With all the lakes and rivers Michigan has to offer, it's no real surprise that people are dying to get out onto all that water. For some, it's enough to swim, but others want the power that only a boat can provide. That's good news, because Michigan has plenty of places that will let you rent a boat, in various sizes and at various prices. So grab your coolers and get ready for a day on the water as we check out 10 great Michigan boat rentals!
Traverse City starts us off this time, offering us a surprisingly versatile option with Sunset Water Sports. Featuring jet skis, ski boats, deck and pontoon boats, fishing boats, and even kayaks and wakeboards, you'll find boats of virtually every size and description at Sunset Water Sports. They've even got water trampolines, which aren't technically boats, but could be used that way if you were particularly enterprising and had long enough oars.
Head up to Houghton Lake to check out lake operations as only the Upper Peninsula can offer. Featuring your choice of pontoon boat, waverunner, or fishing boats, as well as the option to rent tubes to tow behind the pontoon boats, you'll have an array of options to choose from and all of Houghton Lake to use said boats on. With 1.6 square miles of water to work with, you'll have plenty of room to play, fish, or just about anything else you can figure to do.
Indian River's Fay Martin River Resort takes the focus off the lake and puts it on the river instead. Found between two lakes itself, the Fay Martin River Resort is on the famous Indian River, offering up not only a look at the history of the area but also actively taking a role in its future as well. It's part of the Inland Waterway, and offers access to a variety of outdoor fun. Boating, of course, is front and center, and pontoon boats will be available for those who want to see the world from a different angle: from the center of a river.
Grand Haven is one of Michigan's great coastal cities, and as such, offers up plenty of boating opportunities. Grand Haven Boat Rental, meanwhile, stands ready to offer up a full slate of options. With seven models of pontoon boat—from the Rayz to the Sporty to the Dee Lite—on hand, those who come for simple cruises or those who come for high-speed wave-busting adventure will likely go home happy at the end of the night.
Holland is another of Michigan's great coastal cities, and its own Holland Water Sports will deliver plenty of boating excitement. Pontoons, power boats, waverunners and more await you here, and with Lake Michigan's massive expanse nearby, you'll be cruising merrily along over a vast body of fresh water.
We're double-dipping in Traverse Bay, because this one's a little unusual. Where previously, you could take a boat out on the water, this is something special. Traverse Tall Ship Co. offers access to a “tall ship,” or a ship with sails. While you'll be working with a Coast Guard-licensed captain, you'll be able to learn how to actually sail a boat yourself. There's even a choice of the yacht Scout or the tall ship Manitou available for a different experience every time.
Even Michigan's parks have boat rental opportunities, and Waterloo Recreation Area near Chelsea is no different in that regard. With eight different boat launches, and boat rentals available, you'll have every opportunity to check out Michigan's wild water beauty for yourself! When you're done on the water, you'll have plenty of other activities to choose from, from fishing to swimming to cycling and well beyond!
South Haven is another of Michigan's most popular coastal destinations, and with good reason. Black River Boat Rentals in South Haven has plenty to choose from when it comes to available watercraft. You'll have your choice of three different speedboats, as well as three different pontoons and four different small craft, including a hard-bottomed Avon dinghy, a kayak, a stand-up paddleboard and a paddle boat.
Muskegon is another popular lakeside getaway destination, which means boat rentals are fairly readily had. Muskegon Lake Boat Rentals offers pontoons, tritoons, and other motor craft along with several sizes of tubes and even portable slides. No matter what your lake tastes may be, Muskegon Lake Boat Rentals will likely be able to fit just what you need!
Great Lakes Flyboard offers several locations throughout Michigan, but they all boil down to the same thing: the chance to rent the strangest new watercraft known, including the flyboard, the hoverboard, the jetovator and the jetpack. With these craft at your command, you'll be able to fly over the water on jets of pressurized water, a treat that can't be had just anywhere.