Donut Boat Rentals

Driving a donut boat is a piece of cake. So says Lauren Stanton, a former television news anchor who rents a four-boat fleet of the electric-powered vessels on the Kalamazoo River and around Kalamazoo Lake in Saugatuck, an artsy beach town in southwest Michigan where she’s a former mayor. She started her novelty boat business, Retro Boat Rentals, with her husband, John Sharar, to bring a little more fun to the boating experiences in town. 

Painted vintage turquoise and retrofitted with a steering wheel, the round donut boats are whimsically named Jelly, Glazed, Sprinkles and Twist. These easy-to-drive boats have a speed of 5 miles per hour, perfect for cruising on the river and lake. Available to renters 21 years old and over, donut boats are especially popular with women’s groups, from book clubs to bachelorette parties to girlfriend getaways, although couples and families enjoy them too. 

Donut boats hold up to 10 passengers and feature a round table shaded by an umbrella, as well as a Bluetooth speaker. Renters can bring their own drinks and snacks or purchase them from the Old Boat House, a waterfront bar home to Retro Boat Rentals. As you idle along, take in views of waterfront homes and keep an eye out for wildlife. The Cove, where renters can beach the donut boats and swim, is a popular river stop, and from there, boaters may watch the sunset and look down the pier toward Lake Michigan. 

Retro Boat Rentals also offers other all-electric rentals, including 12-passenger Duffy boats and classic jet-age runabout boats from the ’50s and ’60s that feature fanciful fins and chrome detailing. Pontoon boat rentals are available up the river at Red Dock, a sister restaurant. The rental season runs from May through October, and boats have a rental time of two to four hours. 730 Water St., Saugatuck, Michigan 49453, 616/405-6688, retroboatrentals.com