What can you do on a boat rental in Pittsburgh? Cruise all three rivers, see the skyline and the stadiums from the water, fish, bring your dog and paddle a kayak. What you can't do is ignore a short list of Pittsburgh boating rules: the weekend slow, no wake zone around the Point, the Coast Guard's no anchoring area downtown, and Pennsylvania's rules for drivers and life jackets.
None of it is complicated, and knowing it ahead of time makes for a relaxed day. Here is what to expect on a pontoon boat rental in Pittsburgh, from the Allegheny and the Monongahela down to the Ohio, plus the local rules that catch visitors by surprise.
Our dock at Vic's Boat Park in McKees Rocks sits on the Ohio River, minutes from downtown. From there, a 4 hour or 8 hour rental opens up a lot of river.
Rentals run between 9 AM and 9 PM, so a sunset cruise is on the table too.
Before anyone takes the wheel, check the driver rules. Pennsylvania requires a Boating Safety Education Certificate for anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 who drives a boat with a motor over 25 horsepower. Every pontoon in our fleet is over that line, so plan your drivers before you arrive.
Our guide on what you need to rent a boat in PA walks through the certificate in detail.
The busiest water in the city is also the slowest. Under Pennsylvania's Allegheny County boating rules, boats must keep to slow, no wake speed between the Fort Pitt Bridge on the Monongahela, the Veterans Bridge on the Allegheny and the West End Bridge on the Ohio.
Slow, no wake means idle speed with almost no wake behind you. On a busy summer weekend, it also makes the downtown stretch the best place to slow down and take in the view.
This rule surprises a lot of visitors. The Coast Guard's Pittsburgh Rivers Regulated Navigation Area covers the water between the Ninth Street Bridge on the Allegheny, the Fort Pitt Bridge on the Monongahela and the West End Bridge on the Ohio.
Inside that area, no boat may anchor, stop, moor, loiter or drift more than 100 feet from the riverbank. You also may not stop anywhere that blocks a launch ramp, marina or fleeting area. In plain terms: you can cruise through the Point area, but if you want to stop and float, do it close to the bank and out of everyone's way, or head outside the zone.
Some stretches of the riverwalk prohibit tying up, and others have posted time limits. Read the signs before you tie off, and never leave the boat unattended.
Pittsburgh's rivers are working rivers. Towboats push long strings of barges through the city, and they cannot stop or turn quickly. Under the Coast Guard navigation rules, a small boat must not impede a vessel that can only travel in the channel.
For the basics of channel markers, read our guide to the 3 R rule in boating.
Every pontoon we rent carries a Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person aboard. The Fish and Boat Commission sets a few rules every renter should know.
Like many older cities, Pittsburgh has combined sewers that can overflow into the rivers after heavy rain. ALCOSAN's sewer overflow advisories run from April 1 through October 31, and orange flags go up at points along the rivers when overflows happen.
The advisories do not ban boating. They ask people to limit contact with the water while they are in effect. Check the advisory before your trip, especially after a storm, and ask about swimming when you book.
Dogs are welcome on our pontoons. A dog life jacket is a smart idea on the river, and your pup counts toward the boat's weight limit, so mention them when you book.
Planning to bring your pup? Read our guide to pet friendly boating in Pittsburgh.
We make the weather call the morning of your rental. If we cancel for weather or river conditions, you can reschedule or get a full refund. You can also reschedule on your own up to 72 hours before your launch time.
On big event days, such as fireworks shows and stadium concerts, expect heavy boat traffic around the Point. Temporary river restrictions are possible, so check local news before you go and follow any posted instructions on the water.
Return on time, too. Rentals run back to back, and there is a 5 minute grace period before late charges begin.
The sewer overflow advisories do not ban river recreation, but water quality changes with the weather. After heavy rain, combined sewers can overflow into the rivers, and ALCOSAN posts advisories and raises orange flags asking people to limit contact with the water. Check the advisory before your trip and ask about swimming when you book.
Only close to shore. The Coast Guard's regulated navigation area between the Ninth Street, Fort Pitt and West End bridges bars boats from anchoring, stopping or drifting more than 100 feet from the riverbank. You also cannot block launch ramps, marinas or fleeting areas. Outside that zone, normal Pennsylvania rules apply.
From May 1 to November 1, on weekends from 3 PM Friday until midnight Sunday, plus from 3 PM the day before Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day until midnight of the holiday. It covers the water between the Fort Pitt, Veterans and West End bridges.
Yes, dogs are welcome on our pontoons. Your dog counts toward the boat's weight limit, so mention your pup when you book. A dog life jacket is a good idea, and bring water and a towel for a long day on the river.
If you were born on or after January 1, 1982, you need a Pennsylvania Boating Safety Education Certificate to drive a boat over 25 horsepower, and all of our pontoons are over that line. Passengers need nothing. If no one in your group qualifies, ask about a captain when you book.
Know the rules and ready to go? Book your pontoon or kayak rental and spend the day on Pittsburgh's three rivers.
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