Hire a 20' pontoon with USCG licensed captain for a cruise on Lake Zoar. Cruises depart and return to the Southbury State Boat launch, with lots of parking and access to port-a-potties. Handicap accessible ramp to the floating dock, and flat entry onto the boat.
Choose one of our many options to take a ride on "Sandy", our 20 foot pontoon, to motor around Lake Zoar and experience the magic of Connecticut from the water. Plan you own event by bringing food and drinks! A table, and cup holders are available to provide a relaxing cruise of Lake Zoar! Sandy is equiped with a blue-tooth radio, so make your requests, or connect to DJ your own music!
Additional Add-on's are also available at time of booking for each cruise! Please be sure to match your cruise date with any add-ons you might choose.
Please arrive approximate 10-15 minutes prior to your scheduled voyage, and ensure your entire party is together. There are no facilities on the boat, so please use the port-a-potties in the parking log ahead of time. Sandy will be visible from the floating dock, and when your party is together, please come down to the end, and we'll pull in to pick you up! If there are other vessels loading/unloading please be curtious, time on the water will be fulfilled based on time on the water. We will be sure to provide plenty of cruising time!
Upon boarding, we will pull off the dock, and have a brief safety talk, and provide PFDs to any children in your group. If you'd like to request music genre, or connect your own blue-tooth device we can make that happen. After this, we will embark on the cruise of your booking! All cruises load and off-load at the Southbury State Boat ramp, at the end of Scout Road, Southbury.
Leaf Peeping Cruises: Daytime cruise toward the Stevenson Dam for an approximately 60 minute loop. Within 10 minutes you'll be surrounded by the forests of Kettletown State Park and Paugussett State Forest. If flowing, the cruise will pause at Prydden Falls for photo ops, or anywhere else the guests would like to photograph.
Sandbar Access: Get the family ready for an afternoon at the Zoar Sandbar. After the safety talk, we'll motor upstream to the main sandbar for approximately 2 hours of fun in the water! This cruise provides pontoon access to the sandbar, and the captain will stay with the boat for 2-hours while you play in the water, snack on/around the boat, or chill in the sun in one of the many seating options. Watertoys, towel and inflatable rentals available as add-ons from the booking page. Families with younger children will also be offered a smaller, generally more private sandbar that provides shade to avoid too much sun!
Sunset Cruise: Book now for a 7:30-dusk cruise up to the Shepaug Dam. This roughly 90 minute cruise will provide a calm ride north for picturesque photo ops just off of the rolling hills of Mitchell Farm in Southbury. If your evening has some high clouds, the colors will dance all around as we bring you back to end this loop. We highly recommend you pre-plan to transform this into a BYO dinner cruise, or atleast bring some yummy snacks and drinks!
Fishing Cruise: Plan a few hours out with your buddies to cast some lines and relax on the water. The captain will motor to a few common hot spots to see what's biting. All guests are responsible to be licensed to fish CT freshwater and hold a copy of their license during this cruise in the event local Marine Patrol or ENCON arrives to check (they are present on this lake). If you're just looking to try out fishing, book now, and add in a pole and tackle during booking.
Bring your own food/drink. There is room for a large cooler, or multiple bags/small coolers if you decide to bring snacks!
This vessel is open to the elements, and not enclosed. There is a bimini (canopy) covering the back half, but wind, rain and sun will abound, please dress appropriate for the weather. Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses are encouraged for daytime cruises.
All cruises will provide one personal floatation device (PFD) aboard per guest. Please ensure children under 12 are entered correctly to ensure we have correct fitting PFDs. Per CT law any passenger under the age of 12 is required to wear a PFD while underway.
Hot beverage service, and blankets will be made available as requested though the add-on options.
Water toys/floating loungers are available through the add-on options for sandbar cruises.
Fishing poles and tackle are available through add-ons for the fishing cruises. Please note we can not provide access for adults that are not properly licensed to fish on this type of cruise. Refunds will not be honored for fishing cruise bookings due to lack of proper licensing.
LOA will provide refund (less the booking fee) for any cancellation 48 hours prior to your scheduled cruise start time. In the event LOA needs to cancel based on bad weather, which can create an unsafe sailing situation, LOA will provide a raincheck or full refund. Please ensure all bookings have the best phone number for in case of emergency cancellation is required.