Note that canceling your boat rental for any reason will result in forfeiture of rental deposit (50% of rental cost). Payment of the remaining 50% is due 30 days prior to your booking date. Cancellation within 30 days results in forfeiture of the entire rental cost. To cancel your booking, contact Blue Water Boat Rentals directly at 888-426-2864..

If lake boating conditions are unsafe, boaters are restricted to the river only or you may reschedule based on availability.. If weather is unfavorable (as determined by Bluewater Boat Rentals), renter may reschedule booking or a refund may be provided at Bluewater Boat Rentals discretion.

We require all persons that may drive the boat take a 15-minute training session prior to the rental. This training will cover how to operate the boat, and a checklist will be completed by your tour guide to ensure you know and understand the Coast Guard enforced laws that pertain to safety and operation of a vessel on the Great Lakes. We will also provide a map of the river and the Lake. We will review with you any known scratches, damage and gas levels prior to departure. We recommend that you arrive 30 minutes prior to your rental to allow for the training so it will not affect your rental times.

All our boats, except the dinghy boats, are allowed on Lake Michigan. We do restrict the dinghy boats to the river. For your safety we do generally restrict Lake Michigan access for all boats on days that the Lake has more than 2-foot waves according to local buoy reports.

We do not allow our boats to travel further than 3 miles from the St. Joseph light house on Lake Michigan without consent. Our boats are frequently checked, maintained, and repaired prior to all rentals, but for your safety and our operational resources we must have a restriction. In the case of an emergency or equipment failure, we do not have the equipment or man-power to handle issues that arise more than 3 miles from our facilities.

We DO NOT guarantee a canopy top or covering for shade on ANY vessel.

We are located at Anchors Way Marina, next to the Bicentennial Bridge. Our Address is 143 Anchors Way St. Joseph MI, 49085. Our phone number is 1(888)4-BOATMi (1-888-426-2864). The Marina is located on the St. Joe River. You will begin at the docks at the Marina and travel approximately 10 minutes through the river’s “no wake zone”, under the Bicentennial Bridge, past the Train viaduct, and will pass by the South side Lighthouse out to Lake Michigan.Check our Location page for details.

We do not charge a security deposit but have the right to charge your credit card for damage or other rental issues. A government-issued photo ID and a valid credit card on account in case of damages, or theft is required. We accept all major credit cards, and cash for payments. We do accept checks that are mailed and cleared 10 days prior to rental. We also require a working cell phone on the boat that is registered and verified with us prior to departure.

Yes, Reservations are required to ensure that the boats are properly cleaned and ready for rent. We do accept rentals the day of, but we do require a full payment to secure rental and 1-hour minimum. If you book online and do not receive the rental agreement to your registered email, please call.

Fuel is included for a one hour river, cruise rental, and all day dinghy boat rentals. All boat rentals will begin with a recorded amount (generally a full tank). Fuel is charged the same day and is a flat rate for the duration of your rental. Guests may have to fill gas during full day rentals depending on the boat and how it is used. A tow-in fee plus lost wages fee will be assessed if we need to retrieve a boat due to negligence of the boating party.

Sales tax is added to all rentals.

The gas dock is located at Anchors Way Marina. There will be dock employees that will assist you into the dock and will pump the gas for you. The docks accept cash, or major credit cards/debit cards. The process usually takes 10 minutes. On rentals shorter than a full day we do add on 15 minutes to ending time in order to offset the delay.

We’re located in a busy marina that has paid members. We have parking available in designated areas that will be coordinated prior to arrival. Parking is free but may be limited on busy weekends.

We recommend to car pool as best as possible, the groups of 15 should try to coordinate parking to the best of their ability. We also advise having ONE spokesperson, to avoid any miscommunications.

No, Blue Water Boat Rentals rents space at Anchors Way Marina and does not have its own building or facilities.

It will help you and our staff to discuss your group’s plan prior to reserving and review our boat selection. We will not allow rentals that exceed weight limits as it poses a safety hazard. Having a head count and a spokesperson is always helpful. We also do not recommend the person limit to be maximized as the seating can become limited and could possibly hamper your experience. We will try to work with large groups to rent multiple boats at a discount to maximize the safety and enjoyment during your rental. Please be aware that while we have a fleet of boats, weekends and holidays are peak times and demand can be high.

We require you to be 25 years old with a valid credit card to secure the reservation and 25 years old with a valid driver’s licensed to be permitted to drive the boat. Adults who wish to rent motorized boats for their children between 21 and 25 will assume all liability for damage and must leave their ID and credit card as a security deposit and complete the rental agreement. We do reserve the right to refuse service without refund if the renters appear to be intoxicated or unsafe to operate our equipment.

No, life jackets are provided and fit for all members of the renting party at no charge. If you would like to bring your own life jackets that is acceptable, provided they are Coast Guard approved. For all boat rentals, children 12 and under must always wear a life preserver, while adults need only to have a preserver on board with them. We cannot guarantee the comfort of jackets for all infants as we have standard infant jackets. All infants are required by Coast Guard to wear the jackets for the entire rental. Failure to follow this law will result in a ticket if stopped by local patrol.

Yes, even the infants/toddlers. To ensure safety and comfort for all size groups we must abide by the Coast Guard approved size limits. Also, there is only a certain number of seating and walking space available on each vessel. Please see our price sheet for details. Our boats have a strict maximum occupancy regardless of age/size, as your safety is our number one priority.

As all children must always wear a Coast Guard approved life preserver, we are not permitted to allow infants aboard our boats if they do not safely fit a CG approved life preserver. We reserve the right to refuse to allow an infant aboard our boats for safety reasons, so we recommend you call ahead with any questions, or prepare to have an adult on shore to stay with the infant. Please note that we cannot refund an unused portion of the rental because a child was sea sick or crying the whole time.

Dogs can be allowed on some of our vessels but must be given advanced permission as we have the right to refuse a rental due to pets. Also, there may be an additional cleaning fee/deposit added due to pets.

Yes, swimming in designated areas on Lake Michigan is part of the fun of boating. Please stay mindful of the propeller. Swimming is permitted in the St. Joe River, however is not recommended and should only be done with caution and appropriate identification as boats and Jetskis at high speed frequently operate on the river.  All our boats (except Dinghy boats) do have an anchor.

Yes, however please be aware you must follow all MI fishing regulations including licensing. See the local DNR for more information. We do not sell fishing licenses, bait or poles on site, so please plan accordingly. We will charge an additional cleaning fee and for damage due to hooks in the vinyl seats.

Alcohol is allowed on the boat, but you must follow all Michigan laws. There must be a sober driver that meets our age requirements as the driver can receive a DUI while operating under the influence. You will be liable for all members in your party. We reserve the right to refuse rentals for visibly intoxicated patrons.

Tubes are not included but are available for rentals with an additional fee. We do recommend that you pre-book the tube prior to arrival as we have a limited supply and need prep time to clean and prepare the required equipment. You may bring your own tube and ropes if you prefer. In both cases the renter agrees to be liability for any damage to our boat(s) or equipment during rental or any injury that may result from the rented tubes. Tubing does require ropes that float on top of the water, but an inexperienced driver may run over the ropes or accidentally allow the rope to be sucked into the propeller. Damage to props/engines from ropes can cost over a $1000. All renters are liable and responsible for all damages and expenses, including expenses from the boat being unavailable for future rentals.

We will give you a return time when you begin your rental; it is your responsibility to have a way to keep track of the time while on the water. A watch or waterproof bag for your phone will be helpful.