Stillwater Boat Rentals > FAQ

Do I have to have any special license to rent a boat?

You need to have a valid picture drivers license and be 21 years of age or older to rent a boat at Stillwater Boat Rentals. Rentals must also be secured on a Visa or MasterCard. Both the valid picture drivers license and credit card must be present for your rental. If either of these two items are not present, we cannot send the rental out or make any amends to the credit card charge. This is done for identity theft protection.

What are Minnesota's Boating Rules?

Please visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/boating for information regarding the state boating laws.

What hours can I rent a boat?

Boats can be reserved for four hour (half day) or eight hour (full day) blocks. To find out available times, please call the Stillwater Boat Rentals office at (651) 439-0350.

Do I need to bring my own life jacket?

Stillwater Boat Rentals supplies each renter with a Personal Floatation Device (PFD). We have PFDs for adults and for youth. We do have a limited quantity of PFDs for infant and youth sizes so please check on availability. State law requires all children under the age of 10 to wear PFDs at all times while boating. Renters may bring their own Coast Guard approved PFDs if they so desire.

What if I decide to cancel my reservation, do I receive a refund?

If you cancel 30 days prior to reservation you will receive a full refund or reschedule. If you cancel your reservation 8-29 days prior you can reschedule in 30 days within the original rental date. If you cancel 0-7 days prior, there is no reschedule of rental or refund.

What happens if there is bad weather?

At the discretion of Stillwater Boat Rental management, if inclement weather prevails, you will have 30 days to rebook and use your rental. If the rain out happens at the end of the season, you may carry over the reservation until spring of following year. These have to be booked and used by June 15 of the year following the original rental date.

What are the sights to see along the St. Croix River?

The St Croix Valley area is bustling with activities all year long. To learn more about local events, historical sights, shopping, restaurants and visitor information click on the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce website at www.ilovestillwater.com or St. Croix Valley Information site for Minnesota - Wisconsin at www.saintcroixriver.com. For information on area parks and camping sites along the St. Croix National Scenic River way visit their website at www.nps.gov/sacn/.

How far can I travel with my rental boat?

Stillwater Boat Rentals are limited to the St. Croix River, entrance into the Mississippi River at Prescott or any of the tributaries on the St. Croix River is strictly prohibited. Boats may not be loaded on a trailer and taken off the St. Croix River. You can boat approximately five miles north of the Stillwater Gas Dock to the high bridge, at which point the DNR stops all boats to control the spread of Zebra muscles. You can boat south along the St. Croix River all the way to Prescott. This is an approximately 50 mile round trip.

Are there barbeque grills on the boats?

You may bring your own barbeque grill on the boat. We allow gas only grills for safety reasons (no charcoal grills). Grilling should not be done while underway and should be done off the boat on a shore or island.

Do you supply the drivers/captains to drive the boat?

Stillwater Boat Rentals do not supply drivers/captains for the rental boats; all of the boats are renter driven boats. If you are not comfortable driving a boat you may bring along a qualified driver/captain along with your party to do the driving for you.

What happens if the boat breaks down or we have trouble?

Should the boat happen to develop mechanical difficulties or other problems regarding the operation of the boat, call the Stillwater Gas Dock number, 651-439-9000 extension 6 for assistance or a tow.

Can we swim in the St. Croix River?

Yes you can swim in the St. Croix River. It is advisable to wear your PFD when you are swimming as the current can be rather swift in the center or middle sections of the river. There are many shores and islands north and south of the Stillwater Gas Dock, with excellent sandy beaches for your swimming enjoyment.

What if I am in a wheelchair?

Wheelchair owners must be able to ambulate onto our boats. If you prefer, we can store your wheelchair in our ship store during your boat reservation.

Can I bring my pet on board?

Pets are not allowed on rental boats, with the exception of certified service dogs. Proof of certification is required.

Do you have food, drinks or supplies at the ship store on the gas dock?

Our ship store has a great selection of snacks, refreshments, ice cream treats and souvenir clothing and hats for sale at the dock, as well as assorted sundries. Please feel free to call the Rental telephone for more details at 651-439-0350.

Can I keep the boat overnight?

At this time we no longer allow the rental boats to be out overnight.

Do you rent canoes, kayaks, runabouts, powerboats, or cruisers?

No we do not, all of our rental boats are motorized aluminum pontoons. If you wish to make use of runabouts, powerboats, and cruisers, please see the information on our Boat Club.

What do the buoys mean in the water?

The buoys on in the river have a very important and specific meaning. A copy of the most current Minnesota boating guide, supplied by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is available at the gas dock, free of charge. These booklets contain a summary of the laws and rules regarding travel on the waterways of Minnesota. You can view a brief summary of the buoys here.

Is there anywhere to camp on the river?

Yes there are a number of islands both north and south of the gas dock that boast sandy beaches and shady trees for an excellent camping-boating experience on the St. Croix River.

Do the boats have a stereo/radio?

Yes, our Palm Beach pontoons have a radio and CD player on board if you wish to enjoy tunes during your rental trip.

Do the boats have bathrooms on them?

All of our Deluxe SE model pontoons have portable toilets and changing stations on board. The Super LX models do not have these features.

Do you sell gift certificates for the rentals?

Yes we do, contact the rental number at (651) 439-0350 or e-mail us at info@stillwatermarineservices.com for more information on how to purchase a gift certificate.

Can I hold a boat with a credit card and then pay cash for the boat when I come to pick it up?

No. We take only Visa or MasterCard for payment of a rental boat, and we do not exchange for cash or divide the rental among numerous credit cards at any time.

I lost my driver license and have only the paper renewal, can I still rent?

You must possess a valid picture driver license, if you do not have one for whatever reason, you can ask someone to come along on your rental day who has a permanent driver license with a picture on it. That person has to have the credit card to pay for the boat. We compare names to faces and everything must match for your ID security.

Where is Stillwater Boat Rentals located?

The Boat Club is located at the Stillwater Gas Dock at 422 East Mulberry Street in Downtown Stillwater - Phone (651) 439-9000. map

Coming East on Hwy 36, take the Manning Avenue exit on the left. Follow Manning to the stop sign and take a right onto 12. 12 will turn into Myrtle Street and bring you to Main Street (Highway 95). Turn left onto Main Street and continue North on Main to Mulberry Street. Take a right onto Mulberry and park behind P.D. Pappy's Bar and Grill. The Stillwater Gas Dock is the building on the water adjacent to P.D. Pappy's Bar and Grill.

go through the 3 stoplights on Main Street (Highway 95) in downtown Stillwater. After the 3rd stoplight, go one more block further north to Mulberry Street. Take a right on Mulberry and go over the railroad tracks to the parking area behind P.D. Pappy's. The Stillwater Gas Dock is the building on the water adjacent to P.D. Pappy's Bar & Grill.

travel on Main Street (Highway 95) one (1) block past the Zephyr Dinner Train to Mulberry Street and take a left. Cross the railroad tracks and park behind P.D. Pappy's Bar & Grill. The Stillwater Gas Dock is the building on the water adjacent to P.D. Pappy's Bar and Grill.