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    Retro Boat Rentals ATX

    5.0 (53 reviews)
    Closed 8:15 am - 7:15 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Captain Airon
    Victor T.

    I found Retro Boat Rentals ATX on Instagram, and their advert piqued my interest. They are located at the dock adjacent to the Austin Rowing Center. We booked the Batgirl which is a 1958 Beeline Sapphire for a 90-minute cruise of Town Lake. Retro Boat Rentals ATX has a small flotilla of vintage fiberglass boats that have been restored to their original beauty (circa1958-1964). The old motors have been retrofitted with zero emissions electric motors to create an eco-friendly and quiet experience. Now you won't be breaking any speed records as they top out at 5 mph. This is due to Town Lake be a no wake zone. Will, gave us a safety briefing and a map to outline which areas we needed to avoid and how far up (1st St. Bridge) we could go. In addition, he went over the controls of the boat and sent us on our way. It had been many moons since I had actually operated a boat so this was a treat for me. We had great weather for our trek. Headed to the Longhorn Dam, cruised close to Snake Island, and actually saw a water moccasin swimming along heading to shore haha. All in all, we had 90 minutes of serene time and wonderful views of the city from another angle. Highly recommend you bring a small cooler with some beverages to hydrate and for snacks whilst cruising. I highly recommend Retro Boat Rentals ATX for an enjoyable and relaxing experience. They do accept all major credit cards and it is wise too book in advances as they can get booked up really quick. Thank you Retro Boat Rentals ATX for out wonderful time on the lake. Also want to give a shout out to Will, Josh and Angel. They helped guide us in and their customer service was second to none. Much appreciated. Definitely want to do this again.

    Matt G.

    Awesome experience. Definitely worth doing. Totally unique. I had several people ask me while we were on the water if the boat was my boat lol. Of course I said yes it is. Jk. The staff is great. Beautiful scenery while on the water. Highly recommend.

    City views
    Charlie R.

    5-star experience! Booking online was easy, and I loved being able to see the various boats to choose from. Great location and smooth check-in. Our boat didn't have a cover, and the staff proactively offered us an umbrella (color-matched to our boat--loved that detail). Be sure to bring water on a hot day. The boat was easy to maneuver, and the staff were incredibly helpful during departure and docking. A wonderful day excursion and date idea. Highly recommend!

    The Family riding in "Bat Girl"
    David B.

    WOW - This is the ultimate of 5 star experiences!! My family and I had an exceptional time, and the only part we didn't like was that it only lasted 90 minutes. The electric motor moves the boat at 5 MPH and the lake is as smooth as glass. The views of the city are glamorous, and the ability to travel under the bat bridge and see / hear them is wild!! Additionally you will see wild life, and just enjoy the most peaceful / joyous time imaginable! The boat is called "Bat Girl" and is from 1958.

    Boat
    Lola M.

    Our experience at retro boat rentals was beyond amazing. My boyfriend and I went for our 1 anniversary. We booked the 5-6:30pm slot, and while I was super worried about how hot it would be, it wasn't too bad at all! I did go buy my own umbrella beforehand, since I didn't know that the boats include one just in case the sun is too intense. I do wish they had a parking lot, or even a few spaces for those renting that hour, but they don't so we found street parking nearby. We showed up right on time and boarded our boat with absolutely no problem. We brought some drinks (no glass of course) and took our time on the water. The boat is incredibly easy to drive, and we had an amazing time driving it. The views were also so incredibly stunning. Before you get on, they give you a map with information about where you can drive the boat to, about a half hour ride away. We decided to drive down and come back after a bit. Overall, such Ana amazing experience, would 100% do again!

    Boat dock
    Cindy R.

    Retro Boat Rentals was so much fun! Came here for date night and had a blast! It was a relaxing time on Ladybird Lake with a nice view of DTA. I would recommend!

    James S.

    Spent last weekend in Austin and had the pleasure of enjoying a sunset boat rental with Retro Boat Rentals ATX. Just a great experience all around. We walked over along the path from our AirBNB at the bottom of Rainey in no time at all. Got there 15-20 minutes early and Mia walked us through the map and how to operate the boat very efficiently, so we were out on the water almost 10 minutes earlier than scheduled which was awesome. Boat was simple but really fun to just cruise the water in while we played music over the Bluetooth speaker and enjoyed some beverages. Towards the end of the reservation, we stayed on the water an extra 15 minutes to try and catch the bats coming out from the bridge. Unfortunately the bats took their time so we didn't see them come out until we were back on the docks. Overall it was a great experience and I would do it again for sure, maybe trying one of the daytime cruises when it's not too hot or a later sunset cruise one to try and see the bats again from right under the bridge. Check out Retro Boat Rentals ATX if you're looking for a relaxing hangout on the water!

    Side pic of Ethel
    Nrsnik W.

    Amazing time on the water with my friends. Staff was super friendly. Ethel (our boat) was super cute. Scheduling process online was smooth. I needed to change my reservation time, emailed staff & received a quick response. Would definitely recommend & visit again. Thanks team for a fun & relaxing time.

    Trixie
    Jessica A.

    All went great! Tate was great about explaining the route and need to knows!! Had a great time celebrating my mother in law's bday! Would definitely do it again!

    Erica C.

    We had a blast. Henry and Jensen with getting set up. Highly recommend. We took the Ethel out from 4:30-6 for an afternoon ride. We are Austin residents and found it a great way to explore the city.

    Downtown and the Ethel Boat
    Joe T.

    Kayaks, canoes and SUPs are cool, but if you want a relaxing way to enjoy Lady Bird Lake without any manpower, then Retro Boat Rentals is the way to go! The dock is tucked away behind The Perch ATX Cafe (great spot to grab a drink/bite) and there's usually some street parking close by. They have a fleet to choose from which will take you west towards Red Bud Isle or you can head east past Rainey Street. We went during the summer first thing in the morning when the weather was cool and the lake wasn't too busy. Definitely would like to try a sunset boat ride and maybe try to check out the infamous bats. As Jake Owen says, "I Can't Wait to Get on the Boat again"!

    Ethel!

    We had a great time on the boat (Ethel - we were happy we had the little bit of covering). Angel was an angel - his instructions were clear and he was so friendly!

    Bianca I.

    This was so much fun with the girlies! You get to be in a cute pink retro boat and you get an incredible view of the Austin skyline! We rented the Gidget Retro Boat. It was really spacious and easy to navigate! The guys there were also really nice and personable! Definitely recommend!

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    1 year ago

    Kaylee was an amazing boat guide, she provided amazing customer service and was fun!!

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    1 year ago

    Really enjoyed our time!! Tate was super helpful, responsive and provided answers to all my questions! Would definitely do it again!

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    1 year ago

    Tete was very pleasant and helpful , he gave us all the instruction, he gave us information of others boats to rent

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    Ask the Community - Retro Boat Rentals ATX

    Review Highlights - Retro Boat Rentals ATX

    Located right off of Rainey Street along Lady Bird Lake, the boathouse gets sailors outfitted to go out on the lake and tool around!

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals

    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals

    5.0(330 reviews)
    7.0 mi

    We had an awesome time celebrating a bachelor party. Ramon is the best! Would definitely go backread more

    We had such an amazing time on Lake Travis thanks to Willo and Float On. Everything about the…read moreexperience was extremely streamlined from booking to filling out waivers to navigating to the marina. Willo gave superb instructions on operating and piloting the boat including an overview of relevant customs and laws while out on the water. Our group had six adults and one 2-year old and they had plenty of water safety devices for all ages. On a side note, it was wonderful to see how genuinely excited Willo was about Lake Travis once again having a healthy water level after several dry years. In terms of our experience on the lake, we got excellent advice on where to travel based on our team's interests and after following his directions it felt like we had arrived on our own private lake. We probably only saw a handful of other boats during our 3-hour excursion and that was only in passing. The boat came with a Garmin GPS that made it really easy to retrace our steps. For those wondering, there was excellent cell phone service out on the lake and we were able to use our phone GPS, make calls, and stream music. The boat had some nice integrated speakers with Bluetooth connectivity and we were able to jam out to our own tunes. There was also a cool flotation device attached to the back of the boat called the Aqua Lily Pad which we unrolled after anchoring, we had multiple adults laying on it without sinking into the lake. Overall, we could not have asked for a better experience and we would highly recommend booking with Float On.

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    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals
    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals - Birthday celebration!!

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    Birthday celebration!!

    Austin Rental Boats - Captain Zach!

    Austin Rental Boats

    4.7(142 reviews)
    7.0 mi

    Zack is the best driver. Can't beat it. Highly recommend. Especially for the price, I highly…read morerecommend.

    We booked this boat ride for a birthday, so it was meant to be a special experience. Overall, the…read morescenery was beautiful and the ride itself was enjoyable, but there were several issues that took away from what should have been a smooth private charter experience. The communication beforehand was not great. The driver texted me the night before around 7:45 PM, and when I replied immediately with concerns about the weather and rain, I didn't receive a response until after 10 PM. The email also stated that the driver would contact us 15-30 minutes before the reservation time, but that never happened. Our reservation was from 9:00-11:00 AM. When we arrived at 9:00, no one was there, so I had to text the driver myself. He responded saying he was getting the boat ready and putting gas in it. In my opinion, those things should have been done ahead of time so guests are properly greeted and the ride can begin on time. When we boarded, the seats and boat were still wet from the rain. Since it was chilly outside, sitting in wet seats for a two-hour ride left our clothes damp and uncomfortable. To give credit where it's due, the driver was friendly and enjoyable to talk to during parts of the ride. However, he also took phone calls during the charter, which felt distracting during what was supposed to be a private birthday outing. The biggest disappointment came on the ride back. The driver stopped to assist another boat that had already said help was on the way. He tied their boat to ours and pulled them in, which significantly took away from the private experience we had paid for. While helping others is kind, it felt inappropriate during a paid private charter, especially one booked for a birthday celebration. Additionally, the trip ran later than scheduled, and there was never any communication about the delay. Our reservation was clearly scheduled for 9-11 AM, and it shouldn't be assumed guests are okay with going over time simply because the ride started late. People may have plans afterward, and communication would have gone a long way. Overall, the lake itself was beautiful and parts of the experience were enjoyable, but the lack of communication, late start, wet boat, interruptions, and detour during our private charter made the experience fall short of expectations.

    Photos
    Austin Rental Boats
    Austin Rental Boats
    Austin Rental Boats

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    Lone Star Riverboat - Congress bridge

    Lone Star Riverboat

    4.5(473 reviews)
    0.4 miTown Lake

    This was one of my favorite experiences in Austin…read more Buying the tickets online for the sunset cruise was easy (the people who sat at our table were able to walk on and buy tickets, too). The sights from the river of the bridges, buildings, birds, & reflections off the water were wonderful. The worker who narrated the tour was personable and informative. And yes, it was BYOB, which was another enjoyable bonus. We got very lucky that night. It was a particularly warm December evening, and I'm from Seattle so I was sweating and not knowing if this was normal weather out in Austin, but I guess this may have had something to do with the luck we had that night. This was a normal sunset tour, NOT a bat tour. I've heard of the bats under Congress bridge being a thing to see in Austin in warmer parts of the year. We were not expecting to see them this time, and this is what the worker told us from the very beginning. However, after much of the tour is over and the boat is making its last approach towards Congress bridge... I hear another patron shout "Captain, look!" We all look towards the sky. A thick twisting wave of little bats is passing above us. Then another, and another. They keep, on, coming!!! It was amazing. The narrator said, "Well, I guess this just became a bat tour!" and he shares more information on the bats, points out observations as they fly, and just made the whole journey even more memorable. Even without the bats, the tour was awesome, but I love how easily they transitioned into bat tour mode. Thank you Lone Star Riverboat for an unforgettable time!

    Price was reasonable and this was a nice boat ride to do the bat tour…read more The bat tour was not what I expected. I thought I would see bats flying away from the bridge all together but what I ended up seeing was a few tiny bats flying inside the bridge (not very exciting). No fault of Lone Star but I would recommend having low expectations when going and plan to learn about bats. They sell drinks but no snacks.

    Photos
    Lone Star Riverboat - Downtown Austin

    Downtown Austin

    Lone Star Riverboat - Lone star river boat bat tour

    Lone star river boat bat tour

    Lone Star Riverboat - The bats can't see the red like similar to infrared lights not seen by human eyes

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    The bats can't see the red like similar to infrared lights not seen by human eyes

    Lake Austin Riverboats - Lower deck in the front of the commodores pup

    Lake Austin Riverboats

    4.5(36 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    If I could give ten stars I would. From the moment I submitted the request to the last step off the…read morePub a month later, every interaction and step in the process was top notch. From Brandon, to Captain John, to staff and crew - everyone was amazing to work with. The day of the event was perfect and seamless. I could not have asked for anything to have been different. Everyone had a great time and raved about the day. We ordered food through them and it was delicious and high quality. We had a professional chef as a party attendant on the boat and he gave high marks. Some with dietary restrictions were impressed with options and accommodations - all that of that was coordinated through Lake Austin Riverboats - everything was perfect. The crew was amazing and so welcoming to the guests and truly contributed to the experience. Book your event - you will not be disappointed.

    I was invited to an event at Quince, which included a boat ride with Austin Riverboat. The…read morerestaurant's staff was outstanding--welcoming, friendly, and highly professional. That level of service carried over to most of the staff on the boat, making the experience even more enjoyable. During the event, I was introduced to Paul, who was seated with a group of friends. He was introduced to me as the boat owner and came across as relaxed and not at all pushy--qualities I appreciate when considering a business, especially since part of my motivation for attending was to explore options for my birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Paul's friends left a negative impression. A couple of them outright refused to acknowledge me, turning away when a gentleman attempted to introduce me. Others made inappropriate jokes about my accent in a condescending and offensive manner. One individual even made vulgar comments, implying that Paul should get my phone number to discuss event planning details later, which was completely unprofessional and inappropriate. While the event itself was enjoyable, the boat ride interesting, the behavior of those around the boat owner and the fact that the boat owner never replied to my text message trying to discuss my event, was disappointing and detracted from my overall experience. This experience left me with a negative impression of the boat's management, and I strongly feel that they are not welcoming to immigrants. The group consisted of older white men whose behavior was filled with prejudice and hostility. And for that reason I felt compelled to post a review discouraging people like me- and those against this type of behavior - to stay away and make better choices. We can use our money to invest in a much better experience elsewhere I left the boat traumatized and truly disgusted by those old men behaviors. Do better!

    Photos
    Lake Austin Riverboats - Upper deck of the commodores pup

    Upper deck of the commodores pup

    Lake Austin Riverboats - Upper deck of the commodores pup

    Upper deck of the commodores pup

    Lake Austin Riverboats

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    Austin Rowing Club

    Austin Rowing Club

    4.5(276 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Buyer beware. Booked this because it said "good weather…read morerequired." It was raining steadily and they still ran the tour. When I asked about it, they said they only cancel for lightning... which is not what the listing says. That's misleading, plain and simple. Even worse, they wouldn't work with us at all after the fact. No flexibility, no effort to make it right. Plenty of other kayak options in Austin... I'd go with one that's actually upfront about their policies.

    Idk what the fuck the deal with Austin Rowing Club is, but are all Austin people assholes?…read more I arrived with my dog, knowing their sign literally says they are dog friendly. My friend even did her due diligence by calling ahead. When we arrived, the desk people were so nice. In fact Lauren, who we had a lovely conversation with, assisted us. Since I had my dog with me and his life vest on, we weren't sure if we needed a single or a double. I paid $25 for a double per the suggestion of the desk people. Get to the dock, one girl helps my friend out in the single. Now me? You best believe I was sober enough to not let someone speak to me the way it went down. Scene or no scene, people around or not. As soon one of the staff members assists a customer with a double, I walk over and get asked if I need a paddle board. I said "no, I'm getting a double". All of a sudden, what I thought was going be a smooth assistance on the kayak, I get confusion from the staff member, which leads to an argument on the dock. Apparently a double kayak for a single person and a dog would be soooo difficult. (It's manageable. I better be fucking JACKED for the amount of paddling I had to do) If I'm put in a single, then I'm tight squeezing it with my dog and paddling. At the time, it was just me on the dock with my dog and the girl. She starts giving me an attitude and has a tantrum. That's when I realize something ain't right. I told her to turn around, asked for her name. I had to call out her problem with me because ain't nobody, young or old should be this rude. She starts getting heated and yells at me. So I said, "you know what, what's your name? I need to speak to someone." Lo and behold her name is Rachel. "If you're looking for the manager, you're talking to her" - Rachel And I said "ok, then who's you're manager" If Rachel is the so-called the manager, all she had to do was give me her expertise. Don't get promoted to manager if you can't even be kind enough to tell me that I need an alternative. I asked if it would be better to be in a single than a double and get the difference. She said, "WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH."' A $5 difference doesn't even cover a fucking latte, so please be kind and just suggest what best suits me and my dog. She keeps calling me "ma'am", and so I just politely tell her, "you can call me Nancy. I'm not that much older than you." And she starts yelling about how she was born and raise in Austin and was taught to say "ma'am or sir". Well Rachel, your parents taught you to say "ma'am or sir", but they didn't teach you kindness. I talked to my friend about it and we weren't sure if that was some type of racist comment, but hold up. Girl, I'm born and raised in Texas too. But I can also read the room and know that how to address people. I'm guessing she don't know Houston. From the corner of my eye, I see Lauren walking on the dock and I yell "HEY. PLSSSSS Help me" And thank god Lauren was there to witness Rachel being an ASSHOLE. So you know what? I got all day and I'll wait for a supervisor to talk about Rachel any day. Cause how is Rachel a manager and yelling at me with a tantrum. She's lucky other patrons didn't take out their phone to record, because in this day and age, she would've gotten cancelled. I met Aubrea, the manager and gave her the whole spiel. Yes, I can buy my own equipment, but I'm not going to use it all the time since I don't live here. Supporting local clubs helps significantly. While everything did get settled (full refund of $25), everyone BUT Rachel was kind to me, Austin continues to disappoint me with snobby people that I've encountered.

    Photos
    Austin Rowing Club
    Austin Rowing Club
    Austin Rowing Club

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    Retro Boat Rentals ATX - boating - Updated May 2026

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