A private 47-foot Voyage sailing catamaran. USCG-licensed captain available ($50/hr). Bring your own beverages and food. The whole boat is yours, your group, your day, your bay.
Malarky is a private 47-foot Voyage catamaran on San Diego Bay. The whole boat is yours, four staterooms, two bathrooms, room for up to twelve guests, reserved exclusively for your group for the duration of your charter.
Every charter runs with a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain and a friendly crew who handle the boat, the route, and the hospitality. The captain's fee is separate, $50/hour, paid directly to the captain via Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, or cash upon arrival. You don't need any sailing experience and you don't need a license. You and your guests step aboard at our Shelter Island dock and the rest of the day unfolds.
Malarky is one of the only private yacht charters in San Diego that lets you bring your own drinks and food. Beer, champagne, charcuterie, catering, your choice. A couple of simple rules apply (laid out below). Beyond that, we hand the day over to you.
Our friends planned a boat day through Malarky Charters and we had such a great time! Captain Galen and First Mate Mitch were awesome and really enhanced the experience. To top it off our friends got engaged while we were anchored near Coronado and it was really special. 10/10 would recommend!
Such a fun crew and trip. We rented the Malarky for 2 hours and had a blast. The crew took such great care of us. We had Charlie and Becca and they could not have been nicer! Sailing around the San Diego bay and viewing skyline is a surreal and priceless experience. Book the trip!
Had a great time on the Malarky. Couldn't have asked for a better captain and crew. They were super chill and approachable. Would recommend to anyone wanting a private charter in SD Bay. Rad way to see the skyline and take in all the beauty that San Diego has to offer. Celebrated my sister's 40th proper.
Malarky is a Voyage 47, built in Cape Town, South Africa, by a shipyard that builds boats for blue-water crossings. That pedigree is the reason the boat sits the way it does on a flat-water bay: wide on the beam, low to the surface, almost no roll. Drinks stay where you put them. Guests in heels don’t have to brace against the rail.
Inside, four staterooms and two heads. A full indoor lounge with comfortable seating, natural light through bay-side windows, a coffee table, and a stocked mini fridge for keeping your drinks and snacks cold. Step aft and you'll find a covered deck with table seating for around eight, the most-used spot for meals and conversation, fully shaded against the San Diego sun.
Forward, the bow trampoline net stretches between the hulls. It's where guests stretch out, watch the bow wake, and, frequently, spot dolphins pacing the boat.
Most yacht charters ask you to commit based on a few photos. We'd rather you stepped aboard first. Drag through every space, the four staterooms, the indoor lounge, the aft deck, the bow trampoline, and decide if it's your boat before it's your booking.
Click and drag to look around. Click the floor plan icon (bottom-left) to jump between rooms. Fullscreen for the best view.
Your charter comes with the boat and everything on it. The only thing hired separately is your captain, $50/hour, paid directly to them on arrival. We have a roster of USCG-licensed captains to choose from, so we'll match you with one that fits your group and the day.
Charters depart from America's Cup Harbor. Park at 2700 Shelter Island Dr, then walk down the walkway between Intrepid Boat Works and San Diego Marine Exchange to the water. Meet us at the gate to our dock, look for the big Malarky sign above it. (Not the office.) From the harbor mouth, the bay opens in three directions, and your route is whatever you and the captain decide it should be.
Our captains will take you to the same set of San Diego icons: the Coronado Bridge stretched against the sky, the USS Midway moored at the Embarcadero, the Star of India sailing-ship museum, Seaport Village, the silhouette of Cabrillo National Monument on the western point, and the marinas of Shelter Island and Harbor Island. The captain will suggest a route based on the time of day and the weather. You can request specific spots, an anchor stop for a swim, a lap past a particular landmark for photos, or simply "take us where the views are best."
San Diego Bay is unexpectedly rich for wildlife. Dolphin pods are common, especially near the bow trampoline. Sea lions lounge on the buoys. In winter and early spring, gray whales and the occasional blue whale pass within sight of the bay's mouth, and seals are year-round residents. The captain will point out anything worth seeing as you go.
The twelve-guest cap is the ideal size for a micro-wedding ceremony or an elopement on the water. The Coronado Bridge at golden hour is the backdrop. Your crew brings the boat to the moment; you and your photographer take it from there. Plan a small wedding or elopement on the water.
BYOB rules and a private 12-guest setup make Malarky right for a curated bachelorette day, your group only, your music, your champagne. No bar staff hovering, no shared deck, no themed party-boat awkwardness. See the intimate bachelorette charter details.
Twelve close friends, two hours or more on the bay, and the easiest birthday party logistics you'll ever pull off. Bring the cake, the playlist, and the people, we handle the rest. Reserve a private birthday yacht.
The aft deck, your favorite bottle, and a route past the same skyline you've been watching together for years. Anniversaries are part of why Malarky exists. Plan an anniversary charter on Malarky.
The captain will time the route around golden hour. The crew will quietly make sure the moment lands the way you've planned it. We've helped many couples get the answer right. Talk to us about the proposal yacht we're known for.
For teams of twelve or fewer, Malarky is a serious upgrade on the conference room. Client entertaining, board off-sites, founders-only retreats, quiet enough to talk, scenic enough to remember. Book a small executive yacht charter for your team.
San Diego Bay has a handful of protected spots where the captain will drop anchor for a swim break. That's when the toys come out:
The 15-foot lily pad is one of a kind on San Diego Bay, most charter boats don't have the deck space or the crew to deploy it safely. Add-ons are confirmed in advance, so we'll have everything inflated and ready when you anchor. See the full lineup on the boat rental with water toys page.
We work with a roster of San Diego caterers and can arrange anything from a charcuterie spread to a fully plated multi-course meal. Mention catering when you book and we'll send menu and pricing options that match the size of your group, the time of day, and any dietary needs.
Or BYOF, bring your own food. Many guests pick up takeout from a favorite spot in town and keep it simple. Beer, white wine, champagne, cocktails in cans, hot food in non-glass containers, all welcome aboard.
The boat is $550/hour with a 2-hour minimum, and that rate includes a friendly crew member to handle hospitality throughout your charter. A USCG-certified captain is $50/hour, paid directly to the captain on arrival, and you pick from our available captains at booking. Add-ons (water toys, catering coordination, extended duration) are itemized separately so you only pay for what you use.
The hourly rate is flat, same Saturday sunset or Tuesday morning, summer or winter. What changes by season isn't price, it's availability. Summer (May through October) books out months ahead, so we recommend reserving early if you want first pick of sunset Saturdays. See all pricing details for the full structure, or browse current charter deals when you're ready to book.
Cancellation: full deposit refund three or more weeks before your charter, free reschedule up to one week before departure, and within one week the deposit becomes non-refundable. The same policy applies year-round. See the full 2026 cancellation policy →
Our dock is at 2700 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106. There's a paid lot directly across the street with free spaces toward the back, and metered parking along Shelter Island Drive. We always recommend using rideshare services like Lyft or Uber to eliminate the need to find parking. Walk down the walkway between Intrepid Boat Works and San Diego Marine Exchange to the water and meet us at the gate to our dock; look for the big Malarky sign above it (not the office).
Please plan to arrive about 15 minutes before your charter time so the crew can welcome you aboard with a quick safety briefing and help with whatever you've brought. If you're running behind, just give us a call. The captain departs on schedule to make the most of your time on the water.