Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions about boating with us. If there is anything that you don’t see here, feel free to email us at [email protected]



We don’t have sailboats for rental, but they are available to Season Pass holders! A season pass holder may attend our sailing clinics, or pass a basic checkout to show us that they know how to sail.


Water, sunblock, hat, sunglasses, and clothes that you don’t mind getting wet, etc.


Yes! As long as there is no thunder, lightning, heavy winds, rains, or other weather risks we will be open.


We try and open as soon as the weather gets warm. However, we wait until the water temperature gets above 60 degrees. This usually happens sometime in the middle of May in Massachusetts.


We want everyone to love boating as much as we do. We only ask that:

  • If you are age 15 and under, your parent or guardian signs the agreement form and you have an adult present on the water.
  • If you’re an adult with a group age 15 and under, each child must have an agreement form signed by their parent/guardian and have a supervising adult on the water with the group all the time.
  • If you’re age 16 or 17, you have to have an agreement form signed by your parent/guardian, but you can go onto the water on your own.


Yes, you have to reserve a boat. You can make a reservation at boatinginboston.com/reservations.


Absolutely! Wearing a life jacket when you use our equipment is one of those things we won’t budge on. But we’ll give you one that fits perfectly, and our team will help you however they can with putting it on, checking the zippers, and making sure your it’s safe and you’re snug as a bug!


If you are in a kayak, canoe, or pedal boat – absolutely! In fact, we encourage you to explore the islands of Hopkinton State Park and the shores and trails of Spot Pond. But if you’re in a sailboat, there is no landing for you. It can damage the hull, and we want to make sure you stay safe and the boat stays in good condition for the next person to enjoy!

Oh – and you can’t jump out or go swimming from any of the boats. It’s not because we don’t want you to have fun, but there are all sorts of other motorboats and underwater obstacles, and it’s just not safe. Check with the staff, there may be a designated swim area nearby!


Possibly, but you know what? It’s actually quite normal. The boats are very stable when you’re sitting in them, but when you stand up, you shouldn’t be surprised to find that capsizing is very likely!

But don’t worry. You will be wearing a life jacket, and if you really want to make sure capsizing is no problem, try our Kayak Orientation or Stand-up Paddleboard Orientation classes.


Of course! You can’t leave your best friend behind! We even have doggie life jackets to make sure your pal is as safe as you are. Unfortunately, they are the only pet life jackets we have, so dogs only.

Questions About Camps


Yes! All of our camp counselors are qualified with at least CPR and First Aid Certifications. Most counselors are Red Cross Lifeguard Certified as well, and any training from the American Canoe Association and U.S. Sailing is kept up to date. We make sure that we have a 1:7 ratio, with 1 lifeguard or instructor to every 7 campers.


We love to recognize the kids for a job well done and they love it, too! We offer Achievement Awards at the end of every camp week. These are based on the skills the kids learn during camp and are completely voluntary to participate in, but the kids love being able to show off their accomplishments! These awards also help us work out the skill levels before kids sign up for more advanced camps.

Sailing Achievement Awards:

  • Deck Hand
  • Skipper
  • Helmsman

Paddling Achievement Awards:

  • Paddling
  • Advanced Paddling
  • Paddler Rescue


Nope! You can book your weeks throughout the entire summer, as well as mixing and matching the programs. Feel free to sign up for both sailing and kayaking!


Just give us a call or drop us an email! We’d love to chat and provide you with any information you’d like. Our phone number is (617) 299-3392, and our email is [email protected]


Here you go: 10-000-7503.

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