Frequently Asked Questions

A nautical advisory is a professional service where an experienced captain guides you on navigation, safety, equipment or boat purchases. It is not a course: it is a practical consultation focused on your specific situation, answered by someone who has actually sailed — in Antarctica, offshore, and through the channels of southern Chile.

Advisories are delivered primarily online — via WhatsApp, video call or email — from anywhere in Chile. In-person sessions are also available if you are in the area. You don't need to travel or wait: get in touch, describe your situation and together we find the most efficient way to give you the information you need.

The cost depends on the complexity and length of the consultation. Message directly via WhatsApp at +56 9 2395 6367 or email contacto@hijodelmar.cl to discuss your case with no commitment. There are no fixed rates because every situation is different, and the goal is to offer you a fair price for what you actually need.

Anyone who needs professional nautical judgment: recreational and sport sailors, families planning a voyage, people looking to buy a boat, aquaculture, fishing or tourism companies, and foreigners planning to sail in Chile. If you have a serious nautical question, this service can help.

Together we review your planned route in detail: weather, wind, tides and currents analysis; identification of anchorages, ports and narrow passages in that area; estimated times, distances and fuel consumption; and crew safety and preparation guidance for that specific voyage — all based on real experience sailing those same waters.

A review of whether your vessel has the right life-saving equipment: lifejackets, lifebuoys, tethers and liferafts; VHF, EPIRB, PLB and AIS; location and accessibility of each item. You receive a clear assessment of what you have and what you are missing for the type of navigation you plan to do — not a generic checklist, a personalised review.

Yes. Before you sign or pay anything, we review the listing, photos and available documentation together. I help you spot risks that are not always obvious, tell you what questions to ask the seller, and give you a realistic picture of running and maintenance costs to get the boat properly seaworthy. It is the best investment you can make before buying.

A broker earns a commission when you close a purchase — their incentive is to get you to buy something, not necessarily the best thing for you. A dealer wants to sell you the boat they represent. I have no boat to sell you and no commission to collect from the sale: my only job is to give you the most honest professional assessment I can of the vessel or situation you're evaluating. I'm not a marine insurance surveyor or an official appraiser — I'm a Captain with 30 years at sea telling you what he sees with eyes that have actually been on the water.

Absolutely. The austral channels, fjords and southern coastline are home waters. I have navigated those passages on wellboats, fishing vessels and all kinds of craft. I know the real hazards, the unpredictable weather and the narrow passages that do not appear in tourist guides — exactly the kind of advisory where real experience matters most.

More than 30 years as a Captain. Starting with industrial fishing in the southern fjords and the Antarctic Sea, including the Drake Passage and Cape Horn. Then over 15 years in petroleum offshore as Captain of PSVs, AHTSs and dive support vessels in Angola, Brazil, Ghana, Venezuela, Trinidad and the Caribbean. Today he sails wellboats in Chilean Patagonia. Real-world experience, not classroom learning.

Dynamic positioning (DP) is a computerised system that holds a vessel in an exact position without anchoring, using its own thrusters. It is essential in the offshore petroleum industry for working metres away from platforms at sea. Captain Rodrigo has over 15 years operating DP systems with current international certifications — a level of specialisation very few captains in Chile possess.

Personalised advisories only, not group courses. The distinction matters: an advisory focuses on your situation, your route, your vessel and your specific questions — not a fixed programme for groups. If you are looking for courses to obtain a navigation licence, there are DIRECTEMAR-accredited providers for that. What is offered here is something different: the judgment of an experienced professional applied to your specific case.

Yes. Advisories are fully available in English. Extensive international offshore experience means working regularly with English-speaking crews in Africa, the Caribbean and Brazil. If you plan to sail in Chile and need real professional guidance, contact via WhatsApp at +56 9 2395 6367 — in English is perfectly fine.