Sandhill Charters
Charter Boat Agreement, Cancellation Policy, Weather Policy & Release Forms
Charter Agreement
The charter begins at the designated departure time, not when the Charteree arrives. Charter duration includes docking, undocking, and travel to and from the destination. Please allow extra driving time in case of traffic. You will forfeit your deposit if you do not arrive at the dock on the day of your charter. If you arrive late and are not ready to leave at the agreed departure time, you will lose charter time. Again, the clock starts at the agreed departure time.
All group members are recommended to be at the boat at least 5-10 minutes before departure. If an unforeseen circumstance occurs that could delay the group, a call should be made to the Captain (561-316-7528) to relay this information to prevent cancellation. Sandhill Charters or Captain reserves the right to cancel any charter where the party fails to arrive within a reasonable time of the scheduled departure time.
At his sole discretion, the Captain reserves the right to cancel the trip within 1-2 hours before departure due to strong winds, rough seas, or any situation that could pose a safety risk. If this occurs, customers will receive full reimbursement or an alternative day may be scheduled pending availability. In the event the trip has to be terminated after it has already begun due to inclement weather, the Charteree may opt to receive a refund for unused time up to a full refund at the Captain’s discretion based on variables at that time. If someone suffers seasickness or has the Captain return early for any reason, no refund will be given.
All cancellations must be made by the Charterer at least 24 hours prior to the departure date for a full refund. Any cancellations made with less than 24hrs notice, will not be refunded. In the rare occasion that the boat experiences any mechanical issues or difficulties, refunds will be issued in full.
Sandhill Charters adheres to a strict zero-tolerance policy. No Firearms, illegal substances, or Cannabis/THC of any kind, even if prescribed, may be brought on board the vessel. There is a Zero Harassment Policy to protect both crew and guests. Legally prescribed medications are permitted on board (excluding anything containing TCH/Cannabis). Beer and Wine (no red wine) are the only alcoholic beverages allowed on the vessel and may only be consumed by persons aged 21 or older. Glass bottles are prohibited. Tanning oils or spay sunscreen is not permitted. Any coolers provided by the customer must be of soft sided construction. NO hard plastic coolers or coolers with wheels will be permitted on board. Sandhill Charters will provide ice for the on-board cooler along with water, and bringing your own food and beverage is permitted and encouraged. If you require additional ice, please call ahead or bring your own.
Person(s) appearing intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be permitted to board the vessel. If an illegal drug is found on board or is in the possession of any individual(s), or the Captain determines that any individual(s) are unstable due to excessive drinking, the trip will immediately be terminated without refund and in the case of illegal drugs, will be released to notified and awaiting authorities. Marijuana/Cannabis/THC possession on a boat remains a Federal Crime.
Sandhill Charters and crew strictly abide by all Federal, State and Local laws, rules and regulations and will not deviate from them under any circumstance. We require all guests/charterers on board to wear soft-soled tennis shoes, deck shoes, or sandals for the passengers’ safety and the vessel’s well-being. NO hard shoes, boots, high heels, wedges or stilettos will be allowed. The Captain may require a passenger to remove their shoes if proper foot attire is not worn.
All passengers under six years of age are required, per Florida law, to wear a life preserver while underway at any time. Children who have not reached their 13th birthday are advised to wear life jackets while underway and required any time in open ocean waters.
Sandhill Charters uses sound and video recording devices, and you agree any photos obtained may be used for digital marketing purposes across our website and social media platforms unless otherwise instructed by passengers.
This agreement shall be construed in accordance with the admiralty and maritime laws of the United States of America and the State of Florida.
Client/Customer Cancellation Policy
We ask that when guests book a charter, they should be certain that they will enjoy the boat that day. Once a client reserves a trip, we notify all subsequent inquiries that “the boat is unavailable or taken.” So for this reason we have the following refund policy.
100% Refund- A full refund for cancellations made AT LEAST 24 hours in advance before the scheduled charter date and time will be given.
No Refund – No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled charter date or, if you end or request to return to port early during an “already-in-progress” charter for any reason. If the captain deems it necessary to end a trip early due to guest misconduct, intoxication, gross safety violations, drugs, harassment or in any way a risk to the boat, crew or guests, refunds will not be given.
Refunds will be issued within 24 hours of cancellation to the original form of payment and could take up to 30 days post depending on your bank. Most refunds are received within 1-3 business days
If Sandhill Charters or Captain cancels the charter for ANY reason other than stated in the “No Refund” section above, a Full Refund will be issued.
Weather Policy
We strive to provide the best possible boating experience you can ask for, and your safety is our number one priority.
South Florida weather often changes by the hour, and a forecast issued the day before may be substantially better or worse than anticipated on the day of your charter.
We have a no-rain and small craft advisory policy, so we do not depart the dock if it is currently raining/storming or rain/storms are imminent in the latest forecast model. During otherwise nice weather, if a small craft advisory is posted and it is still safe to do so, we will continue to operate within the protected Intracoastal Waterway. The boat will never go into open water during an active, small craft advisory when sea conditions exceed 3-4ft or winds exceed 25mph.
We will generally make cancellation decisions 1-2 hours before departure time. Please feel free to call before driving to the departure location. If our Captain decides not to cast off due to weather or advisories, you have the option to reschedule to an open available date or receive a full refund. If availability exists, we can change trip times on the day off to avoid and allow weather to move out of the area.
If we cast off on a mediocre weather day and finish a charter for the agreed-upon time, discounts or refunds will not be given. If you and the Captain agree that conditions are undesirable or unsafe and the decision is mutually agreed to return to port early, a calculated per-hour rate will be issued for lost time based on the per-hour rate of your trip.
