

Bay Yacht Agency Group Power/Sail/New/Used/Charters On the Harbor in Annapolis 326 First Street, Suite 29 Annapolis, MD 21403 (map) Sail/Cat Trawlers: (410) 263-2311 Power 410-263-2312 or Cat Trawlers . (410) 263-2964 (fax) info@bayacht.com Charter from our 5 Star Fleet Let's Go Cruising 410-263-1818 info@letsgocruising.com

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