COMPANY POLICIES
BOAT PROBLEMS:
Although our fleet of boats is very well maintained, they are still subject to wear and tear which occasionally results in mechanical breakdown, furthermore, irresponsible actions of a previous hirer may also prompt the need for necessary repairs. In both of these unlikely scenarios, we will do our best to offer you an alternative solution, whether that be a free upgrade into a bigger boat, or a free reschedule to a later date. If we are unable to offer you an alternate solution to your satisfaction, we will cancel your booking and refund any monies paid.
ARRIVAL:
We require the driver of the boat to be here 30 minutes prior to their hire, in order to complete the necessary paperwork, attend the safety briefing and listen to complete run through of the map. Any customers arriving more than 30 minutes late to their hire must give adequate notice, or it will be assumed that the customer will not be coming. All boats must come back on time, or else pay compensation for the extra time spent out.
CONDITIONS OF HIRE & BOND
The hirer is required to be at least 18 years of age for boats and paddle craft and 25 years of age for pontoons. They must provide photo ID and mobile phone number on the day of hire. On the day of hire you will be requested to complete our hire agreement which contains the conditions relating to the hire.
A $100 bond is applicable per small boat hire and a $500 bond per pontoon and cruiser boat hire. We will put the amount on hold using your credit card on the day.
Bond will not be refunded if conditions of hire are not met, or if there is any damage done to the boat, or intoxicated, loud, abusive and/or obnoxious behavior. Police will be called for assistance.
Boats are not able to be rafted/tied up together with other vessels at any time.
Alcohol: Any person who arrives intoxicated or showing signs of substance abuse will not be permitted on boat.
BOAT HIRE AGREEMENT
1. Prior to setting off, you will be given a detailed briefing on the operation, safe handling of vessel & equipment by trained SBH staff.
2. As the driver, I am responsible to carry only craft capacity & ensure ALL of my passenger’s actions remain safe.
3. Driver has sufficient skills/am medically fit to drive vessel in a safe, responsible manner, with regard for people, other vessels & hire equipment.
4. Drivers must remain under their blood alcohol level as per their drivers licence (0.05%) during the hire and are obligated to leave the boat in the condition that they found it in ($50 cleaning fee applies).
5. This included taking your rubbish with you.
6. Vessels are restricted from entering the Maroochy Waters Canals due to speed limits including 6 knot limit (walking), unless permission is granted prior to departure.
7. WARNING! boats are not permitted to approach the river mouth: beyond the tip of north shore and cotton tree caravan park (the lower limit), cross the bar or enter the ocean. Access to Cornmeal Creek (Sunshine Plaza), the Twin Waters Weir and canal, above the Eudlo and Petrie Creek upper limits and river upper limit (wetland sanctuary) is prohibited. We will attempt to ring you twice, but if there is no answer a $50 call out fee will be charged for our rescue boat to locate you and turn you around.
8. All damage to vessel, propeller and equipment (map/manual, esky, lines) will be inspected and paid for upon return.
9. In the case of emergency, motor or any other operational difficulties: you must call our office for assistance immediately.
10. Towing of any description is prohibited. You must stay 30 metres clear of swimmers, non-motorized craft, obstructions & other vessels.
11. It is prohibited and dangerous to ride on the bow (nose), gunnels (sides), outside of the gated/fenced area and on the roof of any vessel (a $2500 fine from marine authority is applicable).
12. All vessels are non-smoking for your safety.
13. Hirers must return their vessel within 10 minutes of your due time to avoid late fees and have 5 minutes to unload. Late fees are 11-30mins = 1/2hr extra, 31-60mins = 1hr extra and so on. Returning more than 10mins after last boats for the day will incur a $50 surcharge on top of extra hire fees.
14. Any vessel that requires recovery will incur late fees, rescue fee, recovery fee and loss of hire income fee.
PADDLE HIRE AGREEMENT:
1. Prior to setting off, you will be given detailed briefing on the operation, equipment and safe handling of craft by trained SBH staff.
2. Hirers must remain under their blood alcohol level as per their drivers licence (0.05%) during the hire.
3. I will use this craft in a safe and responsible manner, will provide supervision for all paddlers in my group, and will care for equipment.
4. In the case of emergency or any other operational difficulties: you must call our office for assistance immediately.
5. I must only carry the maximum number of passengers for which the craft is licensed. If Hirer and any passengers cannot competently swim 50 metres, they must wear the lifejacket provided at all times.
6. WARNING! boats are not permitted to approach the river mouth: beyond the tip of north shore and cotton tree caravan park (the lower limit), cross the bar or enter the ocean. Access to Cornmeal Creek (Sunshine Plaza), the Twin Waters Weir and canal, above the Eudlo and Petrie Creek upper limits and river upper limit (wetland sanctuary) is prohibited. We will attempt to ring your twice, but if there is no answers a $30 call out fee will be charge for our rescue boat to locate you and turn you around.
7. Hirers must return their paddle craft from where they departed within 10 minutes of your due time to avoid late fees. Late fees are 11-30mins = 1/2hr extra, 31-60mins = 1hr extra and so on. Returning more than 10 mins after the last paddle craft for the day will incur a $30 surcharge on top of extra hire fees.
8. Any paddle craft that requires recovery will incur late fees, rescue fee, recovery fee and loss of hire income fee.
9. Failure to comply with above conditions will result in termination of hire & forfeiture of all monies.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
PAYMENT:
Full payment will be required at the time of booking and it is not refundable.
CUSTOMER CANCELLATIONS:
If at least 24 hours notice is given by customers wishing to cancel their booking, any funds paid will become credit, able to be used at a later date to pay for any further hires within 12 months of the cancelled booking.
If less than 24 hours notice is given by customers wishing to cancel their booking, then the following percentage of booking fees will be forfeit
25% of hire fee during standard period weekdays (Monday- Friday)
50% of hire fee during peak period and standard period hire Weekends
100% of the hire fee for all public holiday bookings.
The full hire fee will still apply for any customers arriving late to their booking, or returning back from their booking early, though the time may be adjusted if adequate notice has been given.
RESCHEDULING:
The reschedule policy is the same as the cancellation policy, in which customers wishing to reschedule their booking must give 24 hours notice in order to not forfeit a percentage of their hire, as shown below.
If you try to reschedule your booking less than 24 hours prior to the hire, you will lose:
25% of hire fee during standard period weekdays (Monday- Friday)
50% of hire fee during peak period and standard period hire Weekends
100% of the hire fee for all public holiday bookings.
The reschedule policy still applies if the customer is rescheduling due to unfavourable weather on the day of hire. Please note: rain, wind or cool temperatures are not ‘unsafe conditions’ on their own. No refunds or free reschedules will be given for unfavourable weather, unless the conditions on (or forecast for) the local waterway are deemed to be unsafe for our hire boats, which will be determined by Swan Boat Hire staff at the time of hire.
Customers who have given 24 hours of notice are welcome to reschedule up to two times, within 12 months.
CANCELLATIONS BY SWAN BOAT HIRE:
If Swan Boat Hire determines that the weather conditions and/or forecast on the Maroochy River at the time of the hire are unsafe for our hire boats, customers will be able to reschedule at no charge, subject to availability. Local conditions are to be deemed as unsafe if necessary by Swan Boat Hire staff at the scheduled time of the hire.
Please note: rain, wind or cool temperatures are not ‘unsafe conditions’ on their own. No refunds or free reschedules will be given for unfavourable weather, unless the conditions on (or forecast for) the local waterway are deemed to be unsafe for our hire boats, which will be determined by Swan Boat Hire staff at the time of hire.
Once customers who have not given 24 hours of notice have forfeited their fee (as shown above) they are welcome to use the remainder of their credit to reschedule up to two times, within 12 months
BOAT PROBLEMS:
Although our fleet of boats is very well maintained, they are still subject to wear and tear which occasionally results in mechanical breakdown, furthermore, irresponsible actions of a previous hirer may also prompt the need for necessary repairs. In both of these unlikely scenarios, we will do our best to offer you an alternative solution, whether that be a free upgrade into a bigger boat, or a free reschedule to a later date. If we are unable to offer you an alternate solution to your satisfaction, we will cancel your booking and refund any monies paid.