Private ash scattering charter at sea

Choose a captained boat in your city, from small center consoles to motor yachts for larger groups. Send the captain your preferred date, the number of guests and anything you want for the ceremony, and they reply with a written offer: date, time and total price. You pay only when you accept. Your family scatters the ashes while the captain runs the boat. Captains hold their own Coast Guard licenses and insurance, and follow the federal EPA burial at sea rules (scattering at least 3 nautical miles offshore) and their state's paperwork. If weather or life gets in the way, the service moves to a new date first, and refunds are available when a new date won't work. Prices vary by boat and city; San Diego charters start at $675.

Maritime Burials connects families with licensed, insured local captains for private burial at sea and ash scattering ceremonies: 81 captained boats in 36 coastal cities, from San Diego and Hawaii to Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia, Connecticut and Chicago. You send the captain your date and wishes and get a written offer before paying anything. Every captain agrees to the federal EPA burial at sea rules and their state's requirements. Biodegradable urns, flowers delivered to the dock and keepsakes are available too.