The right boat makes a summer. The wrong one means eight people squeezed onto a ski boat, or teenagers bored on a pontoon that can't throw a decent wake. Rental fleets on Connecticut lakes usually come down to three types. Here's how to choose between them.
Pick a pontoon for big groups, little kids, swimming, and cruising. Pick a ski/wake boat if your group wants to wakeboard, waterski, or wakesurf. Pick a deck boat or bowrider if you want a bit of everything: cruising, tubing, and some fishing.
The three boats at a glance
| Pontoon | Ski / Wake boat | Deck / Bowrider | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity in our fleet | Up to 12 | Up to 8 | Up to 10 |
| Best for | Families, swimming, cruising | Wakeboarding, skiing, wakesurfing | All-around use |
| Tubing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Little kids & grandparents | Best: stable and roomy | OK | Good |
| Speed & handling | Slower, very stable | Fast, built for towing | Fast, nimble |
| Fuel use | Lowest | Highest when towing | Middle |
Pontoon: the floating living room
A pontoon is a flat deck on two or three tubes, with couch seating and a rail all the way around. It's the most popular rental on Connecticut lakes for a reason. It's stable, easy to drive, easy to dock, and it holds the whole family plus the cooler. It's the best choice for young kids, older relatives, swim stops, and sunset cruises. Most pontoons pull a tube just fine. For a deeper comparison, see pontoon rental vs. boat rental.
Ski / wake boat: built for riders
If your group includes teenagers or adults who want to get up on the water, this is the boat. A ski or wake boat has the power to pull a skier out of the water cleanly and the hull to throw a wake for wakeboarding and wakesurfing. The trade-off is fewer seats and more fuel. New to watersports? Start with lessons: our waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wakesurfing coaches can get you up before you ride behind your own boat.
Wakesurfing needs a boat built for it. Never wakesurf behind an outboard engine, because the rider ends up close to an exposed propeller. Our wake boats are set up for it. If you're not sure about your boat, ask before anyone lets go of the rope.
Deck boat / bowrider: the all-rounder
A deck boat or bowrider sits in the middle. It's faster and sportier than a pontoon, roomier than a ski boat, and good at cruising, tubing, light skiing, and casting a line in the evening. If your group's plans change from day to day, this is the safe pick.
A quick decision guide
- Eight or more people, or anyone under 6? Pontoon.
- Riders who want to wakeboard or wakesurf most days? Ski/wake boat.
- A mix of cruising, tubing, and fishing? Deck boat or bowrider.
- Lots of guests, and nobody wants to drive? Add a captain for the day.
All three are available for weekly and seasonal rental, delivered to your dock, with life jackets and watersports gear included.
Quick FAQ
Not sure which boat fits?
Tell us your group size and what you want to do, and we'll recommend the right boat. Or try each one on a captained charter first.
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