Anchor · Swim · Float

Private Yacht Charters with Water Toys in San Diego.

Turn your yacht charter into a full San Diego boat day with paddleboards, kayaks, floating lily pads, swim stops, and calm-water anchor spots across San Diego Bay.

Cruise the skyline, drop anchor in turquoise water, jump in with your group, and spend the afternoon floating, swimming, relaxing, and making memories on the water.

Reserve Your Charter → Call (844) 724-5787
5.0 stars · 412 Google reviews · ✓USCG Certified · 47ft Catamaran · BYOB Welcome
Paddleboarder on calm San Diego Bay water during a Malarky water-toy charter
In Action

Water toys, in action.

Couple paddleboarding from Malarky on calm San Diego Bay water
Paddleboarding next to the yacht at anchor.
Group on the bow with paddleboards aboard Malarky on San Diego Bay
Boards ready to go from the bow.
Stand-up paddleboarder on San Diego Bay during a Malarky charter
Calm bay water, beginner-friendly.
Guest jumping off the deck of Malarky into San Diego Bay
Tower jump straight into the bay.
Guest swimming and snorkeling next to Malarky at anchor
Swim and snorkel time at anchor.
Group jump bow
Group jump bow
Backflip dive
Backflip dive
Pool floats group
Pool floats group
Paddleboard bow view
Paddleboard bow view
More Than a Cruise

More than just a cruise.

Some yacht charters are all about the sightseeing, cruising the harbor, taking photos of the skyline, and watching the city pass by from the deck. Water-toy charters feel completely different.

Once the yacht anchors in calm water, the boat becomes your private floating lounge for the day. Guests jump off the swim ladders, relax on the floating lily pad, paddleboard around the yacht, kayak through the bay, and spend hours in the water with music playing in the background.

The cruise becomes part of the experience, not the entire experience. That's what makes water-toy charters some of the most memorable days on the bay.

Anchor Spots

Anchor in the best parts of San Diego Bay.

Water toys are deployed during anchor stops in some of the calmest and most scenic areas of San Diego Bay. Your captain picks the location based on the weather, water conditions, and the kind of experience your group wants from the day.

Coronado Cays

One of the most popular anchor spots for swimming and floating charters. Calm water, beautiful homes, and plenty of space to relax, paddleboard, and spend the afternoon in the water. Roughly 30 minutes from the dock.

Glorietta Bay

Located near the famous Hotel del Coronado, Glorietta Bay offers calm water with incredible views of Coronado, downtown San Diego, and the historic beachfront hotel in the background.

Behind Shelter Island

A closer anchor spot perfect for shorter charters or groups who want to maximize swim and toy time while staying close to the marina (~15 minutes out).

Each location creates a different vibe, but all are designed around relaxing, swimming, and enjoying the water at your own pace.

The Lily Pad

The floating lily pad.

The floating lily pad is easily one of the most popular add-ons on Malarky charters.

It's a giant floating platform tethered behind the yacht where guests lounge in the sun, jump into the water, relax with friends, and take some of the best photos of the day.

The lily pad naturally becomes the social center of the charter once the boat anchors. Guests use it for:

For bachelorette parties, birthdays, and family charters, the lily pad often becomes everyone's favorite part of the day.

Paddleboards

Paddleboards on calm bay water.

San Diego Bay is one of the best places to paddleboard, especially for beginners. The water is calm and protected, which makes it fun even for guests who have never tried paddleboarding before.

Once anchored, guests paddle around the yacht, explore nearby shoreline areas, or simply float on the boards while taking in the views of the bay.

The crew helps with setup and basic instructions so everyone feels comfortable before heading out on the water.

One of the best parts of paddleboarding during a yacht charter is the perspective, seeing the yacht floating in the bay from the water creates some incredible photo opportunities.

Kayaks

Kayaks for exploring the bay.

For guests who want a little more adventure during the anchor stop, kayaks are a fun way to explore the surrounding water.

The sit-on-top kayaks are beginner-friendly, stable, and easy to use, even for first-timers. Guests often kayak:

Kayaks add a more active side to the day while still keeping the relaxed atmosphere of the charter.

Tower Pads

Tower pads and water jumps.

For guests who love jumping into the water, the tower pads add another level of fun to the day. Mounted higher on the yacht, the pads create a safe jumping platform into the bay during anchor stops.

Some guests spend the afternoon relaxing on the lily pad while others take turns jumping into the water, paddleboarding, or swimming around the yacht.

That balance is what makes the experience work so well, everyone naturally finds their own version of the perfect boat day.

Who Loves This

Perfect for families, birthdays & bachelorettes.

Water-toy charters are especially popular for groups who want the day to feel active, social, and memorable.

Family Charters

Kids stay entertained for hours with paddleboards, swimming, and the floating lily pad while adults relax onboard with drinks, music, and food.

Bachelorette Parties

The floating lily pad, champagne photos, music, and swim stops create the perfect upscale San Diego bachelorette experience. See the bachelorette charter.

Birthday Parties

Whether it's a 30th birthday or a milestone celebration, water toys turn the charter into a full experience instead of just a sightseeing cruise. Reserve a birthday yacht charter.

Corporate & Team Outings

Water toys create a more interactive and relaxed atmosphere that naturally gets people socializing and enjoying the day together. Book a small-team executive charter.

The Experience

A relaxed, private experience.

One of the biggest differences with Malarky is how private and personal the experience feels.

This isn't a crowded public cruise with strangers onboard. It's your group, your music, your drinks, and your own private yacht anchored in calm water on San Diego Bay.

Some guests spend hours floating in the water. Others relax on the shaded aft deck with a drink while music plays through the sound system. The day moves at your group's pace.

That's what guests remember most afterward, not just the yacht itself, but how relaxed and effortless the whole day felt.

BYOB

BYOB & make the day your own.

Bring your favorite drinks, snacks, catering, and playlist to personalize the experience however you want. Popular charter additions include:

The combination of a private yacht, water toys, calm bay water, and BYOB flexibility creates the kind of San Diego day people talk about long after the charter ends.

A couple of house rules: please, no drinking from glass on deck (pour into the plastic cups we provide), and no red wine (it permanently stains the deck). See the full BYOB charter details for more.
Add-Ons

Water toy add-ons.

Water toys are optional add-ons that can be included with your charter reservation. Available options include:

Bundle pricing may be available when adding multiple water toys to the same charter. We recommend requesting water toys in advance so everything is fully prepared and ready before your departure.

Pricing

Private charter pricing.

Private yacht charters aboard Malarky start at $550 per hour with a 2-hour minimum. The USCG-licensed captain is $50/hour, paid directly to the captain.

Most water-toy charters book 3 to 4 hours to allow enough time for cruising, anchoring, swimming, relaxing, and enjoying the full experience without feeling rushed.

Included with every charter

  • Private use of the yacht
  • USCG-certified captain ($50/hr, paid directly)
  • Professional crew
  • Flexible San Diego Bay route
  • Bluetooth sound system
  • Fuel
  • Safety equipment

Optional water toys and catering coordination are available on request. For the full pricing structure and 2026 cancellation policy, see yacht charter pricing.

Reserve Your Charter →
Frequently Asked

Water-toy questions, answered.

Four options as add-ons: a 15-foot floating lily pad, stand-up paddleboards, sit-on-top kayaks (single and tandem), and tower jump pads. All are available on private 12-guest charters; mention which ones you want when you book and we'll have them ready.
Fifteen feet of inflatable lily pad that anchors alongside the boat, a floating platform you can lounge, jump from, or climb back onto. It's the most-requested add-on and the headline group photo of most charters.
No. Paddleboards and kayaks are beginner-friendly, our crew gives a quick 2-minute how-to before you go in the water. The lily pad is a floating platform you climb onto. Tower pads have a brief safety walkthrough before use. None of these require prior experience.
Each add-on is priced separately. Mention which toys you want when you book and we'll send the pricing with your quote. Bundled options are available when you add multiple toys to the same charter, just ask. The 15-foot lily pad is the most popular and typically the headline add-on.
At anchor. The captain picks a spot based on the day's conditions, wind, tide, water temperature, and traffic. Common anchorages include the Coronado Cays area, Glorietta Bay near the Hotel del Coronado, and sheltered spots behind Shelter Island. You can request a specific anchorage, but the captain has the final call on what's safe and feasible that day.
Yes, with rules. Kids 5 and up can use the lily pad with a lifejacket. The lower tower pad is supervised; the higher one is adult-only. Paddleboards and kayaks require basic swimming ability plus a lifejacket. The crew supervises water-toy time when kids are involved.
The captain decides on the day. If wind, swell, or water temperature aren't safe or enjoyable, the toys stay onboard and we'll plan the day around scenic cruising and lounging instead. If conditions only allow some of the toys (e.g., paddleboards fine, tower pads too rough), we'll do what works.

For more, see our full frequently asked questions.

Reserve Your Day

Make it a full San Diego boat day.

The best charter days aren't rushed. They're the ones where your group loses track of time floating in calm water, watching the skyline, laughing on the lily pad, paddleboarding around the yacht, and staying out a little longer for sunset. Relaxed. Private. Fun. Effortless.

Check Availability →

Or call us at (844) 724-5787, we usually respond within an hour during business hours.