Ohio River boat rentals (Cincinnati, Florida: camp, upkeep, live in)

[2121]

I am looking for a place where I can rent a smaller power boat or maybe even a canoe for a few hours to take out onto the Ohio River, but all I have found is at the various city parks away from the river. I just moved here a couple months ago, so I am still very unfamiliar with the area, but I am having a visitor from out of town next weekend and this seems like it would be a great way to show them my new city. Does anybody know if this would be possible or have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance

[aquila]

Interesting question. Most people have their own boats they take out on the river. Have you checked with one of the local marinas?

And though I'm not saying it doesn't exist, I kinda doubt you'll find a canoe livery along the Ohio. I'm not sure I would even take a canoe out onto the Ohio anyway with the barge traffic.

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by 2121

I am looking for a place where I can rent a smaller power boat or maybe even a canoe for a few hours to take out onto the Ohio River, but all I have found is at the various city parks away from the river. I just moved here a couple months ago, so I am still very unfamiliar with the area, but I am having a visitor from out of town next weekend and this seems like it would be a great way to show them my new city. Does anybody know if this would be possible or have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance

With all due respect, bad idea.

I've spent years on the Ohio River and it is a highly dangerous place for any boater, much less one in a small, unfamiliar piece of equipment. Think of the Ohio as I-75 and an 18 foot runabout as a Mo-ped.

Queen City Riverboats and BB Riverboats will give you all you could want for a fraction of the cost of a boat rental.

[HuskerDu]

...or just sit on the patio/deck overlooking the river at the Beer Sellar and get plastered.

[stsfirstmate]

Consider going canoeing on the Miami River. There were several good lievries there back in the day and it was a pleasant and at times exciing experience.
I second not going out on the Ohio as an inexperienced boater in a craft you don't know. I grew up and learned to swim and boat on the Ohio because we had a Camp near old Coney Island.
I saw plenty that would make me think twice about taking out an unfamiliar boat.
Regards,
Mary

[2121]

Thanks for the resonses. I did go canoeing on the Great Miami River and had a great time.

[kay.hampel]

Is there a boat club on the Ohio River were you can rent a power boat for a day? They have these in Florida on the ocean. You just pay a membership fee, and you don't have have to do any upkeep on the boat. Or, is there a place to just rent a boat without joining a club? I live in Cincinnati and wouldn't want to drive very far.

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by kay.hampel

Is there a boat club on the Ohio River were you can rent a power boat for a day? They have these in Florida on the ocean. You just pay a membership fee, and you don't have have to do any upkeep on the boat. Or, is there a place to just rent a boat without joining a club? I live in Cincinnati and wouldn't want to drive very far.

Can I repeat my advice to the OP without seeming persistent?

With all due respect, bad idea.

I've spent years on the Ohio River and it is a highly dangerous place for any boater, much less one in a small, unfamiliar piece of equipment. Think of the Ohio as I-75 and an 18 foot runabout as a Mo-ped.

Queen City Riverboats and BB Riverboats will give you all you could want for a fraction of the cost of a boat rental.

The Ohio is much more challenging and dangerous than the Intercoastal (they won't rent you boats to go out in the ocean except for a few hundred yards off the east coast of Florida). You are contending with high traffic, currents, submerged obstacles and barges which every so often cut a path down the river and bury anything that might be stranded in their path. Just because you see drunken morons weaving around on the river all day does not mean that it is a reasonable thing to do. Take a ride on BB, enjoy the sights, feed the catfish at the dock and take it off your bucket list.

[kjbrill]

I definitely second Wilson's advice. The Ohio can be a dangerous place, made even more so by some of the idiots out there who don't have a clue as to proper and safe operation. Also, the amount of underwater debris constantly coming down the river can cause some real damage.

Take a pleasant ride on one of the public craft on the Ohio or lookup Morgan Canoe Rental on the net and have a blast on either the Little Miami or Whitewater rivers. But understand even though in this weather they may look like oversized creeks, some very deep pools exist along their length, so stay alert.

[kay.hampel]

Thanks! We got all psyched up about getting a boat. Needed a reality check and the voice of reason. We are going to check out BB and Queen City right now!