What to Expect and Bring

What to Expect on a Jet Boat Tour

High Speeds - Our Jet Boat has a 315 horsepower marine diesel engine that can propel the vessel up to speeds of 30 knots (55 Km/h) on the water. This speed is what makes the tour so exhilarating and exciting.

Sharp Turns - The high manoeuverability of the jet boat allows it to be very responsive to steering - especially at speed! As part of our tours, we’ll make many sharp turns to give you an adrenaline filled ride.

Quick Stops - One of the key features of a jet boat is the ability to reverse the direction of the water using the jet. This can result in a very short stopping distance and a manouver we call the “hockey stop.” It’s lots of fun, but you’ll need to hang on!

Water Spray & Wake Wash - Water spray from waves and wakes will come up over the bow. You are going to get wet if we deliver the full experience of the tour. We can adjust speeds and manouvers to keep you dry (just ask), but if you want the full jet boat experience - be prepared to get wet! We recommend leaving anything that can’t get wet ashore.

Winds over the Deck -Lake winds coupled with the high speeds on the tour and you’ll experience some strong wind over the deck (relative wind). This is great for that “go fast” feeling, but is not great for hairdos or hats. We recommend securing anything loose to prevent it from flying off during the tour.

Wake and Wave Jumps - We’re committing to giving you a fun-filled and exciting ride. As you can see in the videos, we’ll be using the waves and our wake to have a little bit of fun on the water. We do this in a safe manner to prevent a ride that is too violent or dangerous, but you can expect to experience waves as part of your tour.

Jostling and Bumps - Speed, waves and manouvers may make for a bumpy ride on the tour. We can make the ride as “mild or wild” as our passengers would like (keeping it safe) but the full experience may jostle you around a little bit. Participants will need to hang on during the ride and be prepared to feel some G-Forces!

Age & Physical Condition - While there is no upper age limit, we maintain that participants of any age should be of good health, free of heart, neck, back or respiratory issues and not be pregnant or suffering from osteoporosis or any other similar injuries.

Children should be at least 44” tall and 60 lbs (approximate age 8) to participate. Guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Guests under the age of 18 need a parent or guardian present to sign participation waivers.

We adjust our tours to our client’s desires - sometimes this is just a boat ride at a moderate speed, sometimes we’ll be able to deliver a “roller coaster” type experience based on the condition and wishes of our participants.

Waiver and Release - Based on the higher risk nature of this adventure tour, we require all guests to sign a waiver and release prior to participating. Waiver can be found on our Policy page.

What we Provide

Life Vest - All passengers and crew onboard the jet boat are required (mandatory) to wear a Transport Canada certified life vest. We provide life vests of various sizes for adults and children.

Seating - The vessel can carry up to 6 passengers, however 4 passengers is optimal for seating configuration and vessel handling. We have two rows of seating (2 people per row) on the forward deck and two upright seats back aft with the Captain. Capacity and seating on the vessel is always up to the discretion of the Captain based on the nature of the passengers and the style of tour desired.

Transport Canada Certified Crew - Our captain and crew members are fully licensed as professional mariners and hold extensive safety and first aid training to keep you safe onboard and throughout the tour.

Safe Vessel - Our jet boat “Erie Guardian” is an internationally approved Fast Rescue Craft that has a history of Search and Rescue and lifesaving activities. The boat is fully equipped, well maintained and very stable, capable, tough and safe. Coupled with our highly experienced crew and you’ll be riding in one of the safest vessels on Lake Erie.

Safety Briefing - Before each voyage begins, our crew will provide you with instructions on what to do and what not to do during the tour, a detailed safety briefing about the lifesaving equipment onboard, and procedures in case of an emergency. The safety of all participants and crew is our top priority.

Great Views - As part of the 30 minute to 1 hour tours, we’ll show you the village of Port Stanley by water, the majestic cliff faces and features of the north shore, wildlife, active beaches and the beauty of Lake Erie. Routes to Port Bruce and Port Glasgow provide outstanding vistas and backdrops.

Fun - The high energy, high speed and active tour will give you an exhilarating experience on the water you’ll want to experience again and again.

What to Bring

Change of Clothes - Exhilarating jet boat manouvers will cause plenty of spray and water splashing over the boat’s seating areas - so if you want a wild ride, be prepared for when the ride is over.

Warm Clothing - During the cooler months (May, September) the high speeds experienced on the tour and lake winds may make the ride a little bit chilly for some. Add in some water spray and the relative wind, and you may get cold. It is suggested that you layer up (sweaters, rain coat, windbreaker), especially on colder days.

Shoes - We require all guests to wear some form of shoe while onboard for their own safety and protection - you cannot ride barefoot. You’ll want shoes to gain traction when embarking and disembarking and throughout the ride. Sandals or closed-toe shoes are acceptable onboard - as long as they can stay on!

Cameras - The beauty of Lake Erie, the stunning coastline around the harbour and the wild ride is the ultimate backdrop for your perfect photo or video. Passengers are welcome to bring their cameras, phones or GoPros with them, however the ride may make it difficult to hang onto them (you’ll need both hands during the tour) and they may be difficult to secure and keep dry during manouvers. We recommend a protective case, wrist straps or a way to keep your camera attached to you should you choose to bring one along. Bring and use your cameras at your own risk!

Enthusiasm and Smiles - You are going to have fun on this jet boat ride. Joining us with a great attitude and a big smile will make the experience even better. We love what we do, we’re sure that you’ll love it too!