Get behind the wheel and captain your very own mini speedboat on a 1.5-hour Boston Harbor Mini Speedboats tour. Thrill seekers will flip for this on-the-water adventure. Learn about Boston landmarks from a whole new perspective when you take control of your boat for this ride of a lifetime.
Combining an informative tour with a thrilling water adventure, Boston Harbor Mini Speedboats is the ideal way for those who prefer to do rather than watch to see some of Boston's top sites. The short stops are in the water, on your boat with no on-site mulling around. This way you can get a glimpse at far more in an hour and a half than you could in days. If something really catches your eye, you can make time to fully explore later.
Aboard a Boston Harbor Mini Speedboats tour — Photo courtesy of Joe Polizzotti
Call in advance and reserve your spot on one of their daily tours, which depart from India Wharf right next to the New England Aquarium. Catch a tour every other hour, starting with a 10 a.m. departure and ending with the 6 p.m. excursion.
Believe it or not, a half hour is all you need to master captaining your own mini speedboat. Arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of your tour to sign all necessary documents and get a quick lesson on boat safety, as well as the operating basics. Drivers must be 18 and present a valid driver's license, but those under 18 are welcome to climb aboard and relax as passengers while a responsible adult takes the helm.
Boats seat two, allowing you to take this adventure by the side of someone you choose. No need to fight over the steering wheel, as halfway through the tour you'll be prompted to switch drivers giving both the chance to be in charge.
The tour starts off puttering through the harbor through the no-wake zone, where you'll be informed about sites by your guide via walkie talkie. The leisurely pace will allow you to stop right alongside some of Boston's attractions, where the on-the-water view is like no other.
Be prepared before taking the wheel of your aptly named speedboat — Photo courtesy of Joe Polizzotti
Learn about the Boston Tea Party, Boston Children's Museum, the iconic waterside calm shack, The Barking Crab and the continuously expanding Seaport District - which includes the Institute of Contemporary Art as well as Logan Airport - before heading toward more open water and picking up the pace.
Get ready to go fast! Once you exit the no-wake zone, you'll be prompted to hit high gear and push your boat to its limits, sending you and your passenger flying around the city to Castle Island and the JFK Library. This portion of the trip is not for the faint of heart, as the speed is fast enough that you'll feel every bump in the water.
Put your boat into fast mode, and you'll take off with the nose of your boat in the air and no vision of what's in front of you for a few moments until the boat settles and the nose returns to meet the water. Flying behind your guide and the other boats that are on your tour (up to four boats can depart on each tour), you'll enjoy the exhilarating freedom that comes from a fast-flying adventure.
A view of Boston from the water — Photo courtesy of Jessica Polizzotti
When the speedy ride comes to a close, you'll return with a slow and steady pace alongside the waterside communities of East Boston, Charlestown and the North End, where you'll be treated to information about the USS Constitution as well as the Nantucket. Then, you'l make your way back to the docks, concluding your time as a captain of a speedboat on Boston's Harbor.
