5 Best Boat Rentals in San Diego
Looking to rent a boat in San Diego? Here's the best in the biz, and where to book your special day on the water!
Marie McCarronSunset Cruise
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Such a fun night with a wonderful attentive crew. The Yacht was immaculate and spacious. The highlight was the musical entertainment on board during our sunset cruise (besides the views).
KathyYacht Rental
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Absolutely amazing time! The crew was great as well!! Highly recommend!
Coranne JohnsonHarbor Cruise
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Beautiful view of the city and friendly staff
A FHarbor Cruise
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Great experience on the Triton catamaran! The afternoon voyage had live music and the drinks onboard didn’t disappoint. You can bring your own snacks and food as well. Bathrooms were very clean. The crew was super attentive and friendly.
Francesca NantistaHarbor Cruise
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Enjoyed our trip around the bay!
Julia OzkayaHarbor Cruise
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If you want to say, 'Yes, I’m living in beautiful San Diego, enjoying the sailing, and appreciating every moment,' then reserve your spot on Triton Charters!
Nicole CarminucciHarbor Cruise
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Boat crew was really nice and helpful. The live music was great vibes!
Margot SuarezSunset Cruise
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Great experience!! I was showing my cousin around San Diego and booked the sunset tour. She was blown away at the experience! The boat was clean, with friendly crew and beautiful.
Felice Szeto-WongYacht Rental
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We were worried it was going to rain on our sail date, but the clouds went away for a few hours so I could share the beautiful San Diego Bay with my coworkers who were in town (most from East Coast where it’s currently snowing and cold).
Sherri BHarbor Cruise
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It was a great boat trip. Scenery was beautiful and the staff very friendly and helpful.
Triton Charters is definitely the largest catamaran yacht rental I’ve done in San Diego. Crew was super awesome and the Captain provided us with a smooth sail start to finish. Wonderful!
We were looking for a large boat rental in San Diego and found Triton Charters. We had almost 100 people and there was plenty of seating and space. We will be back!
Best Boat Rentals in San Diego
San Diego is one of the top 3 destinations in the United States to rent a boat. Why is San Diego such a boating hub? We will tell you why!
It has two amazing bays, Mission Bay and San Diego Bay, and each offers something different for boating. Mission Bay is the smaller of the two, and it gives boaters some valuable opportunities that San Diego Bay cannot. It is a much smoother ride, so if you’re one of the millions of people who get seasick, stick with Mission Bay. The types of boats for rent there are also different: boat rental companies in Mission Bay offer smaller and slower boats. If an easy cruise is what you’re looking for, Mission Bay could be your best bet.
San Diego Bay is the big bay of the two, home to U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy fleets. You’ll find some HUGE boats in San Diego Bay, and with them come bigger waves. If you’re planning on venturing through San Diego Bay, we recommend renting a bigger boat.
This guide compares boats and companies rather than selling one of them. If you already know you want a crewed private charter, our yacht rental in San Diego page carries the capacities, the pricing and the booking form. Otherwise, let’s explore the best places in San Diego to rent a boat, including some pricing and recommendations.
Boat Rentals at a Glance
Five rentals, five very different days on the water. *Prices and details may change, may vary by vessel, and may not be reflected here. Confirm with each operator before you book.
- Triton Charters – 75′ catamaran, up to 100 on a private charter or 80 on a ticketed cruise, San Diego Bay
- Yacht Rental San Diego – 12 to 100 passengers, priced by booking request
- Malarky Charters – 47′ sailing catamaran for 12 guests, BYOB, on San Diego Bay from Shelter Island
- Aquata Charters – 37′ Axopar with a fully enclosed cabin, built for comfort in any weather
- Alana Yacht Rental – 40′ power catamaran for up to 35 guests, with a full bar, on San Diego Bay
The Five Boats We’d Book
Triton Charters
Okay, maybe we are a little biased, but with over 2,000 reviews, how could we not be? The Triton is a 75′ catamaran yacht that can hold up to 100 guests. Offering both private charters and ticketed cruises makes it a fit for large groups or just you and a few friends. It includes a Captain, Crew and Bartender and TONS of space. Private charters start at $825 per hour* in 2026 and $1,120 per hour* in 2027 and tickets start at $55* for a 2.5 hour San Diego Bay cruise.
Yacht Rental San Diego
If you are looking for luxury and large boat rentals only, check out Yacht Rental San Diego. What’s nice about renting this way is that you fill out a booking request and they come back to you with availability and pricing for your date. You’ll find plenty of options for a day on the water, with yachts that range from 12 passengers all the way up to 100-person catamarans. For our own boat, see yacht rental San Diego.
Malarky Charters
Malarky Charters is a private 47′ Voyage sailing catamaran on San Diego Bay, departing from America’s Cup Harbor on Shelter Island. This is not just a regular boat: it is a blue-water sailing yacht that was built in Cape Town, South Africa. It has an indoor lounge, two bathrooms, a covered aft deck and a bow trampoline stretched between the hulls. It carries up to 12 guests, the whole boat is yours for the charter, and it’s BYOB. If you’re looking for a small-group luxury sail on the bay, you found it.
Aquata Charters
Aquata Charters runs a 37′ Axopar, and this thing is awesome. Axopar is an award-winning yacht manufacturer that focuses on quality and comfort features no one else offers. In their own words the 37XC is “the Gran Turismo of the seas”: the social outdoor space of an open walkaround, plus a fully weatherproofed cabin for extended voyages in unpredictable weather.
Alana Yacht Rental
The Alana is a 40′ Coral power catamaran on San Diego Bay that was motored all the way from Florida. It carries up to 35 passengers across two decks, with a fully stocked, liquor-licensed bar, and every private charter includes a Captain, Crew and Bartender. Not only does the Alana do private charters, it also runs ticketed cruises on the bay.
Best Pick for Large Groups
Most boat rentals in San Diego top out somewhere between 6 and 12 passengers, which is why a group of thirty so often ends up split across two boats. The Triton is the exception: it is a 75-foot catamaran that carries up to 100 guests, so the whole party stays on one deck.
Every charter comes with a Captain, Crew and Bartender, and there is room to actually move around. Book the whole boat as a private charter, or grab seats on a ticketed harbor cruise if there are only a few of you. To learn even more about renting a yacht in San Diego, visit our articles page.
- Up to 100 guests on one boat
- Captain, crew and bartender included
- Private charters and ticketed cruises
See the Triton on the Water
Book Your San Diego Yacht Charter
Tell us your group size and date and we’ll match you with the right boat.