Veteran charter boat operator Leon Raynor lost his flagship Sally Bum Bum in the double whammy hit by hurricanes Fay and Gonzalo in 2014.

But now he’s launched a bigger replacement — a 55-foot yacht called the Big Bum Bum with a capacity of 48 passengers.

Mr Raynor said: “People are already excited about what I’ve just done and being able to carry more people.”

After the loss of the Sally Bum Bum, he continued to offer cruises on smaller sister ships Honey Bum Bum and Baby Bum Bum.

But he added: “With this bigger boat, we can host a larger crowd.”

Mr Raynor — also a musician and dubbed the singing skipper — carved out a niche in the charter market by offering entertainment with a Bermuda theme as well as cruises on Bermuda’s waters.

He said: “People that go out with me really have a great time. I get repeat bookings from all round the world.

“The reason I’m doing this is people like what we have. The tourists say I’m really Bermudian and I try to make the day for them and I enjoy that.”

He added that, although not an official part of this summer’s America’s Cup, his boats are available for charter to groups, international companies and visitors over the period of the races.

Mr Raynor bought the Big Bum Bum locally as he wanted to get his fleet back up to full strength.

“I would have done this anyway — I was just waiting for the right opportunity and the right boat, and I’ve got the right boat now.”

The fleet offers party and dinner cruises, as well as swimming, snorkelling and sightseeing trips.

The monohull Big Bum Bum, designed by respected US boat firm Bruce Roberts, features a spacious swimming and diving platform, as well as two heads — the nautical name for restrooms.

Mr Raynor said: “We will be doing the same things we did with the Sally Bum Bum. Sally Bum was a catamaran, but the Big Bum Bum is almost as wide and it’s very comfortable.”