Planning a party, company meeting, event, wedding, or family reunion in Fort Worth, Texas?

Things you need to know before you go!

First figure out how many guests you plan on inviting as this will determine how big a boat you need. Book the boat you want as far in advance as you can, especially if on a holiday. Decide on a budget, plan for food, drinks, ice, music, etc., and choose a theme for the party. For transportation, if hiring a bus or meeting at the boat, give accurate directions, parking information and have designated drivers if needed.

Please get the proper boat for the occasion as too many people are hiring the wrong boat trying to save a few dollars or expect it to be something it is not. Be realistic...if a 40' party barge only has a single 60-Hp or 90-Hp engine and square blocks for floatation, don't be surprised or get mad that it is slow (even when empty), it is a floating dock and not designed to go anywhere fast. If a boat is maxed out or overloaded with more people OR MORE WEIGHT than recommended, this is dangerously unsafe, uncomfortable and makes for a bad experience. Don't Be The Pain In The Boat! Most companies are trying to make an honest living with a large investment and liability. Being drunk and disorderly, trashing the equipment out or not knowing Boating Laws ruins it for everyone. Chartered boats will discontinue rental for unruly behavior and you lose your money.

Large Party Boats come in different sizes and styles in the Dallas, Fort Worth, DFW, Texas Area: Motor Boats, Sail Boats and Barges, rated for 20, 50 or 100+ passengers. Hulls are single hull (mono-hull) or multi-hulls (Catamarans). Catamarans are the most stable with tri-hulls (three hulls) the best. Barges in this area use square dock flotation to float the craft, making it very slow, causing it to be restricted to one area, or spending all your time just getting somewhere. Individuals or businesses with a 30' boat or larger for hire with a driver have legal requirements--min. $300,000 in liability insurance, boat must be inspected every year by TWPD, a COMMERCIAL PARTY BOAT OPERATOR'S LICENSE or Captain License by one of the crew, all crew must have the boater's safety certificate, 1 crewman per 25 passengers, life vests for all passengers and crew plus safety equipment.

Choosing Between Party Boat or a Party Barge?

Party Boats are Safe, Catamarans being the safest and most stable and can go out on windy days, more upscale, classy, have more amenities and can Cruise around the lake more quickly with Single or Twin Engines, Sail or a combination of Sail w/engine. Clean toilets, nice flooring & built-in seats with party lights for night-time cruising. Dallas has an average of 11 miles per hour of wind each day, making motor or sail catamarans the best choice, safest and least likely to cancel your trip. Do you want to look good, cruise around the lake in a safe and stable boat or maybe you want to cruise to the party cove to swim and not spend all you time getting there, then this is the boat for you.

Party Barges, these are basically homemade, a very slow-moving floating dock and in this area a single 60 or 90Hp engine--very basic and not as impressive but it floats, Be realistic if a 40' party barge only has a single 60 or 90Hp engine, square blocks for floatation and 30 - 50 people onboard don't be surprised or get mad that it is slow, it is a floating dock and not designed to go anywhere. these barges are usually found a short distance from their dock or a lot of time is spent just getting somewhere. Seating is on plastic chairs that can break or tip over. Water can lap over the floatation, getting people wet. Some have a double decks and allow people to jump off the top, think about it with all the trees in the lake and you cannot see below the surface? How deep is the water? Don't care all you want to do is go a short distance off shore and swim, rough house and do not expect to cruise around or need anything fancy, this will work.

The very large house boats/barge are flat bottom boats or a barge and they are restricted, these barges cannot go out on windy days(15+mph), they are very hard to control, often cancelling your trip.

There is a boat for everyone or every event, the choice is yours:

Don't care all you want to do is go a short distance off shore and swim, rough house and do not expect to cruise around or need anything fancy or do you want to look good, nice, safe, clean and cruise around.

Either Way Enjoy and Be Safe on Our Lakes.

Know the company before you go:

Does the marina know they are doing business? Call the marina office.

Do they have commercial Insurance, license, current inspection, pays sales tax?

While some businesses are trying to make a living, obeying laws and paying commissions, some are just making slip rental payments or beer money. Texas Game Wardens patrol the lake and give fines for infractions and you may lose your rental time if the people or craft do not have all required license and equipment. 

 Party Boat Charters | Party Barge Rentals | Yachts

JT's Boat Rentals - Lake Lewisville

Big D Cats Maxi Catamaran Chamonix II - Lake Lewisville

Chamonix II is a 2004 70-foot Gold Coast Catamaran with 2,380 square feet of party space. U.S. Coast Guard certified for 105 passengers. Chamonix II offers a safe, spacious environment for guests of all ages to experience the joy of catamaran sailing.  At 70 x 32 ft., Chamonix II is the largest sailing Catamaran in the State of Texas!

Pontoon Boats, Jet Skis, Ski Boats, Kayaks, Sailing, Parasail Rides,

Pontoon boats come in many sizes and are rated for a specific number of people with so much weight. Some rental companies rent you the boat with you as driver and some provide their own driver. Some rental companies furnish gas at no additional charge and some don't. Most recreational pontoon boats have round pontoons and are not recommended for large groups or commercial use. Commercial grade pontoon boats will have a high weight capacity plate, this will give your group a smoother and safer ride. Most recreational pontoon boats are rated for 12 or less people with 1800 lbs MAX. USCG-regulated average weight is now 185 lbs. per person. Example: if a boat is rated for 19 persons or 2800 lbs., you would all have to average under 148 lbs. and that does NOT includes ice chest, food, gear, etc. or if there are 12 people at an average of 200 lbs. or 2400 lbs., now add the ice chest (s), food, gear and the driver, so how much does everyone and everything weigh? That 19-person boat just turned into a 12-passenger boat. Now compare a pontoon boat with a weight capacity plate of at least 4000 lbs. or more! Experienced boat drivers know their weight capacity as wind and waves play a large role in the safety, ride and handling of the boat. Remember If the boat is maxed out or overloaded with more people OR MORE WEIGHT than recommended, this is dangerously unsafe, uncomfortable and makes for a bad experience. Please get the proper boat for your guests as too many are hiring the wrong boat to save a few dollars.

For weight of your food and drinks, think about this:

16 oz. = 1 lb. or 1 case of 12 oz. cans = almost 20 lbs., 4 cases of drinks with ice and food weigh about 100 lbs. There are also different engine sizes, different horsepower. Remember that loaded weight and engine size/hp has everything to do with boat speed.

AquaTime Boat Rentals at Eagle Mountain Lake

Recreational Pontoon Boats, Jet Skis, Ski Boats

Cowtown Jet Ski Rentals - Eagle Mountain Lake, Fort Worth, Texas

Boat Clubs

Arlington Paddle and Outdoor Rentals - Arlington -

Paddle Bound River Outfitters - North Richland Hills - Canoes & Kayaks