Le Boat offers a different approach to holidays

Owning a luxury river cruiser is just over the Horizon with Le Boat’s Ownership Programme

Le Boat, Europe’s largest operator of self-drive boating holidays, is giving holidaymakers the chance to own a brand new 5* river cruiser.

The new Horizon fleet was introduced to Le Boat’s collection of self-drive cruisers in April 2016 with more new boats entering the fleet each year. Le Boat’s ownership programme is available for those who have enjoyed life at the helm who can now buy their own luxury vessel, avoiding the usual hassles of maintaining a boat as well as the restriction that comes with the cost of moving and mooring it.

Le Boat’s programme is the ultimate value-for-money ownership arrangement, offering a monthly income to buyers with none of the costs associated with traditional boat ownership. Owners’ privileges include the use of any boat, not just their own, and the choice of cruises in any of the operator’s destinations. Read more about the advantages of the programme below:

Excellent value for money
The Le Boat ownership programme is suitable for committed cruisers who enjoy boating more than once a year; a fantastic opportunity to make a substantial saving on their holidays. Owners receive a return of 7% of the boat’s purchase value per month. What’s more, Le Boat offers a guaranteed buy-back of 45% of the initial cost after a seven-year period, meaning that you know your exit value and options from the very get-go.

Flexible rental periods
On average, investors take eight cruising weeks per year, totalling more than a year’s worth of holiday over the course of the full programme. If they take full advantage of their entitled time, owners can holiday for an incredible 77 weeks in total. Alternatively, owners can give away their vacant weeks as gifts to friends and family. To increase their income, they can even sell some of their allotted weeks for holidaymakers to use in low season.

Cruise wherever
Purchasing a boat often limits owners to a single cruising region, or requires them to pay to have the boat moved to a new mooring in order to discover new destinations. Le Boat, however, offers owners the use of any of its boats moored across Europe and Canada for no extra cost: the ownership programme buys the freedom to independently explore the rivers and canals of the UK, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Germany, France and Canada for up to 12 weeks a year.

Flexibility on boat size
Members of the ownership programme have their pick of different-sized boats. If the owner wishes to holiday with a bigger party than their own boat can sleep, they can choose from Le Boat’s other vessels. The collection includes boats that sleep from two to twelve people, each with a slightly different layout of cabins and bathrooms. There is a small fee for upgrading to a bigger boat, depending on the price difference between the owner’s boat and the preferred boat.

Zero maintenance and mooring costs
A main advantage of the programme is that Le Boat will take responsibility of the vessel in the owner’s absence. Le Boat covers the potentially enormous costs of mooring and insurance so there are absolutely no operating fees for the owner. For example, marinas on the upper River Thames charge an average of £4,000 per year to moor a similar-sized boat. The professional maintenance costs of the new boat will also be paid for by Le Boat as well as the purchase of new parts when needed. The maintenance includes a weekly check to ensure that the craft is kept in a clean and safe condition, giving owners great peace of mind.

How does it work?
The scheme runs on a points system where owners have 84 points to use across the 30-week cruising year.

Owners have 42 points they can use in advance and a further 42 points that can be claimed last minute – they just have to call a week before the departure date.
The point system is as follows:
High season (7 weeks): 1 day = 3 points
Mid-season (12 weeks): 1 day= 2 points
Low season (11 weeks): 1 day = 1 point

About the Horizon fleet
The fleet of Horizon cruisers comprises premier-class, luxury boats with a sleek design and a focus on comfort and easy handling. The vessels were designed exclusively for Le Boat with the largest top deck of any other boat of its size. The ‘fun deck’ has a designated area for BBQs, sunbathing and plenty of space for outdoor seating, as well as a spacious saloon indoors with wide windows.

Horizon
The smallest model of Horizon boat sleeps four people across two cabins and has one shared bathroom.
Buying this boat would cost €199,000/£183,404 (Only €189,000/£174,188 when bought pre Jan 2018 – saving €10,000) and would have a guaranteed monthly income of €850/£783. The buyback price would be €85,000/£78,339. Over a seven-season term, this equates to £4,296 per year to own the boat.

Horizon 2S
The Horizon 2S sleeps up to five people and has a smaller front cabin than the original Horizon vessel that makes room for a second bathroom.
Buying this boat would cost €205,000/£188,934 (Only €195,000/£179,718 when bought pre Jan 2018 – saving €10,000) and would have a guaranteed monthly income of €948/£874. The buyback price would be €85,000/£78,339. Over a seven-season term, this equates to £3,994per year to own the boat.

Horizon 3
The Horizon 3 accommodates up to seven guests and is configured with three en suite cabins.
Buying this boat would cost €279,000/£256,135 (Only €259,000/£238,702 when bought pre Jan 2018 – saving €20,000) and would have a guaranteed monthly income of €1259/£1160. The buyback price would be €116,550/£107,415. Over a seven-season term, this equates to £4,835per year to own the boat.

Horizon 4
The Horizon 4 has the same dimensions has the Horizon 3 but with a different layout. The boat sleeps up to nine people and its four en suite cabins make it the ideal choice for large families and groups. Buying this boat would cost €279,000/£256,135 (Only €259,000/£238,702 when bought pre Jan 2018 – saving €20,000) and would have a guaranteed monthly income of €1259/£1160. The buyback price would be €116,550/£107,415. Over a seven-season term, this equates to £4,835 per year to own the boat.

For more information contact Le Boat at +44 (0)330 332 1933 and visit Le Boat’s website www.leboat.co.uk

Financing options for the Le Boat Ownership Programme are available as well as Boat Brokerage.