You will be asked what the proper procedures are in an emergency, how to use the radio telephone, how to use the fire extinguishers. If this process goes well you will be on your way, if not the charter company will require that you take with you a captain. Most times this will be for the first day or two but they may require you to have the skipper for the entire week. Even if you are fine with the check out and sail away as the skipper of your own vessel there will still be limitations. There will also be limitation as to where you may take a vessel and most Caribbean companies do not allow any night time sailing.
Credit has to be given to the charter companies.
The number of times a charter vessel actually gets into serious trouble are very few and far between. We counsel our students to sail with a paid captain the first time they charter or if they are chartering to a new area. It is a good way to get local knowledge and it helps in building a good relationship with the charter company. Our 200 Course, Offshore Bareboat Certification spends a lot of time teaching how to be a successful bareboat charterer. How to survey a vessel, ask the right questions and make sure that the vessel is ready.