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Big Tex Boat Rentals

4.8 (74 reviews)
Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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Services - Big Tex Boat Rentals

Boat charters

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Recommended Reviews - Big Tex Boat Rentals

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28 days ago

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1 day ago

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1 day ago

Great time with Bre . What an awesome captain. We had so much fun. Great trip for older woman, not just for the young people.

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29 days ago

Cole was great! He kept everyone safe, and made sure everyone was enjoying themselves.

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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1 month ago

Great time amazing captain who made us feel welcomed. He kept the energy high and I truly enjoyed my trip.

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1 month ago

Had a wonderful time with Capt. Thomas! He was professional, fun, and made sure our group was well taken care of!

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8 months ago

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6 months ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

Great times celebrating! Tristen was an excellent, awesome boat captain, would highly recommend!

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Amazing trip. With an amazing crew! Friends with 9 crazy boys aboard a pontoon boat and everyone was super patient and made it fun for all!

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1 year ago

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

Captain Cole was great and and very helpful. we had an amazing time for my friend's bachelorette!

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Our party had an amazing time with Captain Cole! Can't wait to use Big Texas Boat Rentals in the future!!!

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1 year ago

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Corbin C.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Jake was the best captain!!! So kind and helpful. Was super fun and helped us have the best time ever!!

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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9 months ago

Great time on the lake for a bachelorette trip with Captain Thomas! Helpful, attentive, safe, and overly accommodating! Thanks again!

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9 months ago

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Corbin C.

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2 years ago

Colin was an amazing captain. It was a great and fun trip. Definitely would recommend and would do again if out here

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10 months ago

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Corbin C.

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1 year ago

unreal experience. dont rent a boat from anyone else. so much fun . we were able to do everytjign we wanted to do

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Thomas was such a great captain! He made the ride fun and safe!! Would book again!! The booking part was really easy and user friendly!

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

The boat captain was really amazing and chill! Definitely would be down for this again.

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Ask the Community - Big Tex Boat Rentals

Review Highlights - Big Tex Boat Rentals

We had the best time with Captain Cole on Friday, 10/10 experience and vibes all around--highly recommend if you're visiting!

Mentioned in 10 reviews

Read more highlights

Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals

Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals

(329 reviews)

We had such an amazing time on Lake Travis thanks to Willo and Float On. Everything about the…read moreexperience was extremely streamlined from booking to filling out waivers to navigating to the marina. Willo gave superb instructions on operating and piloting the boat including an overview of relevant customs and laws while out on the water. Our group had six adults and one 2-year old and they had plenty of water safety devices for all ages. On a side note, it was wonderful to see how genuinely excited Willo was about Lake Travis once again having a healthy water level after several dry years. In terms of our experience on the lake, we got excellent advice on where to travel based on our team's interests and after following his directions it felt like we had arrived on our own private lake. We probably only saw a handful of other boats during our 3-hour excursion and that was only in passing. The boat came with a Garmin GPS that made it really easy to retrace our steps. For those wondering, there was excellent cell phone service out on the lake and we were able to use our phone GPS, make calls, and stream music. The boat had some nice integrated speakers with Bluetooth connectivity and we were able to jam out to our own tunes. There was also a cool flotation device attached to the back of the boat called the Aqua Lily Pad which we unrolled after anchoring, we had multiple adults laying on it without sinking into the lake. Overall, we could not have asked for a better experience and we would highly recommend booking with Float On.

Loved our tour of Lake Austin with a drop off at Ski Shores for Happy Hour then a pick up an hour…read moreand a half later. Will definitely add this for our out of town visitors! Nice boats, fun and informative captains!

Austin Rental Boats - Captain Zach!

Austin Rental Boats

(141 reviews)

Zack is the best driver. Can't beat it. Highly recommend. Especially for the price, I highly…read morerecommend.

We booked this boat ride for a birthday, so it was meant to be a special experience. Overall, the…read morescenery was beautiful and the ride itself was enjoyable, but there were several issues that took away from what should have been a smooth private charter experience. The communication beforehand was not great. The driver texted me the night before around 7:45 PM, and when I replied immediately with concerns about the weather and rain, I didn't receive a response until after 10 PM. The email also stated that the driver would contact us 15-30 minutes before the reservation time, but that never happened. Our reservation was from 9:00-11:00 AM. When we arrived at 9:00, no one was there, so I had to text the driver myself. He responded saying he was getting the boat ready and putting gas in it. In my opinion, those things should have been done ahead of time so guests are properly greeted and the ride can begin on time. When we boarded, the seats and boat were still wet from the rain. Since it was chilly outside, sitting in wet seats for a two-hour ride left our clothes damp and uncomfortable. To give credit where it's due, the driver was friendly and enjoyable to talk to during parts of the ride. However, he also took phone calls during the charter, which felt distracting during what was supposed to be a private birthday outing. The biggest disappointment came on the ride back. The driver stopped to assist another boat that had already said help was on the way. He tied their boat to ours and pulled them in, which significantly took away from the private experience we had paid for. While helping others is kind, it felt inappropriate during a paid private charter, especially one booked for a birthday celebration. Additionally, the trip ran later than scheduled, and there was never any communication about the delay. Our reservation was clearly scheduled for 9-11 AM, and it shouldn't be assumed guests are okay with going over time simply because the ride started late. People may have plans afterward, and communication would have gone a long way. Overall, the lake itself was beautiful and parts of the experience were enjoyable, but the lack of communication, late start, wet boat, interruptions, and detour during our private charter made the experience fall short of expectations.

Retro Boat Rentals ATX

Retro Boat Rentals ATX

(53 reviews)

We were a group of 7 and we had the best time on a little boat using Retro Boat Rentals! We showed…read moreup almost 30 minutes before our reservation, and they were kind enough to let us on early! We had so much! We almost used up the whole 2 hours, and everyone got a chance to drive! The person who went over the safety guidelines and how to drive the boat at the beginning of our reservation was very nice!! She went over everything thoroughly and answered all our questions! We went on a Friday morning at 11:30am, and the river was very empty!! So, it was a great time! The person helping us at the end was also very nice and took a picture of our group! I really can't say enough good things! The two person boat looked so cute for a date! This is definitely worth the experience if your visiting Austin!!

Had an amazing experience at Retro Boat Rentals ATX where you can pick from a variety of vintage…read morefiberglass boats to rent and cruise around Lady Bird Lake. The boats have been restored to their original jet-age beauty (1958-1964), with mid-century retro cool colors, fins and chrome details. Retro also means the old motors have been retrofitted with the latest in eco-friendly technology. The zero emissions electric motors create an environmentally clean, quiet experience. Standard rental times are 90 minutes. They accept all major credit cards. The website is easy to use to book your boat by date. We chose the Solitaire's a 1973 Glastron GT-150 made in Austin, Texas! The 1973 film "Live and Let Die," James Bond pilots the same model boat and set a Guinness World Record by jumping a distance of 110 feet. These boats go no more than 4 mph to avoid creating wake. They provide a boundary map with some safety restrictions essentially you can take the boat between the South 1st bridge and close to Longhorn Dam. It was a fun and relaxing way to cruise the Lady Bird lake waterway. In 90 minutes, we made it from the dock to Longhorn Dam and back to the South 1st bridge with time to spare. It was easy to operate the boat and they give you detail instructions. Would love to have the experience again on another retro boat! Highly recommend!

Lone Star Riverboat - Congress bridge

Lone Star Riverboat

(473 reviews)

Town Lake

This was one of my favorite experiences in Austin…read more Buying the tickets online for the sunset cruise was easy (the people who sat at our table were able to walk on and buy tickets, too). The sights from the river of the bridges, buildings, birds, & reflections off the water were wonderful. The worker who narrated the tour was personable and informative. And yes, it was BYOB, which was another enjoyable bonus. We got very lucky that night. It was a particularly warm December evening, and I'm from Seattle so I was sweating and not knowing if this was normal weather out in Austin, but I guess this may have had something to do with the luck we had that night. This was a normal sunset tour, NOT a bat tour. I've heard of the bats under Congress bridge being a thing to see in Austin in warmer parts of the year. We were not expecting to see them this time, and this is what the worker told us from the very beginning. However, after much of the tour is over and the boat is making its last approach towards Congress bridge... I hear another patron shout "Captain, look!" We all look towards the sky. A thick twisting wave of little bats is passing above us. Then another, and another. They keep, on, coming!!! It was amazing. The narrator said, "Well, I guess this just became a bat tour!" and he shares more information on the bats, points out observations as they fly, and just made the whole journey even more memorable. Even without the bats, the tour was awesome, but I love how easily they transitioned into bat tour mode. Thank you Lone Star Riverboat for an unforgettable time!

Price was reasonable and this was a nice boat ride to do the bat tour…read more The bat tour was not what I expected. I thought I would see bats flying away from the bridge all together but what I ended up seeing was a few tiny bats flying inside the bridge (not very exciting). No fault of Lone Star but I would recommend having low expectations when going and plan to learn about bats. They sell drinks but no snacks.

Lake Austin Riverboats - Lower deck in the front of the commodores pup

Lake Austin Riverboats

(36 reviews)

If I could give ten stars I would. From the moment I submitted the request to the last step off the…read morePub a month later, every interaction and step in the process was top notch. From Brandon, to Captain John, to staff and crew - everyone was amazing to work with. The day of the event was perfect and seamless. I could not have asked for anything to have been different. Everyone had a great time and raved about the day. We ordered food through them and it was delicious and high quality. We had a professional chef as a party attendant on the boat and he gave high marks. Some with dietary restrictions were impressed with options and accommodations - all that of that was coordinated through Lake Austin Riverboats - everything was perfect. The crew was amazing and so welcoming to the guests and truly contributed to the experience. Book your event - you will not be disappointed.

I was invited to an event at Quince, which included a boat ride with Austin Riverboat. The…read morerestaurant's staff was outstanding--welcoming, friendly, and highly professional. That level of service carried over to most of the staff on the boat, making the experience even more enjoyable. During the event, I was introduced to Paul, who was seated with a group of friends. He was introduced to me as the boat owner and came across as relaxed and not at all pushy--qualities I appreciate when considering a business, especially since part of my motivation for attending was to explore options for my birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Paul's friends left a negative impression. A couple of them outright refused to acknowledge me, turning away when a gentleman attempted to introduce me. Others made inappropriate jokes about my accent in a condescending and offensive manner. One individual even made vulgar comments, implying that Paul should get my phone number to discuss event planning details later, which was completely unprofessional and inappropriate. While the event itself was enjoyable, the boat ride interesting, the behavior of those around the boat owner and the fact that the boat owner never replied to my text message trying to discuss my event, was disappointing and detracted from my overall experience. This experience left me with a negative impression of the boat's management, and I strongly feel that they are not welcoming to immigrants. The group consisted of older white men whose behavior was filled with prejudice and hostility. And for that reason I felt compelled to post a review discouraging people like me- and those against this type of behavior - to stay away and make better choices. We can use our money to invest in a much better experience elsewhere I left the boat traumatized and truly disgusted by those old men behaviors. Do better!

Austin Rowing Club

Austin Rowing Club

(276 reviews)

Buyer beware. Booked this because it said "good weather…read morerequired." It was raining steadily and they still ran the tour. When I asked about it, they said they only cancel for lightning... which is not what the listing says. That's misleading, plain and simple. Even worse, they wouldn't work with us at all after the fact. No flexibility, no effort to make it right. Plenty of other kayak options in Austin... I'd go with one that's actually upfront about their policies.

Idk what the fuck the deal with Austin Rowing Club is, but are all Austin people assholes?…read more I arrived with my dog, knowing their sign literally says they are dog friendly. My friend even did her due diligence by calling ahead. When we arrived, the desk people were so nice. In fact Lauren, who we had a lovely conversation with, assisted us. Since I had my dog with me and his life vest on, we weren't sure if we needed a single or a double. I paid $25 for a double per the suggestion of the desk people. Get to the dock, one girl helps my friend out in the single. Now me? You best believe I was sober enough to not let someone speak to me the way it went down. Scene or no scene, people around or not. As soon one of the staff members assists a customer with a double, I walk over and get asked if I need a paddle board. I said "no, I'm getting a double". All of a sudden, what I thought was going be a smooth assistance on the kayak, I get confusion from the staff member, which leads to an argument on the dock. Apparently a double kayak for a single person and a dog would be soooo difficult. (It's manageable. I better be fucking JACKED for the amount of paddling I had to do) If I'm put in a single, then I'm tight squeezing it with my dog and paddling. At the time, it was just me on the dock with my dog and the girl. She starts giving me an attitude and has a tantrum. That's when I realize something ain't right. I told her to turn around, asked for her name. I had to call out her problem with me because ain't nobody, young or old should be this rude. She starts getting heated and yells at me. So I said, "you know what, what's your name? I need to speak to someone." Lo and behold her name is Rachel. "If you're looking for the manager, you're talking to her" - Rachel And I said "ok, then who's you're manager" If Rachel is the so-called the manager, all she had to do was give me her expertise. Don't get promoted to manager if you can't even be kind enough to tell me that I need an alternative. I asked if it would be better to be in a single than a double and get the difference. She said, "WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH."' A $5 difference doesn't even cover a fucking latte, so please be kind and just suggest what best suits me and my dog. She keeps calling me "ma'am", and so I just politely tell her, "you can call me Nancy. I'm not that much older than you." And she starts yelling about how she was born and raise in Austin and was taught to say "ma'am or sir". Well Rachel, your parents taught you to say "ma'am or sir", but they didn't teach you kindness. I talked to my friend about it and we weren't sure if that was some type of racist comment, but hold up. Girl, I'm born and raised in Texas too. But I can also read the room and know that how to address people. I'm guessing she don't know Houston. From the corner of my eye, I see Lauren walking on the dock and I yell "HEY. PLSSSSS Help me" And thank god Lauren was there to witness Rachel being an ASSHOLE. So you know what? I got all day and I'll wait for a supervisor to talk about Rachel any day. Cause how is Rachel a manager and yelling at me with a tantrum. She's lucky other patrons didn't take out their phone to record, because in this day and age, she would've gotten cancelled. I met Aubrea, the manager and gave her the whole spiel. Yes, I can buy my own equipment, but I'm not going to use it all the time since I don't live here. Supporting local clubs helps significantly. While everything did get settled (full refund of $25), everyone BUT Rachel was kind to me, Austin continues to disappoint me with snobby people that I've encountered.

Big Tex Boat Rentals - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

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