Nauset Beachcomber Tour

For those looking for an extended excursion, our 3 hr Nauset Beachcomber Tour includes our standard Chatham Harbor & Seal Tour itinerary plus the opportunity to enjoy some beach time on North Beach Island, a pristine 2 mile long barrier beach only accessible by boat.  Guests can bring a towel and enjoy the uncrowded soft sand and sweeping views of the open Atlantic Ocean, take a walk or beachcomb for shells and other treasures.

Alternatively, leave the itinerary behind and spend 3 hrs on the water as you’d like.  Groups can remain on the boat and tour north to Little Pleasant Bay or south to Stage Harbor.   Those with kids may prefer to anchor and swim off the boat in a warm cove.  Maybe a picnic on the beach?  How you divide the 3 hrs is completely up to you!  Perfect for Bachelorette Parties and small family outings!

This is a 3 hour private motorboat tour – for you and your group only (plus one captain).

Join us to create a unique and lasting memory of your trip Down Cape!

Our Vessels

Down Cape Charters uses several vessels for its Nauset Beachcomber Tours.  Private groups of 7-12 passengers will generally default to one of our 24′ Morgans (pictured above in blue).  We operate two of these 12 passenger boats.

Groups of 13-18 passengers will cruise aboard Bellamy – our 32′ inspected vessel pictured below in white (with orange rafts on top).

Groups of 1-6 may be on any available boat including our center console, Malabar.

Requests for specific boats cannot be guaranteed.  The final decision will come down to boat availability, number of passengers and other business needs.

Nauset Beachcomber Tour

PRIVATE CHARTER RATES:

1-6 Passengers    $775.00

 7-12 Passengers  $950.00

13-18 Passengers  $1,250.00

Duration:  3 hours

For those looking for an extended excursion, our 3 hr Nauset Beachcomber Tour includes our standard Chatham Harbor & Seal Tour itinerary plus the opportunity to enjoy some beach time on North Beach Island, a pristine 2 mile long barrier beach only accessible by boat.  Guests can bring a towel and enjoy the uncrowded soft sand and sweeping views of the open Atlantic Ocean, take a walk or beachcomb for shells and other treasures.

Alternatively, leave the itinerary behind and spend 3 hrs on the water as you’d like.  Groups can remain on the boat and tour north to Little Pleasant Bay or south to Stage Harbor.   Those with kids may prefer to anchor and swim off the boat in a warm cove.  Maybe a picnic on the beach?  How you divide the 3 hrs is completely up to you!  Perfect for Bachelorette Parties and small family outings!

This is a 3 hour private motorboat tour – for you and your group only (plus one captain).

Notes:

  • Please refer to our online calendar for exact departure times and live availability.
  • All charters include the services of a licensed captain and complimentary bottled water.  See the FAQ’s at the bottom of this page  to read our food/beverage policies.
  • Catering service is also available through the Wequassett Resort – see menu link below.  Reply to your confirmation email with your order at least 48hrs before departure and we’ll take care of the rest!  

Frequently Asked Questions

What is your cancellation policy?

For a full refund, a minimum of 7 days notice is required.

Cancellations made less than 7 days in advance – but more than 48 hrs before departure time – will be charged 50%.

No-shows and cancellations made 48 hrs or less before departure time will be charged full price.

What if there is bad weather?

Safety is ultimately our top priority.  We will not operate in hazardous weather conditions such as heavy rain, thick fog, high winds or thunder and lightning.  If severe weather cancels your reservation we will make every effort to reschedule for another day.  Otherwise, a full refund will be issued.

However, no guarantees can be made that every part of every day will be perfectly sunny.  So we will operate as usual in overcast conditions, light fog and in intermittent sprinkles.  Guests should dress appropriately for changeable weather and bring a positive attitude!

The final decision on weather related cancellations rests with the captain and reservations should be considered upheld unless we contact you directly.  

How early should I show up for my reservation?

To leave enough time for our check-­in procedure, we recommend your party arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure time.  Leave yourself some margin for traffic or parking related delays, pre-departure bathroom stops, etc.

For Private Charters:

There will be no refunds or credits for customers arriving late.  Trips are scheduled multiple times per day and to ensure that all of our reservations are honored, your tour will still have to return at its regularly scheduled time.

For Group Charters:

Group tours will leave at the regularly scheduled departure time – no exceptions.  There will be no refunds or credits for customers arriving after the boat has departed.

What should I wear? What should I bring?

WHAT TO BRING:

  • A valid form of ID (only necessary for the person who has made the reservation).
  • If your tour/rental has not been prepaid, you will need to bring a form of payment.  We accept all major credit cards and/or cash.  Guests of the Wequassett Resort can also charge to their room account if they prefer.
  • An additional layer of clothing.  Even if its t-shirt weather in your driveway, always assume it will be cooler on the water.  For shorter tours, a sweatshirt or a light jacket is often enough.  For offshore trips, a water-resistant jacket plus a sweatshirt is ideal.  Temperatures can drop 20 degrees when heading offshore and clothing can quickly get wet if fog is present.
  • Please wear boat shoes, non-scuffing white-soled sneakers or relax and go barefoot.
  • Snacks/beverages.  Please see additional FAQ’s for restrictions.
  • Sunscreen (non-spray only).
  • Polarized sunglasses.
  • Camera

DO NOT BRING:

  • Spray sunscreen.
  • Marking shoes or sandals.
  • Hard alcohol.
  • Cigarettes/cigars/vapes (no smoking allowed).
  • Drugs of any kids.
  • Beer bottles or glass containers.  (Wine bottles are fine.  Beer in cans is also fine).
  • Red Wine.
  • Anything that can easily blow away.
  • Large coolers.  Each of our vessels already has a large cooler onboard.  Feel free to bring a small cooler and small bags.
  • Large meals.  It just doesn’t work well on an open, moving boat.  Keep food/snacks simple!

May food and drinks be brought on board?

All of our trips include complimentary bottled water.  Additionally, customers are welcome to bring their own snacks and beverages.

Please remember that you will be eating/drinking on a boat that is moving, open to the wind and may or may not have a table or cup holders (we operate several vessels and each is equipped differently).  Our advice is to KEEP IT SIMPLE and don’t bring anything that you aren’t prepared to eat in your lap.  Smaller snacks and finger foods are easiest and less likely to stain your clothing and our upholstery.

For adults over 21, reasonable amounts of beer and wine are also allowed.

RESTRICTIONS:

  • Leave the red wine at home.  On a moving boat it will stain clothing and upholstery.
  • No hard alcohol.
  • Please opt for cans and minimize glass containers in general.  Wine bottles are allowed but no beer bottles.  We will provide plastic cups if needed.

Any excessive use of alcohol will result in the immediate termination of the trip with no recourse.

What happens if my group size changes after booking?

The group size you specify at booking will slot you into a specific boat size.  As long as you stay within the specified range (1-6 passengers, 7-12 passengers or 13-18 passengers), nothing more needs to be done.

If your group size grows into the next range of passengers, please contact us to see if a larger boat is available at your requested time.

If your group size shrinks into a smaller range of passengers, please contact us to see if a smaller boat is available at your requested time.

Do children and infants count towards the passenger capacity?

Yes.  Each of our vessels is rated for a certain capacity by the United States Coast Guard and the USCG does not differentiate between children and adults.  A 12 person capacity means twelve human beings, for example – regardless of age.

Will I get seasick?

Tours that stay within the protected waters of Pleasant Bay carry virtually zero risk of seasickness.  The swell and chop that you might encounter on the open Atlantic Ocean or Nantucket Sound is simply not present within the bay.

Nevertheless, concerned passengers are welcome to experiment with over-the-counter remedies containing ginger, which has been shown to calm an upset stomach.  Consult your physician if you have any further questions or concerns.

Are there any age restrictions or physical restrictions?

Our Pleasant Bay scenic tours are appropriate for all ages and have no age restrictions.

Those with mobility issues must be able to walk down the resort dock (pictured on our About Us page) and step up into the vessel.  Rarely is this an issue, but it should be mentioned.

Are dogs allowed on your vessels?

On a case by case basis we may allow dogs on our Scenic Boat Tours.  A few caveats:

  • Dogs are restricted to private charters only.  No group tours.
  • Dogs are restricted to certain vessels only.  Please specify in your booking notes that you will be bringing a dog and we will slot you into the appropriate boat.  Failure to notify us may mean that your dog will not be able to board certain vessels.  No refunds or credits will be offered if your group is unable to bring a dog aboard if you fail to notify us in advance!
  • No more than one medium/large dog per party, or two lap dogs (20lbs or less).
  • Guests are responsible for any damage caused by their dog (scratches, stains, ripped upholstery, etc).
  • Dogs must remain leashed at all times while walking through resort property and on any local beaches your tour may include.
  • We do not stock life jackets for dogs.  Please bring your own if necessary.

Do you provide life jackets for children?

Yes, we have life jackets for all shapes and sizes (even infants).  While we recommend that everybody wear a life jacket on our boats, by law only those 12 and younger have to wear one at all times.  Your boat will have enough life jackets on board for everybody in your group.  Younger children are welcome to bring their own life jacket if they are more comfortable, provided it is Coast Guard approved (no arm floaties, please!).

Book online now!