A Beginner's Guide To Chartering Before You Buy

Buying a boat is a significant commitment, and it is not always obvious which type, size or layout will actually suit the way you want to use it until you have spent real time on the water. Hiring or chartering a boat before you buy is one of the most practical ways to test that out, letting you try different boat types, layouts and even brands with none of the ownership costs or commitment.

Boat hire in Australia generally falls into a few categories: bareboat charter, where you skipper the boat yourself; skippered charter, where an experienced skipper comes with the boat; short day hire on lakes, rivers and harbours; and houseboat hire, particularly popular on systems such as the Murray River.

Requirements and costs vary by state, hire operator and boat type, and most operators require some form of boating competency, either a licence or a short briefing, before you head out.

• Bareboat charter: you skipper the boat, usually requires a licence or competency check
• Skippered charter: an experienced skipper handles the boat, no licence required
• Day hire: short-term hire of tinnies, runabouts or pontoon boats on local waterways
• Houseboat hire: multi-day hire for cruising and living aboard, common on river systems

Why Hire Before You Buy

Reading a brochure or watching a walkthrough video is no substitute for actually running a boat for a day or a weekend. Hiring lets you get a good feel for how a hull handles chop, whether a layout works for your family or fishing style, and whether the size you think you want is actually comfortable to tow, launch and dock. It is a low-risk way to rule types in or out before spending tens of thousands of dollars on the wrong boat.

It is also worth trying more than one hire, if practical, particularly if you are torn between two boat types, such as a centre console and a bowrider, or considering a size increase from what you are used to.

Bareboat Charter

Bareboat charter means you hire the vessel and skipper it yourself, without crew. Most operators will require evidence of a relevant boat licence, and larger or more complex vessels, such as yachts or bigger cruisers, may require a demonstrated level of experience or a short check-out session with the operator before you are handed the keys.

Skippered Charter

A skippered charter includes an experienced skipper who operates the boat for you, which removes any licensing requirement and is a good option if you want to experience a type of boat without the pressure of handling it yourself, or if you are hiring with a group focused on fishing, sightseeing or entertaining rather than learning to drive the boat.

Day Hire

Day hire operators on lakes, rivers and sheltered harbours typically offer smaller tinnies, runabouts or pontoon boats for a few hours or a full day, often with minimal or no licence requirements for smaller vessels under a certain engine size, depending on the state. This is an accessible starting point for anyone wanting a first taste of a particular boat type.

Houseboat Hire

Houseboat hire is a well-established option on river systems such as the Murray, letting you experience multi-day cruising and living aboard without owning a houseboat outright. It is a useful way to test whether the houseboat lifestyle suits you before considering a purchase.

What to Check Before You Book

• Licence and competency requirements for the specific boat and hire operator
• What is included in the hire price, and what costs extra, such as fuel, cleaning fees or a bond
• Insurance coverage and your liability for damage during the hire period
• Safety equipment provided, and whether a safety briefing is included
• Cancellation and weather policies, particularly for coastal or ocean-based hires

Popular Boat Hire Destinations in Australia

The Murray River is Australia's best-known destination for houseboat hire, with a large number of operators around towns such as Echuca and Mildura. The Hawkesbury River in New South Wales and Noosa River in Queensland are popular for pontoon boat and runabout hire on calm water, while the Whitsundays is a well-established base for both bareboat and skippered yacht charter for those considering a sailing boat purchase.

Turning a Hire Experience Into a Buying Decision

Treat a hire as a research trip as much as a day out. Pay attention to how the boat handles the conditions you actually plan to boat in, whether the layout suits how you use a boat, whether the size felt right to tow and launch, and what you would change if it were yours. Those notes are far more useful than a spec sheet when you are eventually comparing boats for sale.

A well-chosen hire, or a couple of different hires, can save you from an expensive and time-consuming mistake by confirming, or ruling out, the type of boat that actually suits how you want to spend your time on the water. Once you have a clearer idea of what you are after, you can browse boats for sale on Boats Online, or read our other boating tips and guides to keep narrowing down the right choice for you.

Frequently Asked Questions