No. Kokomo Charters is a luxury yacht charter brokerage representing privately owned vessels. We help guests choose the right yacht, coordinate the booking, and plan the experience. Charter structure varies by vessel and type of trip.

How Chartering Works

For our standard day-charter bareboat yachts, you independently select and hire your captain through HireYourCaptain.com after reserving the yacht. HireYourCaptain will email you captain options for your selected yacht and charter time. If you want to keep it simple, review who is available and click Select. If you want to learn more first, you can review captain profiles and ratings, view additional captains, or contact a captain directly before choosing. Once selected, HireYourCaptain sends the confirmation directly to both you and your captain.

How Captain Selection Works

Yes. For standard day-charter bareboat yachts, you may bring your own qualified captain. Your captain can submit their credentials directly through HireYourCaptain.com using the same qualification process used for other captains. HireYourCaptain collects the required information and forwards it for review under the vessel's insurance requirements. Once approved, the captain can remain in the system for future eligible charters, subject to current credentials and insurance requirement

For standard day-charter bareboat yachts, the captain is an independent contractor selected and hired by the charterer through HireYourCaptain.com. Kokomo does not assign the captain. Full-service charter products such as Superstar, fishing charters, and overnight / multi-day charters are coordinated differently, with captain and crew arranged as part of the charter experience.

For standard day-charter bareboat yachts, the optional captain / crew deposit lets you prepay the estimated normal cost of captain and crew services for your trip. The deposit does not select, assign, or recommend a captain. You still make the captain selection separately through HireYourCaptain.com. Captain rates can vary. If the captain you independently select charges more than the estimated deposit amount, you will be responsible for the additional amount.

Every Kokomo charter is operated by a qualified professional captain. For standard day-charter bareboat yachts, the charterer independently selects and hires the captain through HireYourCaptain.com. For full-service products such as Superstar, fishing charters, and overnight / multi-day charters, captain and crew are coordinated as part of the experience.

We show an Estimated Charter Total so you can see a realistic estimate of the overall cost rather than only the vessel rental. For standard day charters, the estimate generally includes: 1. Vessel rental 2. Estimated captain / crew deposit 3. Estimated fuel deposit The captain / crew and fuel amounts are estimates, not guaranteed final costs. They are based on what those services normally cost for the selected yacht and trip length. Final charges can vary based on the captain you select, actual fuel used, and other trip-specific factors. Full-service products such as Superstar, fishing, and multi-day charters may use a different pricing structure, which will be shown in the applicable quote or booking.

For standard bareboat day charters, capacity is the primary charterer plus up to 12 additional guests, for a total of 13 people, subject to the capacity of the selected yacht. Superstar is limited to 12 charter guests. Off Script fishing trips are limited to six fishing guests. Overnight sleeping capacity varies by yacht and is generally six guests or fewer. The correct capacity will be shown for your selected yacht and experience.

A customary gratuity for excellent service is generally 20%. Gratuity is appreciated but should reflect your experience and the service provided.

No. Kokomo charters are private for your group unless a specific event is clearly marketed as a shared or member event. Standard private charters are not public ride shares.

Book as early as possible for March, April, major holidays, holiday weekends, and other peak dates. Popular yachts and sunset times can fill quickly. If you are visiting for several days, booking earlier in your stay can also provide more flexibility if weather requires rescheduling.

If you need to cancel your boat charter due to any reason, we need at least a 5-day notice in order to receive a deposit refund.  If your notice is less than 5 days, the refund for your deposit will be forfeited. 

If you cancel your boat charter in 24 hours or less than your departure time, or if a no-call/no-show scenario happens, we will charge your credit card on file the total price of the boat charter.

A small transaction fee will be taken out of the deposit if you cancel.  We appreciate your understanding.

Safety comes first. If the trip cannot operate because of weather or unsafe conditions, we will first try to reschedule. If rescheduling is not possible, the applicable weather-cancellation terms for your booking will apply. Weather decisions are generally made close to departure based on actual and forecast conditions.

Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early and be ready, with your gear, on the dock.

Please contact us as soon as you know you may be late. We will do our best to accommodate you, but extending the trip may not be possible because of crew schedules, marina requirements, or another booking.

Yes. All Kokomo vessels have bathroom facilities onboard. The size and style of the bathroom vary by yacht, and some larger yachts have multiple bathrooms.

Dolphins are frequently seen throughout our Gulf Coast cruising areas, and our crews know many of the places they commonly travel and feed. They are wild animals, however, so sightings can never be guaranteed.

Manatees are seasonal visitors throughout Florida's Gulf Coast and are seen more frequently during warmer months. Sightings are never guaranteed.

Required life jackets and safety equipment are carried aboard each vessel. Children must wear life jackets when required by applicable law. If you are traveling with an infant or very small child, please contact us in advance so we can confirm appropriate sizing and any items you should bring.

Please use lotion sunscreen rather than spray sunscreen. Avoid tanning oils, bronzers, glitter, shimmer, or other products that can stain yacht upholstery. Reef-friendly sunscreen is encouraged.

The primary charterer is responsible for staining or damage caused by products brought aboard by the charterer or their guests.

Yes. You may bring beverages aboard unless your selected yacht or experience states otherwise. Please avoid red wine or other beverages that can permanently stain upholstery. Beverage inclusions vary by yacht, so check your booking details for what is already provided.

The primary charterer is responsible for staining or damage caused by beverages or other items brought aboard by the charterer or their guests.

Yes. Simple, easy-to-serve foods work best aboard a yacht. Sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers, and similar items are good choices. Please avoid foods that are unusually messy or likely to stain upholstery. Catering options are also available for many charters.

The primary charterer is responsible for staining, damage, or excessive cleaning caused by food or other items brought aboard by the charterer or their guests.

No...we have coolers on the boat filled with ice, to keep anything cold that you bring.  An additional larger cooler takes up floor space and will make it harder to move around.   It is ok, though, if you'd like to bring a smaller, soft-sided cooler.

Yes. Kokomo offers private inshore, nearshore, offshore, and long-range Gulf fishing trips aboard Off Script, our 38-foot Twin Vee power catamaran. Fishing trips are full-service private charters with professional captain and crew, fishing equipment, applicable licenses and permits, bait, ice, and trip logistics included as described in the selected trip.

Explore Fishing Trips

We do most of our boating in the intracoastal waterways and only go out in the Gulf of Mexico in safe conditions and if our charter guests feel comfortable.  The intracoastal is generally calm with minimal choppy waters.  If you tend to get a little woozy on a boat, we recommend taking an over the counter medication before your boat charter.  We do not provide this type of medication on the boats.

We like to say - if you're smoking on our boat, you better be on fire!  No...we do not allow cigar, pipe or cigarette smoking on the boats.  Besides it being unsafe with fuel fumes, it's just too easy to burn the interior with the wind.

For standard day-charter yachts, you may prepay an estimated fuel deposit based on 10 gallons per charter hour. That amount is typically sufficient for normal coastal cruising. If you choose an itinerary or cruising speed that uses more fuel, the additional fuel is charged after the charter based on actual usage. Full-service fishing, Superstar, and multi-day charters may use a different fuel structure that will be shown in your quote or booking details.

The primary charterer is responsible for damage caused by the charterer or their guests during the charter, beyond normal wear and tear. This includes damage to the yacht, furnishings, equipment, upholstery, and cushions, as well as staining or excessive cleaning resulting from food, beverages, sunscreen, tanning products, or other items brought aboard. Any applicable repair, replacement, or additional cleaning costs may be charged to the charterer.