Different companies work with different boats and, therefore, authorized capacities. Your options will be narrowed by the number of guests on your crew.

San Diego, CA, has several options for smaller groups of up to 12 guests, but way less options for larger groups. There’s a loophole in maritime law that causes this unbalance - we’ll explain it in detail later on.

Once you define your group size, it’s time to figure out…

What activities are you after?

Saying you want to go on a boat is like saying you want to go on a plane (rather than on vacation). There are several types of boats and equally as many activities that can be done on or off a boat. Some of them are:

Kayaking
Sailing
Jet skiing
Fishing
Hot tubbing
Wakeboarding
Surfing
Dining

Once you have a general idea, you can use this information to narrow your search even more (e.g. ‘party boat rental san diego’ or ‘sailing san diego boat rentals’).

Then, you’ll have to evaluate…

Which choices fit your availability and budget?

When you figure out what companies fit your group size and activity needs, it’s time to start requesting quotes and evaluating pricing and availability. As with activities, there is a wide spectrum of pricing in the charter industry (and the cheapest ones, as you’ll see soon, are usually from illegitimate operations).

Prices may be hourly, per time slot, or per person. Always make sure to investigate booking fees, gas surcharges, security deposits, and booking policies when considering charter prices. On availability, only one thing matters: the earlier you make your reservation, the better.

Now, let’s move onto some specifics. Here’s a list of San Diego boating experiences with estimated price ranges from legitimate charter companies:

San Diego Bay Tour: Approximately $40 per guest on a shared public charter with Flagship Cruises & Events.
Whale Watching Tour: Around $60 per guest on a shared public charter with San Diego Whale Watch.
Catalina 16.5 Sailboat Rental: Approximately $80 for the entire boat for 2 people (about $40 per guest) with Mission Bay Sportcenter.
Self-Guided GPS Boat Rental: Estimated at $500 for a self-captained boat for 10 people (around $50 per guest) with Seaforth Boat Rentals.
Private Sailing Tour for 2: Around $500 for the private charter (approximately $250 per guest) with San Diego Sailing Tours.
Mission Bay Party Cruise: Approximately $1,200 for a private charter for 24 people (about $50 per guest) with Waterhorse Charters.

Please note that prices are approximate and may vary; it's advisable to check the companies' websites for the most current information.

✨ LOCAL TIP: We recommend booking 3 to 6 months in advance if you want to snag that golden summer Saturday!

Rent a private boat

2 to 5 hour BYOB Mission Bay cruises
Sunset and firework cruises available

With a captain?

When joining an activity that includes a captain, ALWAYS ask the charter company for captain's credentials beforehand.

Look for either a 6-Pack Captain’s License (if your boat of choice fits up to 6 guests) or a Master Captain’s License, both issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

Sadly, several San Diego charter operations don’t have licensed captains so… do your homework!

Without a captain?

San Diego boat rentals don’t require that you have a boat license so this may seem the most convenient and affordable option. As the captain, however, the responsibility of your entire crew falls on you. Not to mention, you shouldn’t get near alcoholic beverages while driving a boat. If you get caught doing so, be ready for trouble.

If you’re not renting a boat for the sport of it and you plan to drink, you’re better off taking this load off your shoulders.

✨ LOCAL TIP: We recommend always looking for a captained yacht charter, unless you’re renting a boat to practice sailing or boating skills.

Legitimate operation or not?

We estimate that 50% of San Diego boats rentals, charters, and tours are illegal operations. They operate from private docks (rather than commercial), don’t pay their dues to the city, and often don’t have qualified captains.

We’ve personally seen several illegitimate charters being interrupted mid-activity by the Lifeguards and a handful of them displaying poor and unsafe boating practices.

Now, time to see where your cruise will take you…

Spot Illegal Operations

These red flags might help you identify illegal charter operations:

Pickup location is a public dock (or the beach)
Prices are much cheaper than average
Not able to provide copies of captain’s license issued by the United States Coast Guard
Only listed on 3rd party listings like GetMyBoat (don’t have their own website)

Be aware of illegal charters in San Diego to ensure your cruise is not interrupted or canceled by authorities.

Rent a private boat

Legitimate boat charter operation
USCG-licensed captains and boats

Which type of boat?

Ideal for parties and water sports with a 6-50 guest range, motor yachts provide ample space, bathrooms, and living amenities but can be noisy and offer fewer options for small groups.

Motor Yachts

Accommodating 6-12 guests, center consoles are fast and best for fishing but offer little weather protection, limited bathroom availability, and engine noise.

Center Consoles

Designed for parties with 4-18 guests, pontoons provide room to move and are easy to drive, yet they’re generally unsuitable for large groups, lack bathrooms, and are exposed to weather.

Pontoons

With a 2-10 guest capacity, electric boats are eco-friendly and quiet, though slow, and smaller models usually lack a bathroom and weather protection.

Electric Boats (Duffy)

Suitable for 2-10 guests, sailboats provide a quiet experience under sail with some bathroom options on larger models, though they require sailing knowledge, may lack weather protection, and are slower.

Sailboats

With a 6-12 guest capacity, these boats are perfect for tow sports like wakeboarding and offer speed, though they have limited space, often lack a bathroom, and can be noisy.

Bowrider/Deck Boats

With room for 2-10 guests, RIBs are ideal for fast wildlife viewing but have limited space, are weather-exposed, and typically lack a bathroom.

RIBs

(Power or Sail): Suitable for 6-50 guests, catamarans offer a quiet ride under sail, lounging space, and bathrooms, but they’re slower and sailing models are limited in Mission Bay.

Catamarans

flagship-san-diego

Passenger Vessels

Capable of holding 2-100+ guests, these vessels offer scenic transport with space to move, bathrooms, and covered areas but can be crowded and noisy.

Ferries and Taxis

Rent a boat from Waterhorse

Daily availability on 3 different boats
Friendly crew and flexible departure

JANET MARIE ORTIZ

Long overdue review! My boyfriend and I were in town and booked Waterhorse Charters for a private scuba lesson for him, since he recently got certified and wanted more practice and wanted to feel more confidence. I was also looking to do more freediving and breathwork training, and from the very beginning Karina was amazing! She walked me through our options, answered my 101 questions, and was super accommodating to what we both wanted to do. Everything felt easy and well-organized. My boyfriend’s instructor, Brandon Wiese, was patient, knowledgeable, and really helped him feel more comfortable scuba diving, which helped him be a better diver. My freediving instructor (the blonde fella!) was awesome! He helped me with my breathing and I was able to master the duck dive. I loved that he’s an active freediver/spearfishing and with his help, i was able to beat my own record in static apnea!! Overall, such an amazing experience- Thanks guys!

Josh Lee

10000% worth the time. Friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff. Would go again!!

M. Smith

As always Waterhorse works to maintain a loyal customer base. They do it by providing a consistent, reliable and safe service. They have always given a bit "extra". Taking a moment on the way to/from the dive site to observe breaching whales was that "extra" this trip. Great job guys!

Tony Drake

Amazing crew, great energy

Chris Curl

Captain Brandon and crew were very friendly, helpful and professional. This is the second dive trip we’ve done with Waterhorse and both were great experiences.

Shawn Gustaw

These guys rock. I'm sure there are other good shops in San Diego but if we're down that way we'll definitely be booking with Waterhorse again. We had booked the Coronado Islands trip back in October but it got cancelled due to weather so we went on a local trip with them and still had a blast. Got some amazing pictures of nudibranchs on that trip which was super cool because we don't have that many up in the LA area. They recently opened up another Coronado Islands trip and we jumped at the opportunity and we were super happy we did. Diving with the sea lions was such a surreal experience, and Zach, Brandon + crew were as always super helpful and friendly. The absolute best way to celebrate your birthday :). Whenever we get around to doing the Yukon, we'll be back. See ya guys then!

michael filippini

I love this vendor, simply the best and friendliest crew and ship that takes you to local tours. I'm always happy when I use water horse charters. I do feel; however, as it was mentioned on the lobster trip on Sunday 11/23/25 that Zack should consider a night trip to point loma kelp beds as it is a great spot for lobster!

Matt Nachtigal

We had such an amazing time diving the HMCS Yukon. The crew and guides were awesome and made the whole experience unforgettable. They gave a really clear safety briefing before the dive so we always felt safe and well taken care of. Underwater, the guides pointed out so many cool creatures we probably would have missed on our own. The wreck itself was incredible, and the entire trip ran so smoothly. The hot soup and hot shower on the boat after diving were an absolute game changer. Highly recommend diving the Yukon with this crew. We can’t wait to go again!

Boat Rentals San Diego: A Complete Guide