What happens if a boat has a problem on the day?

If a boat is not fit to sail we do not sail it. Guests move to another of our boats where possible, or the tour is rescheduled to another day, or refunded in full.

09 / Standards beyond the boat

A boat tour is more than a boat

Q: Does Barracudas own its boats?

Yes. We run our own longtail boats and speedboats, cleaned between trips and maintained on a schedule to the standard Thai regulations require for passenger boats.

The question is not only where the boat goes. It is how the boat is operated.

Our own boats, maintained on a schedule

Barracudas Tour has operated from Ao Nang, Krabi since 1992 on its own longtail boats and speedboats, rather than chartering whatever happens to be free that morning. Boats are cleaned between trips and maintained on a schedule to the standard Thai regulations require for passenger boats.

Beyond the daily clean, boats are periodically hauled out at the boatyard for hull and deck work: sanding and re-varnishing the timber of the longtails, and work on the speedboat hulls.

If a boat is not fit to sail, the trip does not sail on it. Where we can, guests move to another of our boats. Otherwise we reschedule you to another day or refund you in full. That is not a goodwill gesture, it is written into the cancellation policy on every tour page.

Tourist Boat standards certification

Running a responsible tour operation takes more than owning a boat and knowing where the islands are. Four of our boats, Barracudas 3, 5, 6 and 16, are certified as conforming to Thailand Tourism Standard TTS 303:2023, the Tourist Boat Standard, in the medium-size category. The certificates were issued to Barracudas Company Limited by the International Standard Certification Center at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi and are valid from 30 July 2025 to 29 July 2028. The Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has also awarded the company its Tourist Boat Standard plaque for 2025–2028.

It gives guests something to look at beyond photographs and price when they are choosing between operators.

Tourist Boat Standard certificates, 2025–2028

Department of Tourism plaque: Tourist Boat Standard 2025–2028, awarded to Barracudas Company Limited

Tourist Boat Standard TTS 303:2023 certificate for the boat Barracudas 3, medium size, valid until 29 July 2028

Tourist Boat Standard TTS 303:2023 certificate for the boat Barracudas 5, medium size, valid until 29 July 2028

Tourist Boat Standard TTS 303:2023 certificate for the boat Barracudas 6, medium size, valid until 29 July 2028

Tourist Boat Standard TTS 303:2023 certificate for the boat Barracudas 16, medium size, valid until 29 July 2028

Thailand Tourism Standard TTS 303:2023 Tourist Boat Standard (medium size) certificates for Barracudas 3, 5, 6 and 16, issued by the International Standard Certification Center, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi and valid from 30 July 2025 to 29 July 2028, and the Department of Tourism plaque awarded to Barracudas Company Limited.

Maintenance at the boatyard

A boatyard worker varnishing the timber hull of a longtail boat propped up on land

A worker looking over the freshly varnished bow of a longtail boat under the boatyard roof

A worker sanding the wooden benches inside a longtail boat

A speedboat hull on a stand in the covered boatyard

A worker refinishing the woodwork along the passenger deck of a longtail boat

Close-up of a hand sanding a wooden bench on board

Two longtail boats propped up in the covered boatyard during re-varnishing

A worker brushing varnish onto the side planking of a longtail boat

Our boats out of the water at the boatyard: longtail hulls being sanded and re-varnished, cabin woodwork being refinished, and a speedboat hull ashore for work.

Ready to pick a day?

Choose your tour, boat and date. Booking takes a couple of minutes and your confirmation email arrives as soon as payment clears.