Should you rent a boat with a captain or without? Book a boat rental with a captain if no one in your group holds a Pennsylvania Boating Safety Education Certificate, if the host wants to relax instead of drive, or if you would rather not learn the rivers on a busy day. Drive yourself if someone in your group is qualified, comfortable at the helm and happy to stay sober and focused for the whole trip.
Both choices make for a great day on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. The right one depends on who is coming, what kind of day you want and who is ready to take the wheel. Every pontoon boat rental in Pittsburgh with us can be driven by a qualified renter, and a captain is available on request. Here is how to decide.
A captain turns the day into pure time off for everyone on board. Nobody has to watch the current, plan the route back or worry about docking at the end.
If any of these sound like your group, ask about a captain when you book.
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Pennsylvania does not issue a boating license. What it requires is a Boating Safety Education Certificate for anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 who operates a boat with more than 25 horsepower. Every pontoon in our fleet is above that line, from the 50 horsepower Bennington S and Sweet Water Godfrey to the 170 horsepower Sea-Doo Switch.
A few more rules apply on rental day:
If the person you planned on as your driver does not have a certificate yet, you have two options: finish an approved course before your trip, or ask about a captain when you book. Our guide on what you need to rent a boat in PA covers the full checklist.
Plenty of groups love taking the wheel. Driving is part of the fun, and pontoons are steady, roomy boats that suit a relaxed cruise.
New at the helm but qualified? A weekday morning gives you calm water and room to get comfortable before the busier afternoon traffic.
This is the factor that settles the question for many groups. Pennsylvania law makes it illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and our rental agreement says the same. The penalties are real, and so is the risk. Alcohol slows reaction time and dulls judgment, and the sun and motion of a boat make the effect stronger.
If your group is self driving, choose your driver before you leave the dock and keep that person on water, soda and snacks all day. If no one wants that job, a captain is the easy answer.
The Fish and Boat Commission regulations recap lists the operating rules every driver should know, from required equipment to who must wear a life jacket.
Our rentals leave from Vic's Boat Park in McKees Rocks, on the Ohio River just minutes from downtown. Before you decide to drive, it helps to know what the rivers ask of the person at the helm.
Towboats pushing barges work all three rivers. They are big, slow to stop and slow to turn. A good driver spots them early and gives them plenty of room.
These are working rivers with real current, and rain upstream can make it stronger. Wind and wakes from other boats add to the mix, especially around the Point on a summer weekend.
You will pass under several bridges and share the water near downtown with kayaks and other boats. At the end of the day, someone has to bring the pontoon back to the dock on time. Returns get a 5 minute grace period, and a per minute late charge applies after that. The renter also pays for any damage, including propellers, so a careful driver matters. An Accidental Damage Waiver is available as an add on.
None of this is hard for a careful, qualified driver on a calm day. It is simply more to think about than most guests expect.
When the trip is a party, the host usually ends up doing the most work. A captain lets the birthday girl, the bride to be or the reunion organizer actually join the fun instead of steering.
Keep capacity in mind. Every person on board counts toward the boat's limit, and that includes whoever is driving. Our pontoons carry 7 to 10 guests depending on the boat. For a group of 10, choose one of our 10 person boats, and for more than 10, book two pontoons and cruise together. Each boat needs its own qualified driver, or ask about a captain when you book.
With little ones on board, the driver's attention is split between the river and the kids. Pennsylvania requires children 12 and younger to wear a life jacket while underway on boats 20 feet or shorter, and our pontoons carry a life jacket for every person on board. Even so, someone needs to keep an eye on small passengers the whole time.
If you have two adults who are both comfortable on the water, one can drive while the other watches the kids. If you are the only adult who can drive, a captain frees you up to be a parent instead of a pilot.
The captain option is handled at booking. When you reach out, have these answers ready so we can help you choose:
You can book online or call (412) 773-0988 and ask about a captain for your date.
Still on the fence? Run through these questions with your group.
Yes. Our pontoons can be driven by any renter who signed the rental agreement and meets Pennsylvania's rules. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 needs a Boating Safety Education Certificate to operate a boat over 25 horsepower, and all of our pontoons are above that.
Pennsylvania does not issue a boating license. It requires a Boating Safety Education Certificate for operators born on or after January 1, 1982 on boats over 25 horsepower. You can earn one through an approved course, including online options listed by the Fish and Boat Commission.
Yes, a captain is available on request. Ask about a captain when you book, either online or by calling (412) 773-0988. Share your date, time, group size and boat so we can help you plan the day.
Yes. Every person on board counts toward the limit on the boat's capacity plate, including whoever is at the helm. Our pontoons carry 7 to 10 guests depending on the boat, so plan your headcount with that in mind.
Tipping a captain is common and is based on the length of the trip and the service you received. Our guide on how much to tip a boat captain walks through what to consider before your trip.
Know which way you want to go? Book your pontoon and ask about a captain when you book, or call (412) 773-0988.
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