What you can bring depends a lot on the type of boat. Self-drive boats are the most open — bring whatever you like. Skippered charters range from fully BYO to licensed-bar-only, and larger party boats sometimes have their own rules on glass and catering. Here’s a quick guide by boat type so you can choose the right one for how you want to celebrate.
Filter boats by BYO rules
Pricing, photos and open dates across the fleet.
Self-drive boats — anything goes
Self-drive boats like Coral and the Axopar 28 are fully BYO: food, drinks, esky, decorations, your own playlist. No corkage, no minimums, no bar. This is the type to pick if you want total control over the day and the best value — just remember the skipper stays sober.
Pontoon and party boats
Pontoon boats (a 12-seater self-drive is joining our fleet soon) and mid-size party boats are usually BYO-friendly with loads of deck space for an esky and a grazing spread. Some larger party boats ask for cans over glass and may offer catering add-ons. It’s the sweet spot for groups of 10–20 who want room to move.
Catamarans and charter yachts
Bigger catamarans and charter yachts vary most: many are happily BYO, some include a licensed bar, and premium boats often pair BYO alcohol with professional catering. If you’re after a polished event where someone else pours, filter the fleet browser to skippered boats and check each one’s BYO and catering notes.
BYO by Boat Type — FAQs
Which boats let you BYO everything?
Self-drive boats are fully BYO with no restrictions. Most skippered boats allow BYO alcohol too, but rules vary — check each boat.
Do bigger boats have stricter rules?
Sometimes — larger party boats may ask for no glass, and some charter yachts run a bar instead of BYO. It’s listed per boat.
Can I bring my own caterer?
On most boats yes. Self-drive is completely open; skippered boats usually allow outside catering, some have preferred partners.