Boat Dealers in Burlington, VT

Dealers in Burlington carry Beneteau, Bennington, Chaparral, Cobalt, Regal, Robalo and Sea Ray, both new and pre-owned depending on the dealer.

Late June through August is generally the best time to boat on Lake Champlain from Burlington, with July and August the busiest months at the city waterfront. Burlington’s marina season runs from May 15 to October 15.

At the King Street Ferry Dock, typical surface temperatures climb from the upper 30s in late April and the 40s in May to around 70°F during July and August, before cooling through fall. Ice season typically extends from December through April. For a good boating day, check the Lake Champlain forecast for wind, waves, weather and visibility before leaving Burlington Harbor.

Source: City of Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (burlingtonvt.gov)

From Burlington, you can boat from Burlington Harbor onto Lake Champlain, then choose the open main lake, Shelburne Bay or the La Platte River. The city operates the Community Boathouse and Perkins Pier marinas in the harbor, and Perkins Pier has a free kayak and canoe launch. Beyond the harbor, Lake Champlain offers wide open water where wind and waves can build quickly. Shelburne Bay is a large bay with a Vermont Fish & Wildlife access area; that same access also serves the La Platte River, giving small craft a river route instead of exposed lake cruising.

Source: City of Burlington (vtstateparks.com)

From Burlington, boaters make Lake Champlain day trips to Shelburne Bay, Valcour Island and Plattsburgh’s Dock Street waterfront. Shelburne Bay suits a scenic cruise along its interpretive water trail, including the Bay Park shoreline and LaPlatte River Marsh. Valcour Island offers beaches, picnic areas, a dock at Seton House, small boat access in several bays and trails near Bluff Point Lighthouse. Plattsburgh’s waterfront provides transient marina slips and moorings within walking distance of downtown restaurants, shops, parks and museums.

Source: Town of Shelburne (shelburnevt.org)

Yes. Vermont requires motorboat operators age 12 or older who were born after January 1, 1974, to complete approved boating safety education and carry the card; this includes personal watercraft. Anyone under 12 may not operate a motorboat over six horsepower, and no one under 16 may operate a personal watercraft. Rental customers are not listed as a blanket exemption, and official guidance does not describe a rental-only temporary certificate. Exemptions include U.S. Coast Guard licensed commercial operators and operation on private-property waters; substantially equivalent NASBLA-approved out-of-state cards are accepted. The Vermont Department of Public Safety administers the program through Vermont State Police.

Source: Vermont State Police Marine Unit (vsp.vermont.gov)

Know Vermont’s key life jacket, alcohol, registration, PWC, and speed rules. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says each vessel except sailboards must carry a wearable U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person; children under 12 must wear one while underway on an open deck. Operating at 0.08 percent blood alcohol or higher, or while impaired, is illegal. Motorized vessels on public waters need a Vermont registration certificate and validation stickers. PWC operators must be at least 16, everyone aboard must wear a secured approved life jacket, and PWCs may not operate from sunset to sunrise. Within 200 feet of shorelines, swimmers, docks, certain vessels, or anchorages, generally stay below 5 mph and create no wake.

Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (vtfishandwildlife.com)

In Vermont, a person must be at least 12 to operate a motorboat powered by more than six horsepower on public waters, and at least 16 to operate a personal watercraft. Under 23 V.S.A. § 3305b, anyone born after January 1, 1974 must hold a certificate of boating education to operate a motorboat on public waters; that requirement is tied to date of birth, not to age. These rules appear in 23 V.S.A. §§ 3305a and 3305b. A rental operator sets its own minimum age for renting, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Vermont State Police, vsp.vermont.gov, and Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)

Alongside the boat dealers on this page, Burlington has 6 boat rentals, 1 boat club and 3 marinas.