5 Things You Should Think About Before Hiring a Boat
Want to hire a boat but not sure how or what you need to think about?
You may be looking at party boat hire to commemorate a special occasion, organising a corporate event on a boat - or booking a luxury superyacht or high end cruiser to see in the New Year.
Planning is crucial for a successful and enjoyable day on the water, so it doesn’t matter if you want to hire a boat on Sydney Harbour or a jaunt around the Whitsundays - there is some key info you need to be across before you book.
In fact, you may struggle to choose from sailing boats (yachts and catamarans), cruisers, motor yachts, super yachts, and large event or cruise boats listed. We have boats for all occasions including NYE Cruises and Christmas party cruises, party boats suitable for basically any occasion like bucks and hens parties, corporate cruises, birthday parties and more.
With this in mind, here are 5 key things you should research before you hire a boat.
1. The type of boat
There are many different types of boats available for hire, so it's important to choose the right one for your needs.
Start by asking what type of event you want.
If it’s a casual style event (think swimming, BBQs etc) then hiring a catamaran should be on your shortlist. They are good value and often will have things like water toys (sometimes at extra cost) including slides, lily pads and SUPs.
If you prefer the idea of dressing up and sipping cocktails, then a luxury motor cruiser may be the go. Of course there is some crossover: you can get luxurious catamarans and budget cruisers. Motor cruisers are often a good option if you are planning an evening or winter cruise, as they have shelter from the cold/wind.
If you're planning a party on a boat, you'll need a boat that's large enough to accommodate all of your guests. If you want corporate boat hire, you'll need a boat that's equipped with the necessary facilities, like a PA system and everything you need to make presentations. If you just want to cruise around and relax on the water, you can choose from a variety of smaller boats,including smaller cruisers and motor boats.
2. The number of people
As we mentioned above, the size of the boat you need will depend on the number of people you need to accommodate. If you're only planning on having a small group of friends, you can get away with renting a smaller boat. However, if you're planning on having a large party, you'll need to rent a larger boat.
In terms of numbers and catering, if you want a formal occasion with a sit-down meal you will need the capacity and space for this. For example, if you want 50 people seated in one room together, you might be looking at a boat with a capacity of 100+. All the listings on our site list the maximum number of people allowed onboard, and you can browse and search our boat fleet using the number of guests to filter.
3. The cost of boat hire
The cost of boat hire on Sydney Harbour really depends on the type of boat and the number of guests.
Expect to pay from $350 per hour to $3,500 per hour for boat hire on Sydney harbour, though you could pay even more for superyacht hire. This cost generally includes a skipper and fuel, but not food and drink*. We have a variety of food and beverage packages available for you to choose from once you select a boat and BYO is a popular option particularly for the groups of under 50 guests.
For a general idea of what you get for your money, expect to pay from:
- $350 per hour for a small cruiser that can host up to 12 guests.
- $465 per hour for a catamaran that can host up to 20 guests.
- $750 per hour for a motorboat can host up to 20 guests.
- $975 for a larger modern catamaran that can host up to 150 guests.
- $2,500 for a luxury superyacht that can host up to 120 guests.
The best way to work out the total cost is by getting a quote for boat hire on Sydney Harbour or contact us directly if you need help or advice. *Our boat hire rate always includes the skipper and fuel, and we don't offer any self drive options.
4. Services and facilities
We touched on this in the type of boat section, which is about finding out what services and facilities you expect or need on board your boat hire. Common questions we get are around food/drink options and if catering or BYO is allowed, toilets, music/entertainment and if swimming is allowed off the boat.
Facilities vary widely depending on the type of boat you are hiring. Larger event boats or floating function venues are set up to handle things like weddings and parties with catering (food and drink packages), DJ’s, PA systems and a well stocked bar. Boats which cater to corporate cruises can arrange team building activities and will have AV facilities and in some cases WiFi. Smaller boats will generally not have a licensed bar, but will allow you to BYO or order catering through them. Remember you need to budget for things like catering and drinks separately.
5. Logistics and T&Cs
Last but not least you need to know all the logistics related to the boat, like where you board it - specifically which wharf it can pick up and drop off at. Some boats will allow you to drop off supplies before the event, and can arrange to meet you prior to your cruise kicking off.
You also need to be across all the T&Cs of your boat hire, like how long it is for, payment terms, deposits, security bonds etc. We have a page dedicated to helping you navigate the booking process, with all the info we need and the steps involved in booking a boat hire.
