BBQ pontoon · Sydney Harbour
Anchor in a sheltered bay, get the BBQ going and make an afternoon of it. Our pontoon takes eight, needs no licence, and the gas is included.
The boat
A BBQ boat is a different kind of day out. You are not trying to get anywhere — you find a sheltered bay, drop the anchor, get the BBQ going and stay put. The flat deck means people can move around, and nobody has to sit still for four hours.
BBQ pontoon
A 7-metre BBQ pontoon with a flat, stable deck, shade over three-quarters of it, an esky and a BBQ with the gas supplied. No licence needed.
Weekday rates shown — weekends, the 19 December – 26 January peak and public holidays are higher. Fuel and BBQ gas are included. A refundable $250 security hold applies. Frankie opens for hire in October and is being refitted, so the images are indicative of how she will look once finished.
Why a pontoon
Most boats are designed to move. A pontoon is designed to sit. The hull is two aluminium tubes rather than a V, so it barely rolls at anchor — which matters enormously if you are cooking, eating, or have people who are not natural sailors on board.
The deck is flat and open end to end, with bench seating along the side and shade over about three-quarters of it. There is an esky on board and the BBQ runs on gas we supply, so all you bring is the food.
Frankie takes eight, needs no licence, and tops out at a gentle pace — which is rather the point.
Where to go
From Double Bay you are minutes from some of the most sheltered anchorages on the harbour. Rose Bay is flat on most days and close enough that you are eating within twenty minutes of leaving the dock. Shark Island and Watsons Bay are an easy run further out.
If the wind gets up, the bays around Middle Harbour — Chowder Bay, Taylors Bay — stay calm on almost any day. We mark the good ones on your map at the briefing.
Good to know
No. Frankie needs no boat licence, no test and no experience. We run a full briefing before you go and you drive her yourself.
Yes. The BBQ is on board and we supply the gas. You bring the food.
Up to 8 guests.
No, Frankie does not have a toilet. There are public facilities at several stops around the harbour, and we can point them out on your map.
Yes, and there is no BYO fee. There is an esky on board.
A half day is $650 (4 hours in summer, 3.5 in winter) and a full day is $950 (8 hours in summer, 7 in winter) on weekdays. Weekends, the 19 December to 26 January peak and public holidays are charged at the peak rate.
Double Bay, from October.
Very. The twin aluminium hulls mean it barely rolls at anchor, which is what makes it good for cooking and eating on the water.
Ready when you are
Pontoon boat hire · Small boats · No licence boats · Prices · Where to find us