Washington DC Retro Boat Rentals
Imagine cruising the Washington Channel in a rare, vintage boat that has been restored to its original jet-age beauty. With the sleek design of the vessel and stunning views from the water, you’ll be a sight to see as you sightsee in DC!
Drive a Vintage Runabout Boat with Family & Friends
That’s right, you get to drive the boats, no captain’s license or boating experience required! Each boat has a max capacity of 4 people so you and 3 crewmates can explore the channel in style. Perfect for a unique date night, birthday celebration, or quick getaway on the water!
Bring Your Own Beverages and Food
We encourage you to bring your own food and beverages to enjoy on board. Beer, wine, seltzers, and champagne are all welcome (21+) as long as they are being consumed responsibly. The driver of the vessel is not permitted to drink any alcohol at any time and we do NOT allow hard liquor. You are also welcome to bring any non-alcoholic beverages and food to enjoy. So pack a homemade snack or order takeout from your favorite restaurant and hit the water!
Enjoy a Smooth, Peaceful Cruise on Eco-Friendly Electric Boats
We’ve retro-fitted these vintage boats with modern electric motors. They’re quiet and eco-friendly, allowing you to enjoy conversation and fresh air as you navigate the DC waterways. In addition to replacing the heavy-polluting motors, we also saved these beauties from being junk in someone’s back yard or trash in a landfill.
Reviews
Super fun plan! I loved it! Super easy to drive and very well maintained! I had such a great time I will so it again soon!
Was a great experience rental guy was really funny and nice
Awesome af lol my partner and I took the evening on the water. Very peaceful. The instructor was perfect on how to work the vessel.
The booking experience and customer service was HORRIBLE…..I had been reaching out for a whole week both via phone and email to try to change my booking time. I was finally able to reach someone the day before my reservation to see if I still could change my time, and was told that I couldn’t because they didn’t have the staff available to do so even though the time slots were still available on the website for booking.After reaching back out to sea suites directly to see if I could get a voucher per the website for a later date and rebook a different boat, I was told that I would need to change reservations a week in advance in which I pointed out that I had been both emailing and calling for the past week to no response. Which is VERY unprofessional.Needless to say, I made it work with my original time, and even though I wasn’t looking forward to my boat ride because of the HORRIBLE service I had prior to getting there…..I would like to say that Nick 10000000% turned the whole entire experience around for us, and is the reason my rating wasn’t a 1 star rating.Nick was not only very professional and very informative, but he also gave very clear and concise directions on how to navigate the boat while also being very friendly, warm, and welcoming. He definitely deserves a raise because he is the reason our experience went from a total disaster to wanting to book again with him, and him specifically.
I saw them on Insta. Had it saved for a special occasion and today was that day. My dad turned 78 and wanted to get out on a boat. It was easy to book and everything went smooth. It was my son’s first time on a boat.
Nick was ahmazing!! Super cool & very informative. Only bummer was that we couldnt cruise over to Georgetown area. But that ok- we had a great time.
Loved the experience from start to finish. Can’t wait to do it again. Customer service is amazing.
Great experience at a fair price i think. I recommend the 7pm slot in the summer for sunset vibes.
This was a very nice experience. The boat ride was smooth and there were no issues. The customer service was amazing. He was a very personable young man that is was very helpful. I would definitely recommend this activity and company.
Fantastic experience! Great way to see the city. Emma was great to work with.
Great Service! Amazing Time Definitely plan on going again soon. Sosa was a great host. We Road in the new boat so that was good. A speaker was also provided
This was such a wonderful experience. The rental process was easy, the boat was comfortable and fun, and the views were amazing. Highly recommend for tourists and locals.
Amazing amazing service!!! Glenn was awesome and so helpful. Would absolutely recommend this to all my friends
Glen was a great service on our retro boat experience, he made sure we had everything needed to enjoy our time on the water. Thank you so much glen for your kindness and patience. Retro Boat is awesome !
I had an awesome experience. Glen our dock hand was the best. He made the ride stress free, and was very helpful when docking since we had not operated a boat before. 10/10 would recommend.
Nick was so helpful and made things super easy. The instructions he provided were easy and my boyfriend drove the boat with no issue.
We had the best time on our retro boat!! Nick took such great care of us and was so helpful answering all of our questions so we could ensure we would be safe but still have an awesome time! We will absolutely be back.
This was an amazing experience! Very professional and efficient. Nick super helpful and gave good instructions on operating the vehicle. I would definitely come back again!
We had a great time with our retro boat Bonnie. Nick was there waiting for us and showed us everything we needed to know and was very friendly. It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon on the water.
My cousin and I had a great experience. The booking process is smooth and customer service is excellent. The boat is cute and easy to steer.
It was a great experience! Kenneth was awesome as our tour guide help before we got started. My first time on the boat and I would recommend you see kenneth if it’s your first time on the boat for a great experience. He was helpful and recommended me and my family other options after we finished our tour.
Rented this little dingy for a nice birthday celebration for my wife. The patron was helpful in guiding us to the location along with his pre use information.The boat itself was nice. I think it needs a little bit more power to be able to enjoy the full scenic boundaries... With stopping to eat our lunch, we did not have enough remaining time to visit further along the river so that was cut short because we had to return to the docks in the allotted time...Overall the experience was lovely, I would definitely rent again and recommend to others...
Fantastic customer experience, very knowledgeable and very helpful. Can’t wait to rebook!
Super cute date night experience. Locals seeking something new to do in DC and Graham was awesome! Definitely check this out for a good time on the water🙂
Cruise the Washington Channel in a Classic Boat
Our fleet of meticulously maintained and rare classic fiberglass runabout boats from the jet-age era (1958-1963), have been made available for everyone to enjoy and take out on the Washington Channel from the Wharf. With fanciful fins and headlights, retro-cool colors and chrome details, we’ve kept their vintage style but upgraded the motors to a quieter, more sustainable option.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are there boundaries to where I can take the boat?
Yes, we do place certain boundaries on the waterway. This is ultimately for the safety of patrons. We hand out a detailed map (see below) during our safety and instructional guidance prior to leaving the dock.
Do I need boating experience?
You just need to be able to prove that you are 21 years old with a valid photo ID! Our knowledgeable dock attendants will provide you with information to keep you safe while enjoying a day on the scenic Washington Channel from the Wharf. It’s comparable to driving a golf cart with a forward and reverse throttle. All boats are electric with a maximum speed of 4.5 miles per hour. Boats are equipped with life jackets, anchor, paddles, and a blow horn.
Which payment methods do you accept? Do you offer gift cards?
We accept all major credit cards and offer gift cards so you can share this experience with a friend or family!
Do you provide life jackets?
Having an ample number of life jackets available for each passenger is a requirement on each boat and each boat is outfitted with life jackets accordingly. Anyone over the age of 13 is not required to wear a life jacket, but all passengers are more than welcome to wear them for their safety and comfort. All children under age 13 are required to wear a life jacket while on the boat.
Are kids allowed? Is there an age limit?
As long as parents are on the boat with the children and feel comfortable taking them, we allow children of all ages. We do require children age 13 and under to wear life jackets and have sizes specifically for infants, youth, and children, in addition to adult life jackets.
Are dogs allowed on the boat?
We do not currently have a dog friendly boat option available.
Do you sell drinks?
We do not sell drinks but we encourage you to bring your own beverages. Beer, wine, seltzers, and champagne are all fine to bring aboard as long as they are being consumed responsibly and the driver of the vessel is not drinking at any time. We do not allow hard liquor (i.e. bottles of tequila, vodka, etc.). You are also welcome to bring any non-alcoholic beverages and food to enjoy during your time on the water!
What is the longest time I can be on the water?
Please refer to the online booking Fare Harbor for hours of availability. Our standard rental times are 90 minutes.
What should I bring with me?
There are a few things we highly recommend taking with you. While we provide complimentary speakers, we do recommend you bring sunscreen, water, or whatever you feel will best prepare you for the outdoor elements. Cruising down the Washington Channel provides a lot of opportunities for amazing pictures of the Wharf and adjacent scenery such as the Washington Monument, 14th Street Bridge, War College, and East Potomac Park.
What are the options for parking?
The Wharf has three parking garages, but parking is pricey and availability is limited. Guests are encouraged to find parking in advance of checking in for rentals.
How fast do the boats go?
The boats cruise at approximately 4 MPH. Retro Boats abide by wake and speed protocols on the Washington Channel.
What activities are prohibited while riding the boat?
The following activities are prohibited on all Retro Boat Rentals:
- All swimming and fishing off the boat is prohibited.
- Docking anywhere other than the dock where you initially disembark from
- Smoking (electronic smoking devices are okay, but nothing with open flames)
- The driver is prohibited from drinking
DC Harbor Patrol headquarters are located on the Washington Channel, so the rules of engagement are monitored and strictly enforced. We also have other charter boats operating along this route, and our captains and crew are trained to monitor and enforce the rules for Retro Boat Rentals.
Boating should be a fun and relaxing activity, so the rules we have in place are enforced to ensure that it is a pleasant, safe experience for our guests and other boaters in the channel!
Can we rent more than one boat?
This depends on availability and scheduled launch times of the boats. If you would like to book more than 1 boat, we do have additional guidelines and safety measures that need to be followed. The guideline for any group rental is below:
Mandatory boat insurance ($20 / boat – this can be purchased through the booking platform)
A $200 safety deposit hold. We place an additional hold of $200 per boat on the card(s) you book with at the time of the rental until the boats are returned in good condition and then we release the hold on the card.
We recommend emailing us in advance at support@seasuitecruises.com to make sure that there are no conflicts with renting multiple boats.
Rent a Vintage Boat At The Wharf in DC
PRICING:
Monday-Thursday: $175
Friday-Saturday: $225
CRUISE DETAILS:
Capacity: 4 people
Rental Duration: 1.5 Hours
Location: 101 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024