The 5 Best Ways To Get On Madison Lakes
If you love being on the water kayaking, canoeing, skiing or just kicking back on a dinner or cocktail luxury cruise then Madison, Wisconsin is a summer paradise. Leave your cares ashore with one of these 5 Madison boat rental and tour options.
Picture yourself on a hot-air balloon sailing over the city of Madison on a sunny day .
Look down.
You see a strip of awesomeness sandwiched between two beautiful blue lakes. You also see a network of waterways linking those lakes to one another and several other lakes.
Its a breathtaking view. But listen. You REALLY need to get off that balloon and get yourself onto the water, because from spring through fall, thats a glorious place to be.
Oh, and dont bother bringing a boat. Weve got you covered. Here, in no particular order, are some of the best ways to enjoy Madisons lakes:
Dells Watersports Wisconsin Dells Wi
Dells Watersport rentals go beyond your typical boat. They are located on Lake Delton and offer wave runners, deck boats, ski boats, pontoon boats, tubing on pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks and paddle boards. Whatever water fun you are looking to have, Dells Watersports have got what your family needs.
Gordys Marine Fontana Wi
Gordys Marine has been helping visitors and residents fully enjoy all that Lake Geneva has to offer. Rent by the hour, half day or for an entire day. Gordys exclusively provides Cobalt Bowriders to their renters. Turn up the fun by renting our water sports accessories for a perfect day on the lake.
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Capitol Boats Offers Boat Rentals And Memberships In Madison Wi
:Capitol Boat Club in Madison offers pontoon and deck boat rentals. You are able to rent a boat for the morning, the afternoon or all day. They also offer add-ons for things like lily pads, tubes and even a captain if you dont feel confident driving the boat yourself.
The boats seat 11-12 people, so you could easily split the cost with another family or head out with couples or friends!
Open Memorial Day Weekend Through Labor Day

Theyre open all day, everyday from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. There are often extra days added before or after summer hours depending on the weather and staffing. Check each location for details. Memberships are available if you plan to visit often! All rentals are by the hour and include life jackets and paddles. Every participant has to sign a waiver- electronic or paper.
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Times And Locations For Drop
- Tenney Park
- Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 pm-7 pm & 7:15 pm-8:45 pm
- Sundays at 1:30 pm-3 pm & 3:15 pm-4:45 pm
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Fun N The Sun Houseboat Alma Wi
Fun n the Sun offers a little bit of a different boat rental option. Make it a full vacation by renting out their beautiful houseboats. Have the luxury off running on your own time and exploring all that the Mississippi River has to offer. Fish, relax, and stay at Fun n the Sun Houseboats in Alma, Wisconsin.
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Cruises Boat Rentals & Launches
Got a boat? Bring it to Madison! A complete list of boat landings, along with detailed information about Lake Access Permits from the City of Madison Parks Department, will help you get started. Find more info on Lake Access Permits through the Dane County Parks Division.
Rather sit back and relax? Betty Lou Cruises take you around Mendota or Monona, with drinks and dinner, too. Or hop aboard a pontoon with the Madison School & Community Recreation Boat Program.
15,000 acres. That’s a lot of lake. Eager to explore? Here are some businesses ready to get you out on the water. Address: 701 W. Brittingham Pl., MadisonPhone: 608.250.2555Premium paddle craft rentals including stand up paddle boards, single and tandem kayaks, and canoes. Learn about the Brittingham Boats Essential Madison Experience!
Address: 5360 Westport Rd., Madison Phone: 608.246.3138 Fax: 608.246.3135 Group charters and public cruises on Lake Mendota and Lake Monona! Captain, crew, bar and buffet food service. Learn about the Betty Lou Essential Madison Experience!
Address: 5339 Lighthouse Bay Dr., Pier 5, MadisonPhone: 608.423.5202Madison’s first and only private boat club, now offering pontoon and speed boat rentals – no membership required!
MSCR Address: 3802 Regent St., MadisonPhone: 608.204.3000MSCR offers drop-in boat rides, boat rentals and specialty trips and events. The Pontoon Program begins in May and continues on until late September.
Address: 3527 Atwood Ave., MadisonPhone: 608.223.9300
Summer On The Water Two
Get a package rate for the Summer on the Water Two-Night Package if you stay up to September 9, 2016 . The package includes a hotel room for two, plus:
- A half day of boating for 4-6 people provided by Skipper Buds of Madison. Theyll bring the boat right to The Edgewater Pier. You can also hire a captain for an addition fee.
- $50 credit for The Boathouse bar and grill.
- 10% off on any additional guestrooms
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Boat The Madison Wi Lakes With Badger Pontoon Charters & Boat Rentals
Welcome and get ready for a fun day of boating in Madison! We offer a One-Of-A-Kind boat trip on Lake Mendota! We specialize in Bachelorette and Bachelor outings, Family fun, Moms Weekends Away, Corporate Team Building Trips and just about any other group that wants to enjoy a day on beautiful Lake Mendota! We can also partner with your Wedding Planner to include some boat time on the lake for your wedding reception, Rehearsal Dinner or Bachelorette or Bachelor groups.
We offer a trip for every clientele:
- Family Friendly cruising and swimming spots
- Fun Party Cruising with your friends
- Company/Corporate day trips for fun team building on the Lake
* Start your cruise at many different convenient locations in Madison on Lake Mendota.
* We offer half day trips 7 days a week.
* Poor weather is determined by Badger Pontoon Rentals and you will not be charged for cancellations due to bad weather as determined by Badger Pontoon Rentals.
* Additional Fuel Fee Charge of $40 for all tours.
* Based on U.S.C.G weight of 150 lbs. per passenger.
To Help Keep You Safe We Are:
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Offering high-risk renters extra support including extra sanitizing and touchless check-in and check-out procedures. Call us upon arrival.
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DEEP SANITIZING equipment to provide a barrier for up to 90 days.
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Sanitizing paddles after every use.
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Having staff check their temperature at the start of their shift
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Having unvaccinated staff wear face masks at all times.
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Offering online bookings to reduce in-person interactions.
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Utilizing extra hand sanitizer stations for staff and customers.
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Skipper Buds Of Madison Pontoon And Sport Boat Rentals
If paddling or yachting arent your speed, Skipper Buds gives you the choice of fast fun or a more leisurely excursion.
Through an arrangement between Skipper Buds of Madison and The Edgewater, you can have sport boats rigged for skiing, tubing, or boarding, or pontoon boats, delivered to The Edgewater Pier.
Pontoon boats come in 6-person, 12-person, and 14-person sizes, and you can rent them by the hour , for a half day or whole day. Same with the sport boats.
Of course, youll need the proper license to pilot these crafts yourself, but if you dont, no worries, you can also book any Skipper Buds tour with a qualified captain.
To Help Keep Us And Others Safe

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DO NOT rent if you are experiencing, or have been in contact with someone who is experiencing, COVID-19 symptoms.
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We ask unvaccinated customers to wear a mask onshore.
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Use the sanitizer or wash your hands before getting your paddles and PFDs.
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Try to maintain 6’+ from other customers and staff whenever possible.
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Boat Rentals In Madison Wi
With several great boating lakes scattered throughout the city, Madison is an excellent destination to rent a boat. Lake Mendota and Lake Monona are the two largest, offering plenty of space for cruising on a pontoon, flying through the water on a jet ski, or renting a speedboat for watersports like waterskiing and wakeboarding. For active travelers visiting Madison, a kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or canoe rental on the lakes is the perfect way to get exercise while you explore.
Some Fun Outing Ideas
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Start out with a slow cruise around the lake while everyone has some snacks and a beverage or two. Then, anchor the boat in Three Foot Bay . Enjoy some time throwing a frisbee, football, or ping pong balls into cups on a floating inflatable table.
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Take a leisurely cruise across the lake to The Terrace. Stop and grab a burger or some cheese curds and head back to the boat. Cruise around Maple Bluff and take in the beautiful landscape. Spend the rest of your time swimming or relaxing on the boat.
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Everyone has networking events at bars. Why not throw a more intimate event on the water? Have your association, fraternity, sorority, new co-workers, or anyone else you want to get to know better join you for a unique opportunity to chat and imbibe on a boat.
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The Land n Sea Bar Crawl . Whether its a weekend afternoon or a weekday happy hour, Madison offers several destinations that can be reached by boat. Start out at the Terrace and grab a burger and a beer before boarding the boat. Well take you up to Mariners Inn or Nau Ti Gal for stop number two. From there, well head over to the Edgewaters Boat House for stop three, and finally drop you off back at the Terrace.
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Jet Ski & Pontoon Rentals
At Jet Ski Madison we specialize in two things: Pontoon boat rentals AND jet ski rentals. Our mission is to take the hassle out of boating. We ask ONE THING of all our customers ENJOY! Let us do the work.
Rent a pontoon boat for your choice of 4 or 8 hours. Your pontoon rental will arrive clean, full of fuel and 100% ready by one of our highly trained staff who cares about nothing more than making sure your experience is the ultimate boating experience, making any previous boat rental experiences a distant memory After you have completed all of your Lake activities we will be waiting for you at the pier with a smile ready to help you dock and unload. No refueling, no clean up, no hauling!
Boating is one of the most enjoyable ways to relax, spend time with family get away from the stresses of land. Boat rentals are definitely at the top of the list of things to do on Madison,s Beautiful chain of lakes. Offering endless opportunities to explore, enjoy and get away on one of our three Luxury Pontoon Boat rentals. All of our boat have swim ladders, Bluetooth stereo, Bimini cover for shade, and spacious seating. Enjoy your boat rental in Madison by traveling from Lake Mendota through Tenney Park Locks, down the Yahara River out onto the citys center Lake which is Lake Monona, surrounded by pristine shore line and multi Million Dollars houses.. Once there your able to continue to some of Madisons coolest restaurants through the river on over to Lake Waubesa.
Reasons To Rent A Boat In Madison Wi
There are lots of great celebrations you can host on the water. From bachelor or bachelorette parties on a party boat, graduations, family get-togethers, or a summer escape on the water with your kids, getting out on the lakes in Madison will make it an unforgettable day. A relaxing sunset cruise is a great way to get outdoors, even on a weeknight in Madison. Dont let the summer months pass by without renting a boat for a day in Madison.
GetMyBoat has 240 listings for boating experiences in Madison with 59,947 reviews.
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Mscr Pontoon Boat Rides
Enjoy Madison from the water on an MSCR Pontoon Boat Ride!
ALERT: Tenney Locks that allow access to Lake Mendota are currently down due to a mechanical issue. Drop-in rides on Lake Mendota are relocating to Tenney Park beginning Sept 1. Please see below for details.
Please note: No pontoon rides on Labor Day, Monday, Sept 5.MSCR maintains 3 pontoon boats at the Tenney Park Boat House offering opportunities to get on the water. Join us for drop-ins, speciality trips, and private rentals. See below for information on our programs.
Y Boat Rental In Wisconsin
Are there many boat tours I can take in Wisconsin?
If youre looking for a memorable boat tour in Wisconsin, the Lake Geneva Cruise Line offers lots of ways for people to get out on the water. Of all the tours offered by the cruise line, the most unique has got to be the US Mailboat Tour, which takes passengers along on a decades-old mail route, delivering mail to homes on the shoreline of Lake Geneva! The fact that there are only a handful of places in the nation where mail is still delivered by boat is just one thing that sets this tour apart. Another is that the boat never stops, so jumpers leap from the moving boat to deliver and retrieve mail from dockside mailboxes. This boat tour really is an experience you can only have here in Wisconsin!
Does Wisconsin have many lakes?
That depends on your definition of many lakes does over 15,000 lakes count? If so, then yes! Were kidding, of course. Yes, Wisconsin is home to many, many lakes. There are 15,074 documented lakes in Wisconsin. Of these, about 40 percent have been named. They range in size from small one-and two-acre ponds to the expansive, 137,708-acre Lake Winnebago.
What are some of the most unique adventures in Wisconsin?
Address:
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The 9 Best Boat Rentals In Wisconsin
Purchasing a boat is a big commitment. If youre looking to have all the fun of boat access without putting down big money, consider one of Wisconsins many excellent boat rental companies! Avoid the cost of storing and upkeep but renting this summer. Whatever your boat of choice, from pontoon to kayaks, weve got you covered. Here are the 9 best boat rental companies in the state.
The Edgewater Pier: The Port Of Call That Has It All

The Edgewater Pier has 40 slips where boats can tie up, all free and staffed by attendants. You can also plan and launch a charter excursion of just about any kind through The Edgewater, in partnership with Skipper Buds of Madison.
Life in The Edgewater Pier in boating season is truly one of Madisons great experiences.
Next to The Pier is The Boathouse, a bar and grill with an outdoor deck on the lakefront and gorgeous views of the lake from the inside.
Stop in for a fresh take on Wisconsin lakeside restaurant classics: burgers, brats, fish fries, and more. And a nice cold beer? Yessir! If youre looking for something a bit more upscale, head up to or The Statehouse restaurant.
Above The Pier and The Boathouse is The Plaza, where you can gaze down at the lake on one side and gaze up at the regal Capitol Building dome on the other side.
Its a perfect place to just hang out or catch one of the special events, including live bands, dancing and general frivolity. Its hard to decide whether this place is more fun or more beautiful by day or by night. Just to be safe, we humbly recommend you try both.
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Rentals And Charters On Lake Mendota
Capitol Boat Club offers a well maintained rental fleet. The Pontoons and Deck Boat are brand new for 2021 and equipped with everything you need for a memorable day on the water.
All boats are equipped with:
- Bimini Top for Shade
- Available lily pads and tubes
- Option to add a captain
- Rentals include the cost of fuel and are open to the public.
- All rentals are located at Mariners Inn, 5339 Lighthouse Bay Dr. in Madison.