The Full FAQ

Yacht Charter FAQ, Everything You Need to Know About Booking Malarky

If you've got a question that didn't get covered on the page you came from, it's probably here. Thirty FAQs across seven categories, booking and cancellation, the boat itself, BYOB and catering, charter types, captain and crew, water toys and add-ons, weather and logistics. Each section cross-links to the relevant deeper page.

Jump to: Booking · The Boat · BYOB & Catering · Charter Types · Captain & Crew · Water Toys · Logistics

Category 1

Booking, quotes & cancellation.

The basics of how to actually get a charter on the calendar and what happens if plans change. For the full pricing structure, see the yacht charter pricing page. For the dedicated booking process, see the booking info page.

Three ways to book. The Book Now button at the top of the page gives you an instant quote for standard 2-4 hour blocks on available dates. Email info@malarkycharters.com with your date, duration, guest count, and any add-ons, and we'll respond within 1 business hour during operating hours (8am-8pm Pacific). Or call (844) 724-5787 for real-time pricing. Phone is best for anything with multiple add-ons or specific date holds.
Depends on the date. If it's locked in (wedding, specific anniversary, milestone birthday), book at least 6 weeks ahead, especially May through October. If you're flexible, 2-3 weeks usually works for a weekday and 4-6 weeks for a weekend. Midweek and off-season open up more last-minute slots than you'd think, so call us even on short notice.
We charge a 20% deposit at booking, fully refundable if you cancel 3+ weeks before your charter date.
Full deposit refund if you cancel 3+ weeks before your charter. Free reschedule up to 1 week before, subject to availability on the new date. Non-refundable within 1 week of the charter, except for weather-related cancellations. We add weather flexibility on shorter notice, if conditions genuinely impair the day, we move you to the next reasonable window at no charge.
Yes, free reschedule up to 1 week before departure, subject to availability on the new date. Within 1 week of the charter, rescheduling is case-by-case based on how much advance notice we have to fill or hold the original slot, and may incur fees.
Category 2

The boat: specs, capacity & accessibility.

What you're actually chartering. For the broader product context, see the private yacht charter and luxury yacht rental pages.

Malarky's indoor lounge, marble cocktail table, white leather seating, MALARKY-labelled baskets
A 47-foot Voyage performance sailing catamaran, built in Cape Town, South Africa. Two hulls, four staterooms below deck, two heads (bathrooms), an indoor air-conditioned salon with bar-height counters, an aft deck cockpit with seating for 8 at the table, and a forward bow trampoline. USCG-certified for up to 12 guests on private charters.
Twelve maximum (USCG cap). Most charters book in two scales: couples-only or 2-4 guests for the privacy-oriented bookings, or 6-12 guests for milestone events, executive groups, weddings, bachelorettes, and similar. Twelve is a hard cap; for larger groups, our sister vessel Alana Yacht Rental handles 13-35, and Triton Charters handles 36-100.
Malarky's positioning is adult charters, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, executive events, weddings, bachelorettes, proposals. Kids are not forbidden, but the boat isn't built or staffed for kid-party use cases. Family charters where one or two minors are part of an otherwise-adult group are fine; charters built around a kids' birthday or kid-day-out are a poor fit. For family-with-kids day cruises specifically, our sister vessel Athena Boat Rental is a better fit.
The aft deck cockpit and the indoor lounge are accessible from the dock with a step-up (we can deploy a small portable step or ramp on request). Going below to the staterooms or heads requires stairs that don't accommodate wheelchairs or limited-mobility guests. The aft deck head (in the cockpit) is the primary bathroom for most charters and is accessible from the main deck. Mention any mobility considerations at booking and we'll talk through specifics.
Yes, she's a true sailing catamaran. We hoist the sails shortly after leaving Shelter Island, once past Bali Hai and into the bay proper. We motor in tight quarters around the marina and switch to sail when there's room to fly. If conditions are calm and you want a pure sail experience, your captain can plan a route that maximizes time under sail.
No. Malarky charters San Diego Bay exclusively. The bay route covers the Coronado Bridge, USS Midway, Star of India, Seaport Village, and the Embarcadero, plus anchor stops for swims and photos, more than enough to fill a 2-to-8-hour charter. We don't run open-Pacific or Mission Bay charters.
Category 3

BYOB & catering.

One of Malarky's defining structural advantages: BYOB is the model, not the exception. For the full cost-savings story, see the BYOB yacht charter page.

Tiered charcuterie spread on Malarky's aft cockpit with the captain at the helm
Wide-open BYOB. Champagne, white wine, rosé, sparkling wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, non-alcoholic, all welcome. Two rules: no drinking directly from glass on deck (pour into the plastic cups we provide), and no red wine on deck (it permanently stains the gelcoat; we don't make exceptions). We provide ice, a cooler, and glassware on request.
Yes, fully welcome. Bring whatever you'd want to eat. Charcuterie, sandwiches, a catered spread, full multi-course meals from a partner caterer. We provide trays, plates, and utensils on request. The cockpit table seats 8; the indoor lounge has bar-height counters that work for buffet setup.
Yes. We have a short list of partner caterers familiar with the Shelter Island dock and the boat, mention catering interest at booking and we'll share contacts. Caterers deliver to the marina 30 minutes before departure; we transfer everything aboard. We don't charge a coordination fee; the catering itself is contracted directly between you and the caterer.
Absolutely. Bring whatever cake the occasion calls for; we provide a tray and storage in the mini fridge until it's time. The aft deck cockpit table is the typical cake-cutting setup; for larger group photos, the indoor lounge counter works well.
Red wine on deck (permanent staining). Drinking directly from glass on deck (pour into the plastic cups we provide). Illegal substances. Black-soled shoes (scuff the deck, soft-soled shoes or barefoot is fine). Smoking inside the cabin (open-deck smoking is allowed). Drone launches without permits.
Category 4

Charter types & scenarios.

Which page covers your event. Quick navigation: weddings, bachelorette, anniversary, birthday, proposal, executive, water toys day.

Couples anniversaries, proposals, intimate weddings, and milestone birthdays each have a dedicated page with the specific framing for that use case. Executive entertaining and board offsites have an executive page. Bachelorette parties (intimate scale) have their own page. The water-toys-day use case has its own page. Pricing and deals each have their own page. The relevant page for your event is likely linked in the nav menu under "Charter Types."
Yes, we coordinate surprise charters often. Surprise proposals (the most common), surprise anniversaries, surprise milestone birthdays. Let us know at booking that it's a surprise; we'll work with you on embarkation timing, crew greeting style (formal welcome vs. quiet boarding), and any reveal logistics. The crew is good at reading the moment.
For groups of 13-35, our sister vessel Alana Yacht Rental is the right boat, 35-guest power catamaran with a bartender. For groups of 36-100, Triton Charters is the right boat, 75-foot catamaran with two bartenders and a dance floor. Same fleet of operators. We can route your inquiry to the right boat if you call us; we won't try to fit you onto Malarky if the scale isn't right.
We hold dates strictly to one booking at a time. If your specific date is booked, we'll suggest the nearest available dates that fit your duration and time-of-day preferences. For date-locked events (weddings, milestone anniversaries on the actual day), we recommend booking 6+ weeks ahead in summer (May-October) when the boat is solid. If your preferred date is gone, we may also have availability on a sister vessel (Alana, Triton) if your scale matches.
Category 5

Captain & crew.

Who runs the boat and what they actually do. For executive, proposal, and similar private bookings, see the executive yacht charter page for the full privacy protocol.

No, the captain is hired separately. The fee is $50 per hour, paid directly to your captain via Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, or cash on arrival. We have a roster of USCG-licensed captains for you to choose from, so we'll match you with one that fits your group, the occasion, and the day. You don't need a license or any boating experience yourself.
Yes. We have several USCG-licensed captains who run Malarky regularly. Tell us about your charter when you book, group size, occasion, vibe, any special asks, and we'll match you with the captain who fits best. If you've sailed with one of our captains before and want them again, just say their name.
USCG-licensed, with hundreds of charter days on Malarky specifically. The captain handles boat operation, routing, anchor positioning for sunset photos, weather decisions, and any operational coordination throughout your charter. For executive bookings, the captain signs NDAs on request.
The crew (typically one crew member in addition to the captain) helps with pouring, plating, serving, and general boat operations during the charter. Not a waiter, more of a quiet operations hand who's there when you need help and out of frame when you don't. For proposal, executive, and similar private bookings, the crew is briefed on privacy protocol: they don't acknowledge what they overhear, don't comment on the guest list, and don't post booking content to social media.
Yes, mention it at booking and our crew can pour, mix, and serve drinks from whatever you bring aboard (BYOB). The crew handles ice, glassware, and basic mixers. Drink packages with full bar inventory are coming soon, ask when you book if you'd like alcohol provided.
The $50/hr captain fee is the captain's compensation, a tip on top is appreciated but not expected. For the crew, gratuity is also appreciated but not built into the charter rate. A common range is 15-20% of the charter rate (similar to a restaurant tip), handled in cash at the end of the charter or added to the booking total. Optional, not required.
Category 6

Water toys & add-ons.

The in-water add-on lineup. For the full breakdown including the bundle logic, see the boat rental with water toys page.

Four categories: a 15-foot lily pad (floating platform that anchors alongside), single and tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and tower pads for diving. All available as add-ons priced separately and quoted at booking. Bundling multiple toys for a single charter is meaningfully cheaper per-toy than adding them individually.
The tower pads have minimum height and swimming-skill requirements, kids who can swim independently are fine; very young kids should stay on the lily pad or paddleboards under supervision. We provide life vests in adult and child sizes. Mention guest ages at booking and we'll guide on which toys work best for the group.
Wind chop above moderate (small craft advisory level) makes the tower pads unsafe to deploy, we'll typically swap to lily-pad-only or skip the in-water portion entirely. Mid-day is the best window for water toys (water warmest, light best, group in actual swim mode). Sunset and after-dark charters typically skip water toys for safety reasons.
Category 7

Weather, parking & logistics.

The operational details for the day-of. For specific questions not covered here, contact us.

Light drizzle or overcast usually proceeds. San Diego rain is typically brief and the indoor lounge is fully air-conditioned with the rain-friendly option. Heavy sustained rain, small craft advisories, dangerous wind, or fog impairing the bridge backdrop on a sunset charter, the captain calls it and we move you to the next reasonable window at no charge. "Genuinely impair" is the threshold; we don't cancel for a few clouds.
The paid lot directly across the street from 2700 Shelter Island Dr has free spaces toward the back, and there's metered parking along Shelter Island Drive. We always recommend using rideshare services like Lyft or Uber to eliminate the need to find parking. From the lot, walk down the walkway between Intrepid Boat Works and San Diego Marine Exchange to the water; the gate to our dock is at the end with the big Malarky sign above it (not the office).