What Does A Skipper Cost Per Day In South Africa?
Short Answer
Short answer: most licensed skippers in South Africa charge between R1,900 and R3,000 a day. The middle rate across the 44 verified skippers on Skipr is R2,500 a day.
Skippers Set Their Own Rates
Skippers set their own rates. On Skipr, every skipper lists their own day rate on their profile, and shows whether it's open to discussion. Skipr doesn't set or add to it, so the rate you see is the rate you agree with the skipper.
Rates By Area
Rates by area. In KwaZulu-Natal most skippers charge R2,000 to R2,500 a day. In the Western Cape it's higher, usually R1,500 to R3,500, with some specialist skippers charging more for larger vessels.
| Area | Typical Day Rate | Skippers With Rates | Average Years At Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Areas | R1,900 to R3,000 | 44 | 20.2 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | R2,000 to R2,500 | 19 | 20.5 |
| Western Cape | R1,500 to R3,500 | 25 | 19.9 |
Based on 44 verified Skipr skippers. Each skipper sets their own rate.
What Changes The Price
- Licence category: a higher category means the skipper can go further offshore. Cat A has no distance limit, Cat B goes up to 40 nautical miles.
- Experience: skippers on Skipr average 20.2 years at sea. Veterans with 20+ years usually charge more.
- Boat size: skippers signed off for boats over 9 m are in shorter supply.
- Type of work: dive, fishing, charter and lodge work each need different endorsements, like surf launch or night operations.
- Length of the job: a single relief day often costs more per day than a season or contract.
What's Usually Not Included
Fuel, travel to the launch site and accommodation for multi-day trips. Agree these before the job.
Before You Hire, Check
Before you hire, check: the licence is valid for your boat size and distance, the endorsements match the work, and other skippers or operators can vouch for them. On Skipr every verified skipper's licence has been checked by our team.
Busiest Time Of Year
December and the Sardine Run are the busiest. Good skippers get booked early, so line one up a few weeks ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a skipper cost per day in South Africa?
Most licensed skippers in South Africa charge between R1,900 and R3,000 a day. The middle rate across the 44 verified skippers on Skipr is R2,500 a day.
Who sets the skipper's rate?
Skippers set their own rates. On Skipr, every skipper lists their own day rate on their profile, and shows whether it's open to discussion. Skipr doesn't set or add to it, so the rate you see is the rate you agree with the skipper.
What is usually not included in a skipper's day rate?
Fuel, travel to the launch site and accommodation for multi-day trips. Agree these before the job.