retro Boat Rentals DC

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.

We accept all major credit cards and offer gift cards so you can share this experience with a friend or family!

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.

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.

We do not currently have a dog friendly boat option available.

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!

Please refer to the online booking Fare Harbor for hours of availability. Our standard rental times are 90 minutes.

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.

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.

The boats cruise at approximately 4 MPH. Retro Boats abide by wake and speed protocols on the Washington Channel.

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!

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.