How does yacht charter APA actually work, according to Reddit?

According to Reddit, APA works like a prepaid expense pot: roughly 40% on a motor yacht and 30% on a power catamaran, paid up front — and whatever isn’t spent comes back. A 120-comment r/fatFIRE cost breakdown explains it exactly that way: “Think of this as a prepaid pot of $. If you go over, you owe more.” The pot covers fuel, food, drinks, dockage, and port fees — the crew tracks every receipt against it. Sailing catamarans sit lower, usually 25 to 30%, because they burn far less fuel. The practical tips that repeat: ask for the running tally mid-trip, and remember gratuity is separate, on the base rate. Full breakdown in the APA budgeting guide.