Rent Our Space
In the heart of Boston, nestled on the banks of the Charles River, you’ll find Community Boating Inc’s historic boathouse. From our convenient location on the Esplanade, we provide a contrast between the hustle and bustle of the city and the peace and tranquility of the natural world. Watch birds and boats glide across the shimmering water from our spacious dock or feel the wind in your hair as you sail across the Charles all while taking in the best views of Boston’s iconic skyline. Set against this beautiful backdrop, your next company party is sure to be a memorable one.
Sailing can be added to your event for a truly unforgettable experience. With questions or to book, email [email protected]
Corporate events only. No private parties, weddings, showers, birthday parties, etc.
CBI is available to host your function on weekday afternoons/evenings and can accommodate up to 100 guests. Functions can be held during a three hour timeframe of your choosing between 2pm and 10pm in the fall and spring, and between 4pm and 10pm in the summer. Functions are held in a cordoned-off area of CBI’s main dock overlooking the Charles River.
Hosting your event at Community Boating Inc. is unique, affordable, and does good in the community. CBI offers a 10% discount to non-profit organizations.
Base Event:
3 hour function: $4,000
*5 hours total, including 1 hour of set up and 1 hour of breakdown
Additional hour: $350
*Functions may not extend after 10pm due to Esplanade Quiet Hours
Add-ons:
Sailing: $300 per boat for two hours
Alcohol permitting and detail:
One-day liquor license – beer and wine: $75
DCR special use permit: $45
State police detail: $220 up to 4 hours, $440 up to 8 hours*
*Includes 10% State Police administration fee
You can bring in food, have the event catered, or a little of both. Please be aware, we do not have a kitchen for heating or refrigerating items. We are happy to recommend caterers that are familiar with our venue and able to work within our environment.
If you wish to serve alcohol at your event, it must be provided by a licensed retailer and served by a licensed bartender, a special event permit must be obtained, and a state police detail is required. CBI will manage the process of obtaining the permit and requesting the detail, however you will be responsible for these fees. We are happy to suggest retailers and bar-tending services with whom we have worked before.
You may have music at a reasonable volume as determined by CBI staff. The boathouse will be open for regular programming during your event, so the volume must be at a level that does not disrupt normal CBI activity.
Don’t just sit there, get in on the action! For an additional cost, CBI can provide a skippered sailboat for your team’s enjoyment. Sailing on the Charles while taking in the beautiful views of Boston’s skyline will make for a memorable event.
A CBI staff member will provide short sailing excursions on the Charles River Basin. Three to five passengers can go for a sail at one time. Passengers can sit back and relax, or learn a bit about sailing and participate in maneuvering the boat.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you choose Community Boating Inc. (CBI) for your company’s outing or event, you choose to invest in your community. CBI is a non-profit with a simple mission: Sailing For All. The funds generated from your company’s event directly support CBI’s programming for youth and people with disabilities.
A typical function includes use of CBI’s outdoor function space for 3 hours. We will set up picnic tables for your exclusive use in a roped off area of our dock, and we will provide trash receptacles and remove trash as necessary throughout your event. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be held in our indoor private function room. You are responsible for hiring a caterer and bartending services if you wish. We are happy to make recommendations!
You may bring any decor items that you wish such as table cloths, centerpieces, etc and you may bring in food. Candles/flames are not allowed. We recommend that attendees bring a jacket; even on warm days it can be breezy on our dock.
We do not cancel functions for inclement weather. If necessary, outdoor functions will be moved to our indoor function space.
We are on the Charles River Esplanade between the Longfellow Bridge and the Hatch Shell. Due to our location on the park, we do not have on site parking. There are parking garages in the area, but we recommend taking public transportation if possible. The boathouse is conveniently located close to the Charles/MGH station on the MBTA’s Red Line. The footbridge that crosses Storrow Drive linking Charles Circle and the Esplanade affords beautiful views of the River and leads you directly to our front door.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions, we are happy to answer them! You can call the boathouse at 617-523-1038, or email [email protected]
