Buying a charter boat can open the door to a completely different kind of boat ownership.
For some buyers, it’s about starting a new business on the water. For others, it’s adding another vessel to an existing charter fleet, expanding into a different market or purchasing an established operation with bookings already in place.
From intimate luxury cruises and fishing charters to weddings, corporate events, sightseeing and large-scale functions, there are plenty of ways a commercial boat can earn its keep.
The key is finding a boat that suits what you want to do.
What Kind of Charter Business Are You Looking For?
This is a good place to start because charter boats come in all shapes and sizes.
You might be looking for a boat suited to:
- Harbour cruises and sightseeing
- Weddings and private celebrations
- Corporate charters and events
- Luxury cruises and transfers
- Fishing charters
- Diving and adventure tourism
- Overnight cruising
- Bareboat charter
- Island transfers
- Large passenger groups
A smaller, beautifully presented boat could be perfect for premium private charters, while a large passenger vessel with multiple entertaining areas might suit weddings, corporate functions and major events.
Rather than simply looking for the biggest boat or highest passenger capacity, think about the experience you want to offer your customers.
Why Buy an Existing Charter Boat?
One of the big advantages of buying a vessel already operating commercially is that much of the groundwork may already have been done.
Depending on the individual boat and sale, you could be looking at a vessel with an established commercial survey, proven layout, charter equipment and operational history.
Some sales may also include additional business assets such as:
- Forward bookings
- Existing customer base
- Website and social media
- Charter equipment
- Catering and bar equipment
- Business name or branding
- Supplier relationships
- Operational documentation
Not every sale will include these, so it’s important to establish exactly what you’re buying. But where an established operation forms part of the sale, it can give a new owner a considerable head start.
Look at the Boat From a Guest’s Perspective
When you’re buying a charter boat, specifications only tell part of the story.
Imagine you’re one of the paying guests.
Where would you spend your time? Is there somewhere comfortable to sit with a drink? Can people move easily between areas? Is there shade? What happens if the weather changes?
For event and function boats, features such as a good bar, refrigeration, entertaining areas, sound system, air conditioning and practical catering spaces can be incredibly valuable.
For smaller luxury charter boats, presentation, comfortable seating, privacy and easy access to the water might matter more.
Fishing and adventure charter operators will have a completely different list of priorities again.
It’s about matching the boat to the experience you’re planning to sell.
Passenger Capacity Can Create Opportunity
The number of passengers a boat is permitted to carry commercially can have a major influence on the type of charter business it can support.
A high-capacity vessel may be able to cater for weddings, corporate functions, Christmas parties and other large events.
At the other end of the market, a smaller vessel can offer something completely different: private cruises, romantic transfers, proposals, VIP experiences, fishing trips or small-group charters.
Neither is necessarily better. They’re simply different business models and can appeal to very different customers.
Understanding Commercial Survey
If you’re looking at an existing commercial vessel, you’ll often see its AMSA survey category included in the listing.
This tells you important information about how the vessel is currently approved to operate, including its area of operation and passenger capacity.
It’s worth understanding the vessel’s current survey and making sure it aligns with the type of charter operation you have in mind.
If you’re new to commercial boating, don’t be put off by the terminology. Your broker, marine surveyor and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) can help you understand what applies to the particular vessel and your intended operation.
Consider the Existing Setup
A boat that’s already been successfully used for charter may have lots of small details that make running it easier.
These could include practical boarding arrangements, guest seating, commercial refrigeration, storage, toilets, entertainment systems, safety equipment and areas designed specifically for crew.
Individually, these things might not sound particularly exciting. Together, they can make a big difference to how easily the boat operates commercially.
This is one of the reasons an established charter vessel can be worth considering rather than starting with a recreational boat and trying to adapt it later.
Take a Look at the Boat’s History
As with any used boat, maintenance history matters.
Commercial vessels are designed to work, so don’t judge one purely on engine hours. Look at the overall picture.
Regular servicing, documented maintenance, recent upgrades and ongoing investment in the vessel can tell you far more about how it has been looked after.
Before purchasing, we’d recommend an independent marine survey and, where appropriate, mechanical inspections. This gives you a much clearer understanding of the boat you’re buying and helps you plan for future ownership.
Could You Make More of the Boat?
This is where buying a charter boat gets interesting.
Look at how the vessel is currently being used, but also think about what you could do with it.
Could the marketing be improved?
Could you introduce different charter packages?
Could it target weddings, corporate functions, fishing, tourism or private celebrations?
Could you partner with hotels, wedding venues, event planners, tourism operators or local businesses?
Could better photography, social media and online booking help increase enquiries?
An established vessel may already have a track record, but a new owner can bring fresh ideas and find opportunities that haven’t previously been explored.
Understand What Comes With the Boat
If you’re considering an established charter operation rather than just the vessel itself, ask what’s included.
Forward bookings can be particularly valuable because they may provide an incoming owner with business already on the calendar.
Other inclusions might range from furniture and catering equipment through to digital assets, branding and operational equipment.
The important thing is to understand the complete package so you can properly assess the opportunity.
Think About Where You’ll Operate
One of the great things about the Australian charter market is just how varied it is.
Sydney Harbour is an obvious choice for weddings, corporate events, celebrations and sightseeing, while Pittwater and the Hawkesbury offer a more relaxed setting for private cruising, fishing and smaller group charters.
Further north, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Whitsundays all offer opportunities across tourism, fishing, bareboat charter, island transfers and luxury cruising.
In North Queensland, destinations such as Cairns and Port Douglas have established tourism markets centred around the Great Barrier Reef, diving, fishing and day trips.
There are opportunities further south too. Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay, Hobart and Tasmania’s cruising grounds, Adelaide and South Australia’s coastal regions can suit everything from sightseeing and private charter through to fishing and specialist tourism.
On the west coast, Perth, Fremantle and Rottnest Island have their own strong boating culture, while destinations further north in Western Australia can offer opportunities around fishing, diving and adventure tourism.
The right location will depend on the boat and the business you have in mind. A vessel currently operating in Sydney, for example, could potentially appeal to a buyer planning an entirely different charter operation elsewhere in Australia.
That’s another reason to look beyond where a commercial boat is currently based and consider what you could do with it.
Commercial Boat Insurance
Insurance is another important part of setting up a charter operation, and it needs to reflect how the boat will actually be used.
Club Marine offers dedicated Commercial Boat Insurance for a range of boating businesses, including skippered charter, bareboat charter, fishing charter and dive charter.
Depending on the policy and operation, options can also include fare-paying passenger liability and loss-of-hire cover.
Sydney Marine Brokerage is a Club Marine Platinum Dealer, so if you’re purchasing a commercial boat through us, we can help you start the conversation about insurance and the type of cover that may be appropriate for your intended use.
As every charter operation is different, cover is subject to Club Marine’s eligibility criteria, policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.
Buying a Charter Boat Through Sydney Marine Brokerage
Charter boats aren’t something you buy every day, and there can be more to consider than with a standard recreational boat.
That’s also what makes them interesting.
You could be buying a boat, an income-producing asset, an existing operation or the foundation for a completely new business.
Sydney Marine Brokerage regularly represents commercial vessels ranging from smaller charter and luxury transfer boats through to large passenger, tourism and event vessels.
And while we’re based at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on Pittwater in Sydney, our commercial listings can appeal to buyers and operators right around Australia.
If you’re considering entering the charter market or adding another boat to your existing operation, have a chat with our team. Tell us what you’re looking to do and we can help you find a vessel that suits your plans.
Explore our current Charter & Commercial Boats for Sale →
