Lake Merritt Boating Center

Negative experience: 1. Staff doesn’t remind you to pass by the counter to get your deposit back after returning the boat. They have you sign a clause to give up refunds in the next day. I guess that’s how they make their extra cash. 2. Website says they’re open until 6pm. Arrived there at 4:30pm on a Wednesday and the gates were closed. 3. I tried the pedal boat and the canoe, both could have used better maintenance.

Negative experience: “Public bathroom” is closed and locked. Not actually open to the public

Negative experience: The sign said that it opens until 5pm but there was no one at 4pm when we got there. And when we called, it just goes to the voice message.

Fantastic experience: Come and sit on one of the big rocks on the lake bank and enjoy the serenity

Positive experience: There is a sailing club here with boat rentals but two of the docks here are public and are always open. You can park your car nearby and launch your own kayak or canoe for free from the public docks. Entrance on to the road to the boathouse requires a park fee, and the lake is connected to the bay and impacted by tides.

Fantastic experience: It’s hard for me to even describe how much I love this place. In the past five years, since I took an excellent Introduction to sailing course here, I’ve taken out sunfish and hobie cats and sometimes kayaks somewhere around 80 times. And I’ve only capsized once! The people are lovely, and there’s nothing like being all alone in nature while you’re still in the middle of a big city, and the wind gives you a new challenge every time. Some of the equipment is a little bit old but they do their best. Sailing is normally a rich persons hobby, but the boating center makes it extremely affordable, especially if you get a frequent sailor card, which I highly recommend. Lake merritt is the jewel of Oakland, and the best way to experience it Is on one of their sailboats.

Positive experience: The views

Fantastic experience: Great place to rent a boat. The parking lot is a fun roller skating venue and the site of a lot of community events as well.

Fantastic experience: Boat house parking lot = popular skating venue. Fun and friendly!!

Fantastic experience: they host alot of events and kickbacks here! If you stay for too long, you might end up at like 3 different events at times.

Fantastic experience: lake merritt in the deep of night. in the wierd hours invisible currents blow, come together their unimagined mix they're changing things they are change and they ride the wind at the lakeshore over me

Negative experience: I got married over one year ago at this location, it was recommended through the city of Oakland by a long time employee (which was very helpful). They had availability for the weekend we wanted however things became problematic after dealing with Zermaine which is the coordinator of events at this location. She didn’t greet me when I arrived to view the location as if I wasn’t standing there. There were two other potential clients waiting as well to view the location that she did greet and introduce herself to. One of those clients pointed out to her that I was there to view the location as well, still no proper greeting. She became very difficult to reach during the planning process.. we would call several times leaving voicemails before she would get back to us. On the day of our wedding the restrooms weren’t clean, the patio area we used to walk down the aisle was very dirty (messing up my white dress) and the guy monitoring the facility interrupted us to start cleaning early. The city of Oakland has unprofessional employees.. if we could have gotten our deposit back we would have went elsewhere.

Fantastic experience: Rent a kayak, canoe or sailboat at this recently renovated community boating center. This is a great way to see Oakland from the water.

Fantastic experience: Very nice view of Lake Merritt and surrounding areas. Haven't been boating here, but it is a great place to sit for a while.

Fantastic experience: i love this place! Cool boats, good prices, great view from the water, it's even kid-friendly.

Fantastic experience: City owned. Small boats of many kinds can be rented for cheap! It's cash only. You need to leave a $20 deposit + a driver's licence or equivalent. You pay by the hour after you return. I got a rowboat for $10 (Locals get a couple bucks off). Kayaks are traditional sit-inside.

Fantastic experience: One of my favorite places in Oakland. Rent a sail boat, canoe, kayak, or pedalboat.

Fantastic experience: Lovely place to spend an afternoon.

Fantastic experience: Dude I love this place!! Where else can I practice my single handing skills on a little dinghy (Catalina 14 to be exact) in full view of a whole crowd of athletic onlookers all for a cool $20, (and passing a quick little quiz)? Answer: Nowhere in the Bay Area (at least not that this cat knows of). Personally I think that should change, and if you know of any places I can take a little 14 foot sailboat out into the Estuary, let me know. The boats are in great shape, the sails crisp (a little small for my taste, but I guess they don't like rescuing newbies.) I've never run aground knock on wood, despite my lack of checking tide tables or charts. I would be interested in knowing how the lake reacts to max ebb. Alright now go learn to sail. Its primal, thus fun!