Day Charter & Harbor Cruises
Offer day charters, sunset cruises, and harbor boat tours
Overview
Day charter boats charge $500-$5,000 per charter (4-8 hours).
Operating 1-3 boats with 100-200 charters annually generates $150,000-$800,000 with 50-70% margins.
In 2025, tourists and locals seek day boating experiences.
Services include private day charters, sunset and evening cruises, harbor tours and sightseeing, special event charters (proposals, birthdays), corporate charters and team building, and fishing charters.
Successful day charter operators provide crewed comfortable boats, create memorable experiences, offer flexible packages, serve tourist and local markets, and ensure safety and enjoyment.
Location near tourism critical.
Marketing through hotels, tourism sites, Viator, TripAdvisor, and corporate event planners.
Required Skills
- Boat Operations
- Captain's License
- Customer Service
- Tourism Marketing
- Safety Management
- Hospitality
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lower investment than multi-day charters
- Tourist and local customer base
- Multiple charters per week possible
- Can offer various charter types
- Growing experiential tourism
Cons
- Seasonal in many locations
- Weather cancellations
- Need captain's license
- Liability and insurance costs
- Competition from other charter boats
How to Get Started
- Get captain's license and credentials
- Acquire charter boat and equipment
- Get charter licensing and insurance
- Develop charter packages and pricing
- Market to tourists and locals
- List on tourism and charter platforms
- Provide excellent charter experiences
Explore More Yacht Charters & Rentals Ideas
Discover additional business opportunities in this category.
View All Yacht Charters & Rentals Ideas →