Your Labor Day Weekend Boat Day May Come with a Surprise, If You Book With Boatsetter
Last Updated on August 21, 2025 by Boatsetter Team
Key takeaways
- Boatsetter surprises Guests with Labor Day boat day bonuses such as fun water toys, extra time on the water, and more.
- Millennials and Gen Z make up nearly 70% of Labor Day weekend bookings (1).
- Guests can find unique boat rentals and on-the-water activities for Labor Day weekend anywhere in the U.S.
Guests booking a Boatsetter rental for Labor Day weekend (August 30 – September 1) may get a text notifying them their holiday boat plans have changed — for the better. Boatsetter hints at adding bonuses to boat itineraries ranging from outrageous floats added on, an extra hour to cruise, and even upgrades to luxury-tier boats. “It’s the last long weekend of summer. We want to give people spending their long weekend with us something really good to remember,” said Caitlin Choate, Head of Marketing at Boatsetter.
For Millennials and Gen Z, nothing says holiday like boat plans
New data reveals boating continues to be the go-to activity for younger generations looking to make the most of their holiday with Millennials and Gen Z accounting for nearly 70% of bookings in 2024 and 2025. Paid, three day weekends during summertime are prime time for on-the-water activities. From tubing to beach getaways, boat rentals offer a rare combo of group affordability, convenience, and schedule flexibility.
- Boat days for less than a bar tab. A friend group of 8 can get a boat — with a stocked cooler and surround-sound system — split the cost, and spend as little as $100 per person (2).
- Spend more time having fun. No wasting precious long weekend hours on prep. Roughly 70% of boats already come with coolers and stereo (3). You can even filter by Amenities for BBQ grills and the cookout over the water.
- Last-minute group plans. Forty percent of long weekend bookings occur the same week — most just a day or two — before the holiday (4). When your group (finally) replies, you just toggle the Instant Book filter, book, and head straight to the dock.
Boating’s role in outdoor recreation sector
Boatsetter is an important source of supplemental income for recreational boaters with 58% of Owners listing their personal boats (5). A 27-year-old Boatsetter Owner from South Florida caught media attention after his boat rental “side hustle” hit $30,000 in just a couple of months (6). Today, it’s worth millions of dollars.
“I own six yachts and partner on two more. My business has generated over $3 million in sales, with approximately 70% of that revenue coming from Boatsetter. Our fleet is now valued at over $4 million, and every investment — including the first yacht I financed as a leap of faith — is fully paid off” said Boatsetter Owner Angel Rodriguez in an interview with Entrepreneur.
Labor Day honors the American worker and today, that celebration extends to those pioneering new forms of work in the sharing economy. The outdoor/leisure sector of this economy — including boat rentals — is sizable and growing: the U.S. boat-rental market is expected to grow from USD 16.2 billion in 2025 to USD 26.8 billion by 2034 (7).
Unique on-the-water activities for a fun Labor Day weekend
Labor Day is the last three-day weekend of the season, and for many, the last opportunity to get on the water before the fall. With millions Americans seeking on‑the‑water experiences multiple times a year, Boatsetter has emerged as the go-to marketplace for people looking for more waterside time (8). Explore unique on-the-water activities, from sandbar hopping to group hangs.
Go on a private boat tour with a local expert
See your city from the water with a Captain who knows its history and hidden gems. Think D.C.’s monuments from the Potomac, a private Chicago architecture boat tour, or a New York Harbor cruise past the Statue of Liberty with fun facts and local stories along the way.
Book a boat & join a Labor Day sandbar party
Some of the biggest water-based gatherings happen off the beach. Try the John’s Pass Sandbar Party near St. Pete, Boca Grande’s sandbars, or Haulover, where boats raft up for music, floating, and Labor Day vibes on the water.
Beach boat day with friends
Find a local sandbar or quiet stretch of coast to spend the day swimming, sunbathing, and floating. In Tampa, boaters head to Caladesi Island; in San Diego, it’s all about Mission Bay; and in West Palm Beach, the go-to is Peanut Island, the hidden gem of Florida’s east coast.
Go on a guided fishing trip with a pro angler
Labor Day is peak season for inshore and offshore fishing. From calico bass off the coast of Los Angeles, or tarpon off the Florida Keys, just pack a bag, and your fishing boat rental comes with gear.
Host a cookout on the water
Book a boat with a grill and plan an onboard barbecue, complete many come with stocked coolers. In Fort Lauderdale, locals cruise the Intracoastal grilling up picanha, while in Austin, it’s all about burgers and dogs on Lake Travis.
Go to a Labor Day parade
Catch a classic celebration, then keep the momentum going with a post-parade boat day. In Virginia Beach, the Labor Day oceanfront concert sits right on the sand perfect for a post-show cruise. In Pittsburgh, boaters watch the parade then head for the rivers.
Explore a national park by boat
For a nature escape, try snorkeling with tropical fish at Biscayne National Park, explore the Channel Islands with a Captain, or Lake Powell along the Utah-Arizona border.
1. Based on internal Boatsetter booking data from 2025.
2. Based on 2025 average total booking price for an 8-person group across Boatsetter’s top 10 Labor Day Weekend markets.
3. Approximately 70% of active Boatsetter boat rentals include coolers with ice, based on current Owner data.
4. Based on internal Boatsetter booking data from 2024.
5. As of 2025, 58% of Boatsetter Owners list their personal boats on the platform.
6. Yahoo Finance, July 4, 2025, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/boat-rental-market-outlook-report-094900990.html
7. As featured in Entrepreneur, November 6, 2023. https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/a-27-year-olds-passive-income-side-hustle-hit-30k-a-month/487080
8. National Marine Manufacturers Association database suggests 100 million Americans engage in boating yearly. The U.S. recreational boating industry generates $230 billion in annual economic impact, supporting over 36,000 businesses and more than 812,000 jobs.
Boatsetter empowers people to explore with confidence by showing them a world of possibility on the water. Rent a boat, list your boat, or become a Boatsetter captain today.
