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Boat Hire, Kayak & Canoe Hire in Cornwall

Take the helm yourself. From self-drive motorboats on the Fowey and Fal to kayaks, canoes and paddleboards on the Helford River, here's where to hire your own boat and explore Cornwall's harbours and estuaries at your own pace.

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In North Cornwall, Bude Rowing Boats has been run by the same family for nearly a century, hiring rowing boats, pedalos and canoes by the hour on the calm, sheltered waters of Bude Canal - a gentle option well away from tidal rivers and estuaries. Also in North Cornwall, Padstow Rib Charter, run by Solent Rib Charter, delivers a proper offshore-capable RIB to Padstow Harbour for bareboat charter - this is the one exception on this page where you'll need to hold an RYA Powerboat Level 2 or ICC qualification to take the helm yourself.

Fowey has more self-drive boat operators than anywhere else in Cornwall's harbours and estuaries. Fowey Boat Hire, run by Steve from the Town Quay, and Fowey River Boat Hire, run by Maurice from Albert Quay, both offer simple wheel-steering motorboats by the hour, half-day, day or week. Fowey River Hire goes further, adding kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and guided kayak tours to its self-drive boat fleet from its base on Fore Street.

On the River Fal, Falmouth Boat Hire has been running self-drive cabin boats from Custom House Quay since 1954, while Mylor Boat Hire at Mylor Yacht Harbour adds Cornish Shrimper sailing boats and yacht charter to its motorboat fleet. Further round the Roseland Peninsula, St Mawes Boat Hire launches self-drive boats and RIBs straight from St Mawes Harbour.

On the Helford River, Sailaway St Anthony is a long-established boatyard on Gillan Creek with what it describes as Cornwall's largest hire fleet - kayaks, SUPs, sailing dinghies, Drascombe Longboats and motorboats all available, with short-term hire also running from Helford village in high season. And in South East Cornwall, Looe Self Drive Boat Hire offers boat and watersports hire from the Looe seafront.

If you'd rather keep things simple, Lakeside Cafe Boat Hire at Coronation Park in Helston is a different kind of experience altogether - a family-friendly boating lake, well away from tides and open water, hiring sit-on canoes and pedalos shaped like swans and flamingos.

Looking for a guided trip instead, with someone else at the helm? See our separate guide to Boat Trips, Sea Safaris & River Cruises in Cornwall for wildlife-watching RIB safaris, heritage cruises and public ferries.

Good to know before you book

  • No licence needed for most boats: the small self-drive motorboats on this page don't require a boating licence - you'll get a safety briefing and full instructions before setting off. Larger sailing yachts, some sailing dinghies, and Padstow Rib Charter's bareboat RIB do require an RYA qualification.
  • An adult "boat captain" is required: most operators require at least one person in your group to be 18 or over, who takes formal responsibility for the boat.
  • You're restricted to harbour limits: self-drive boats are not licensed to go out to sea - you'll be given a map showing how far you can explore, which is tide-dependent on some rivers.
  • Weather and tide dependent: hire can be delayed or cancelled at short notice for wind or sea conditions, particularly on exposed stretches like the Helford's Gillan Creek entrance.
  • Dress for the water: you will get wet, especially in open boats, kayaks and canoes - bring a change of clothes and secure footwear.

Boat, Kayak & Canoe Hire Locations

Boat Hire, Kayak & Canoe Hire in Cornwall

North Cornwall

Bude Rowing Boats

The Wharf, Bude EX23 8LG

Run by the Sampson family for nearly 100 years, hiring rowing boats, pedalos and canoes by the hour from the Lower Wharf, right next to Bude Canal. A calm, sheltered stretch of water with otters and other wildlife along the way - a gentle option well away from tidal currents.

  • Hire: Rowing boats, pedalos and canoes, by the hour.
  • Good to know: Dog friendly; buoyancy aids provided. Card payment isn't always available, so check ahead.
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North Cornwall

Padstow Rib Charter

Padstow Harbour, West Quay, Padstow PL28 8AQ

Run by Solent Rib Charter, this is a proper offshore-capable bareboat RIB delivered to Padstow Harbour for qualified sailors, rather than a no-experience self-drive hire. It opens up the North Cornwall coast properly - across the estuary to Rock, up the Camel to Wadebridge on a fair tide, or out along the coast towards Trevose Head, Port Isaac or Tintagel.

  • Hire: Bareboat RIB charter by the day, or longer for those holidaying in the area.
  • Qualification required: RYA Powerboat Level 2 (with tidal endorsement) or ICC - no exceptions, whatever your experience. A skippered introduction can be arranged for your first day.
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Fowey

Fowey Boat Hire

Suite 1, Town Quay, Fowey PL23 1AT

Run by Steve from Fowey Town Quay, opposite the church. Simple wheel-steering self-drive motorboats, licensed for up to seven people, with fuel, tuition and safety gear all included in the price. A quick way to explore the harbour, Polruan and the creeks with no advance booking usually needed.

  • Hire: Motorboats only, from a 30-minute minimum up to full-day hire.
  • Good to know: No kayaks - just turn up at the Town Quay for available boats.
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Fowey

Fowey River Boat Hire

Albert Quay, Fowey PL23 1AJ

Run by Maurice, offering a fleet of stable 16-foot fibreglass motorboats with 4, 5 or 6HP outboards, licensed for up to seven people. Half-day, full-day, week and two-week hires are all available, with boats deliverable to Polruan and other moorings on request.

  • Hire: Half-day, full-day, week and two-week motorboat hire.
  • Good to know: No kayaks. Overnight mooring fees on Fowey Harbour Commissioners' pontoons are payable separately.
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Fowey

Fowey River Hire

The Alcove, 47 Fore Street, Fowey PL23 1AJ

A family-run adventure centre offering the widest range on the Fowey River - self-drive motorboats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, plus guided kayak tours with a safety boat for those with little or no experience. Also runs Cornwall Seafari RIB rides. A second, self-hire-only kayak and SUP base opens at Caffa Mill car park in July and August.

  • Hire: Motorboats, kayaks and SUPs - self-hire or guided.
  • Good to know: Buoyancy aids included; a limited number of wetsuits and dry bags available on the day.
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Falmouth & the Fal

Falmouth Boat Hire

2 Custom House Quay, Falmouth TR11 3JT

Running since 1954 and now trading as Falmouth and Penryn Boat Hire Ltd, this operator's distinctive "Cathedral Hull" self-drive cabin boats stay stable even in rougher weather. Explore Falmouth Harbour, the Carrick Roads and the River Fal as far as Smugglers Cottage, Trelissick and Malpas.

  • Hire: 1 to 8 hour self-drive cabin boat hire, up to 8 people.
  • Good to know: No kayaks. Dog friendly; runs April to October.
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Falmouth & the Fal

Mylor Boat Hire

Mylor Yacht Harbour, Mylor Churchtown, Falmouth TR11 5UF

A wide fleet based at Mylor Yacht Harbour, from easy self-drive motorboats and eco launches to traditional Cornish Shrimper sailing boats and larger yacht charter. Motorboats can travel as far as Malpas, while Picarooners and launches explore between Pendennis Castle and St Anthony's Lighthouse.

  • Hire: Motorboats (no experience needed), Cornish Shrimper sailing dinghies (RYA Level 2 or above) and yacht charter (RYA Day Skipper for bareboat).
  • Good to know: Dog friendly; full safety briefing included before departure.
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St Mawes & the Roseland

St Mawes Boat Hire

The Quay, St Mawes, Truro TR2 5DG

Self-drive boats and RIBs, built and maintained locally at Freshwater Boatyard, launching straight from St Mawes Harbour for quick access to St Anthony Head, the River Fal and the quiet coves of the Roseland Peninsula. No licence needed for the standard self-drive boats.

  • Hire: Self-drive boats and RIBs; contact the operator if you hold a powerboat licence for faster options.
  • Good to know: No kayaks through this operator. Dog friendly.
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Helford River

Sailaway St Anthony

St Anthony, Manaccan, Helston TR12 6JW

A long-established boatyard on Gillan Creek at the mouth of the Helford River, operating what it describes as Cornwall's largest hire fleet: kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, sailing dinghies (Topper, Topaz, Pico and Wayfarer), Drascombe Longboats and motorboats including Plymouth Pilots and smaller Bass Boats. Short-term hire also runs from Helford village in high season.

  • Hire: Kayaks, SUPs, sailing dinghies and motorboats; weekly hire available all around the Helford.
  • Good to know: Exposed to easterly winds at the creek entrance - call ahead on the morning to confirm conditions.
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South East Cornwall

Looe Self Drive Boat Hire

The Seafront, Looe PL13

Looe's only self-drive boat hire operator, running a fleet of stable Whaly boats fitted with 6HP outboards, seating up to five or seven people, from the seafront by the harbour. A watersports hire side to the business also covers kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.

  • Hire: Self-drive motorboats, plus kayak, canoe and SUP hire.
  • Good to know: Pets ride free on the boats; a safety briefing is given before every hire.
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Helston - Boating Lake

Lakeside Cafe Boat Hire

Coronation Park, Porthleven Road, Helston TR13 0SR

A different kind of boat hire altogether - Helston's boating lake has been a family favourite for generations, set within the large enclosed lake at Coronation Park. Hire a sit-on canoe or a family pedalo shaped like a swan or flamingo, with no tides, currents or open water to worry about. A cafe, children's play area and skate ramps are all on site.

  • Hire: Sit-on canoes and swan/flamingo pedalos on the boating lake.
  • Good to know: Pedalos can be booked online in advance; other boats are first come, first served. Dog friendly cafe on site.
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Just Over the Border: Plymouth

Not in Cornwall, and not self-drive either - but close enough to matter if you're staying in or travelling via South East Cornwall and want someone else to take the helm.

Devon - Not Cornwall

Saltwater Boat Hire

Yacht Haven, Shaw Way, Mount Batten, Plymouth PL9 9XH

Unlike the self-drive operators elsewhere on this page, Saltwater Boat Hire is a skippered charter - you and your group are taken out aboard Intrigue, a 40ft motor cruiser, by RYA Commercial Yachtmaster skipper Peter, who has over 30 years' experience cruising South Devon and Cornwall. A relaxed way to see Plymouth Sound, the Tamar and the coastline towards Cornwall without driving the boat yourself.

  • Charter: Half-day and full-day skippered charters for up to 10 guests plus crew.
  • Good to know: This is a private charter with a professional skipper, not a self-drive hire.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Self-drive boat hire is available at several Cornish harbours and waterways, including Bude Rowing Boats on Bude Canal and Padstow Rib Charter in North Cornwall, three separate operators in Fowey (Fowey Boat Hire, Fowey River Boat Hire and Fowey River Hire), Falmouth Boat Hire and Mylor Boat Hire on the River Fal, St Mawes Boat Hire on the Roseland Peninsula, Sailaway St Anthony on the Helford River, and Looe Self Drive Boat Hire in South East Cornwall. Lakeside Cafe Boat Hire in Helston offers a different, family-friendly option on an enclosed boating lake rather than a tidal river or estuary.

No licence is needed for the small self-drive motorboats offered by most operators on this page - you'll get a safety briefing and full instructions before setting off. Larger sailing yachts and some sailing dinghies do require an RYA qualification. Padstow Rib Charter is the one clear exception on this page: its offshore-capable bareboat RIB requires an RYA Powerboat Level 2 (with tidal endorsement) or ICC qualification, with no exceptions regardless of experience.

Fowey River Hire and Sailaway St Anthony both offer kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboard hire alongside their self-drive boats, while Looe Self Drive Boat Hire also runs a watersports hire side to its boat business. Bude Rowing Boats hires canoes on Bude Canal alongside its rowing boats and pedalos, and Lakeside Cafe Boat Hire in Helston hires sit-on canoes on its enclosed boating lake. Most other operators on this page are boat-only.

This page covers self-drive hire, where you or a member of your group takes the helm and explores at your own pace within harbour limits. The separate Boat Trips, Sea Safaris & River Cruises page covers guided trips with a skipper, including wildlife-watching RIB safaris, heritage river cruises and public ferries.

Saltwater Boat Hire operates a skippered luxury motor cruiser from Mount Batten in Plymouth, rather than a self-drive boat - you charter the boat with a professional skipper rather than taking the helm yourself. It's in Devon rather than Cornwall.

Prices, hire durations, age requirements and booking requirements are set by individual operators and may change without notice. Hire is weather and tide dependent and can be cancelled or delayed at short notice. Please check directly with each operator before travelling. Cornwall Online is not responsible for the content of external websites linked from this page.

Page last updated: August 2026