Lake Winnipesaukee Boat Rentals and Cruises

Lake Winnipesaukee is best seen from the water. The shoreline is full of coves, the middle of the lake opens into wide water, and many of its islands can only be reached by boat. If you do not own a boat, you still have plenty of ways to get out there, from a pontoon with a captain to a jet ski or a full day in a rental you drive yourself. This guide covers the main Lake Winnipesaukee boat rental options and cruises, with businesses from our directory, plus practical advice for a first day on the big lake.

Know the lake before you go

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire. It is approximately 21 miles long and from 1 to 9 miles wide, covering 69 square miles, or 71 square miles when Paugus Bay is included, with a maximum depth of 180 feet. The center area of the lake is called The Broads. The lake contains at least 264 islands, and it is the third-largest lake in New England after Lake Champlain and Moosehead Lake.

Those numbers matter to a renter. The Broads can get choppy when the wind picks up, while sheltered bays and coves stay calmer. Islands, rocks and shallow areas mean navigation takes attention, which is why many rental outfits include GPS on their boats and offer instruction before you leave the dock.

The lake's main boating towns each have a different feel:

• Wolfeboro, on the eastern shore, is a resort town granted in 1759 and named for General James Wolfe.
• Weirs Beach in Laconia is named for its wide, sandy public beach, with a boulevard and boardwalk running along about a quarter mile of Lakeside Avenue.
• Meredith has its commercial village along the lake's shore.
• Gilford is home to marinas and boat yards along the lake shore.

Boat rentals delivered to your dock

Lake Winnipesaukee Boating (Wake Winni) offers premium boat rentals and private group outings. Its rental fleet includes boats from Nautique, Moomba, Harris and Godfrey, and you can choose a watersports boat or a pontoon. No captain is needed. The company delivers the boat to your dock on Lake Winnipesaukee, with GPS systems and Bluetooth stereos included, and it provides operational and safety education for every renter. Multi-day and weekly rentals are available.

Wake Winni also runs the "we drive" side of the lake. Its pontoon cruises offer sightseeing and swimming with a captain at the helm, and its private watersports charters include the boat, captain, fuel, instruction and equipment for waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing and tubing. No experience is required. It also runs pontoon outings for bachelor and bachelorette parties, with pick-up and drop-off anywhere on the lake.

Who this is for: families and groups staying in a lake house with a dock, and anyone who wants a captained cruise or a watersports lesson without owning a boat.

Jet ski rentals in Wolfeboro and Weirs Beach

Wolfeboro Jet Ski Rentals rents personal watercraft from two locations: Back Bay in Wolfeboro, at Central Avenue, and the Weirs Beach pier in Laconia. A boater's license is required, and the company notes that 14-day temporary licenses are available. It describes jet skis as high-performance boats, not toys, and all renters receive training on safe operation. It encourages renters to read its FAQ before arriving.

Tip: Sort out the license question before your trip, and ask the rental company exactly what it will need to see on the day. If you need a temporary license, allow time to study for and complete the test.

Marina rentals in Meredith and Gilford

Meredith Marina, operating as Meredith Bay Marina on Bayshore Drive, is a full-service marina in Meredith right on Lake Winnipesaukee. It sells new and used boats, offers rental boats, and has a service department with certified technicians. Its valet service is an alternative to a scarce lake slip: call ahead and your boat is waiting, fueled and ready. For visiting boaters, it has a pump-out facility and a gas dock.

Fay's Boat Yard in Gilford offers boat rentals during a season that runs from mid-May to mid-October, and it equips every rental boat with a GPS unit and a Bimini top for shade. The boat yard is on Varney Point Road, with a separate sales office on Lake Shore Road and a ship store nearby.

Who this is for: visitors who want to pick up a boat at a marina rather than have one delivered, and those who want a full-service operation behind their rental.

A boat club at The Weirs

Freedom Boat Club of the Lakes Region works differently from a rental. Members join the club, and the club buys and maintains the boats, handling maintenance, cleaning, repair, insurance and storage. Its Weirs Beach club is located at North Water Marine, a family-owned marina on the Weirs Channel with direct access to Paugus Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee. Members reserve boats online, and the club offers unlimited training with qualified captains for new boaters. Membership also gives reciprocal access to the club's other locations.

Who this is for: seasonal residents and frequent visitors who boat often enough that owning a boat feels like too much work, but renting every time adds up.

Choosing the right option

Safety tips for a day on Winnipesaukee

• Get the briefing. Listen to the safety and navigation instructions before you leave the dock, even if you have boated before. Winnipesaukee's rocks and shoals catch experienced boaters too.
• Use the GPS. Many rentals include it for good reason. Keep an eye on the chart, especially near islands.
• Watch the weather. Afternoon wind and storms can roll in quickly. The Broads become rough faster than sheltered water.
• Wear life jackets, and make sure there is one for every person aboard.
• Plan your fuel. Know where you will refuel. Meredith Bay Marina has a gas dock for visiting boaters.
• Respect the shoreline. Keep your wake down near docks, swimmers and other boats.
• Confirm details directly with each business before you book, including licensing requirements, seasons and policies.

Making a day of it

Boating pairs well with the lake's towns. Start in Wolfeboro for a morning jet ski run, or tie up at Weirs Beach to walk the boardwalk. Meredith's village on the water is a natural lunch stop. If you are staying in a lake house with a dock, a delivered rental means you can spend a full day exploring The Broads and the islands without driving anywhere.

FAQ

Do I need a license to rent a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee?

Requirements depend on the type of boat and operator. Wolfeboro Jet Ski Rentals requires a boater's license and notes that 14-day temporary licenses are available. Check with your rental company before you go.

Can I rent a boat with a captain?

Yes. Wake Winni offers captained pontoon cruises and watersports charters.

Can a rental boat be delivered to my dock?

Wake Winni delivers its rental boats to docks on Lake Winnipesaukee.

How big is Lake Winnipesaukee?

About 21 miles long and up to 9 miles wide, covering 69 square miles, with at least 264 islands.

Where can I rent a boat in Meredith or Gilford?

Meredith Bay Marina in Meredith and Fay's Boat Yard in Gilford both offer rental boats.

Sources

• Lake Winnipesaukee, Wikipedia (size, depth, islands, The Broads): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Winnipesaukee
• Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfeboro,_New_Hampshire
• Weirs Beach, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weirs_Beach
• Meredith, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith,_New_Hampshire
• Wake Winni official site: https://wakewinni.com
• Wolfeboro Jet Ski Rentals official site: https://www.wolfeborojetski.com/
• Meredith Bay Marina official site: https://www.meredithmarina.com
• Fay's Boat Yard official site: https://www.faysboatyard.com
• Freedom Boat Club, Weirs Beach: https://www.freedomboatclub.com/franchises/fbc-nh-lakes/nh-weirs-beach