Bridge Marina
Boat Sales | Boat Rentals | Boat Club | Lessons | Top Rated NJ Marina
Check out our boating “how to” videos below! Watch and learn as we talk about all things boating… from boat anchoring basics to docking tips, to answers to our most frequently asked questions about boating!
Our free boater tools and resources offer support, trusted advice, and more to help you make the most of your time on the water! Have boating questions? Like boating how to videos? Curious about the tides or current weather conditions before you depart? Explore all the ways we’re here to help you enjoy a better boating experience below.
At Bridge Marina, we take pride in our prime location on Lake Hopatcong, where you can enjoy consistent and ideal water levels throughout the boating season, ensuring uninterrupted fun on the water.
Plan your day of boating and fishing on Sandy Hook Bay, New Jersey, with our handy tides table below, perfect for our Boating Club members and boat rental guests.
Note: Tides information provided below is not for navigation purposes.
All boaters on Lake Hopatcong must comply with applicable federal and state boating laws, including those specific to Lake Hopatcong.
Bridge Marina only offers a fleet of premium, fully-loaded, current triple pontoon boats for rent on Lake Hopatcong and at the Jersey Shore in Highlands. Our fleet offers top-of-the-line boats and has been specifically chosen to meet a variety of our renters’ needs and local conditions. Our boats comfortably seat a maximum of ten passengers (or 1,300 lbs of passengers and gear) and are well appointed to provide a safe, comfortable and enjoyable boating experience.
Each boat rental includes: safety equipment; anchor; fuel (up to ten gallons of fuel for our Highlands guests); dock lines; fenders; bimini top; depth finder and fish finder; bluetooth; emergency on-water service; pre-rental instruction and our helpful and friendly staff to assure you have a great time!
Lake Hopatcong and Highlands rentals are available for the day, 10am to 5pm. We also have a limited number of half-day rentals available on Lake Hopatcong, as well as “Build Your Own” rental options for even greater flexibility. Our calendar books quickly, especially on weekends. Advance reservations are highly recommended.
Long-term rentals are also available at both locations upon request; please call us at (973) 663-1976 for details.
Bridge Marina is the premier boating hospitality company in New Jersey, offering attentive care coupled with an array of flexible boating options, including education, rentals, boating club membership and ownership, all supported by our award-winning service department and team. We are not your typical boat rental company! We have a passion for welcoming our rental guests to the boating experience in safety and in style, and it shows in everything we do.
While we’ve inspired countless other businesses to adapt their models, we take pride in being more than just trendsetters. At Bridge Marina, we stand as pioneers in the boating industry, continuously innovating to set new standards in the services we provide and the processes we follow to deliver top-tier service in safety and in style.
Others may appear like us with surface-level offerings, but they can’t replicate our core values and fall short in not only understanding why we do what we do, but in providing services at our level. We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction, community involvement, and delivering beyond expectations in a truly unique business model and manner for our guests. Our efforts have been recognized on both the local and national levels for almost two decades, from recognition twice as a “Marina of the Year,” to a National Safety Award, to “Certificate of Excellence” accolades. Our unwavering passion of providing exceptional and safe boating experiences that delight our guests, ensure the well-being of our team, and steer Bridge Marina toward sustainable success sets us apart from the rest.
Bridge Marina does not issue temporary boating certificates at either of our locations. If you do not have your NJ Boater Safety Certificate, we can help! Please see below for more details.
Renter must present a New Jersey Boater Safety Certificate and valid New Jersey auto driver’s license (you must have a boating safety certificate from state your auto license is issued); Bridge Marina does not issue temporary safety certificates. Please see our full renter qualifications below.
If your license is from another state, you must have a boating safety certificate from state your auto license is from, meet the Boating Safety requirements from your state, and/or present minimum of NJ Boater Safety Certificate, as well as hold a valid auto license and be 30 years of age or older.
All rental guests are encouraged to watch our Boating Safety and Education video. The intent of our safety video is to provide guests with basic boating safety information and help ensure that materials have been reviewed; neither the video or assessment certifies or licenses any guest to operate a vessel in New Jersey or any other state.
All boaters must follow all federal and state boating laws, including laws specific to Lake Hopatcong and tidal waters.
There are several ways for you to get your certificate:
Yes! Bridge Marina Boat Club is Lake Hopatcong’s original boating club, proudly founded in 2006. For almost two decades, we’ve welcomed thousands of local boaters to a better, easier way to access Lake Hopatcong. Our Lake Hopatcong Boat Club is perfect for boaters looking for a hassle-free way to enjoy fantastic times on the water with friends and family. Simply show up to a ready-to-go premium boat and ship out. It’s boating made easy, right in your own backyard.
Looking to explore beyond Lake Hopatcong? Bridge Marina Boat Club also offers incredible boating access to Sandy Hook Bay at our Highlands location, giving our members the best of both worlds – the Jersey Shore and Lake Hopatcong, all in one flexible membership.
Yes! Bridge Marina offers the most flexible boat club membership plans in New Jersey. Unlike “one-size-fits-all” boat club memberships that force you into an expensive unlimited option, Bridge Marina Boat Club puts you in control. You simply choose a membership plan that fits how often you want to boat.
Bridge Marina Boat Club membership pricing is based on when and how frequently you plan to enjoy boating. Want unlimited boat club access? We’ve got you covered. Prefer a more practical approach with only a handful of outings? Start with a plan that better suits your lifestyle.
No matter which flexible membership option you choose, every boating club membership offered includes all the Bridge Marina member perks, from ongoing on-water education throughout the season to hassle-free boating aboard our incredible fleet.
Membership programs are based on:
Our membership program commitment is only one year.
For your convenience, all plans are auto-renewed each year on your anniversary (joining) date, and most members join us for several consecutive years. You can opt out of renewing your plan by simply letting us know, in advance of your anniversary date, that you no longer wish to continue your membership.
No cancellation fees, no long-term commitments. And, when and if you’d like to join us again after a “break” from the Club, you can rejoin for great times on the water for another year. Flexibility is important to us.
You simply make a reservation in our online system. Your confirmed reservation guarantees your use of the Club.
We maintain a ratio of approximately 7:1 Full Members to available boats to ensure our members have unwavering access to the water. Summer weekends are of course our more popular days for reservations, and our weekend afternoons are most popular. We encourage our members to make plans in advance and reserve their time to guarantee their spot.
Our most experienced members have also found that weekdays are some of the best boating days, with less traffic on our waterways. We encourage our members to seek the solitude of weekdays and schedule weekday reservations whenever possible – an early day off work on a Thursday often makes for a fantastic afternoon on the water!
We’ve put together an entire blog post on the subject of whether boating club members can actually get a boat – you can check it out here.
Bridge Marina’s full-service, flagship location is centrally situated on Lake Hopatcong by land or water in a tranquil, no-wake zone at 89 Brady Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ. In Highlands, we offer boat lessons, boating club and boat rental services at centrally-located Baker’s Marina on the Bay at 1 Atlantic Street, Highlands, NJ.
Bridge Marina offers a comprehensive range of services at our boutique marina on Lake Hopatcong and sister location in Highlands, including boating education courses, on-water boat lessons, boat rentals, a boating club, boat sales, boat service, and dock slip memberships, all supported by our award-winning team. We cater to every aspect of your boating experience, offering convenience, expertise, and exceptional customer service to our guests.
Yes – Bridge Marina rents premium, fully-loaded triple pontoon boats on Lake Hopatcong and the Jersey Shore in Highlands. Please note our renter requirements. We look forward to welcoming you to the water!
No. Bridge Marina does not rent jet skis, kayaks or paddleboards at either location; however, first-class, triple pontoon boats are offered for rent at both locations.
Yes! Established in 2006, Bridge Marina Boating Club is New Jersey’s original boat club and has welcomed thousands of families to the boating lifestyle. Join Bridge Marina Boating Club and effortlessly enjoy your time on the water with unbeatable access to two incredible locations on Lake Hopatcong and at the Jersey Shore in Highlands. Top-notch boats, welcoming service and ongoing education opportunities are just some of the perks offered to our members.
Bridge Marina Boating Club is the simple and smart way to enjoy all the luxuries and advantages of the boating lifestyle without any of the long-term commitments, costs or shortcomings of owning a boat. Membership opportunities are very limited at both locations; fill out a membership application here.
Yes, Lake Hopatcong is open year-round! In the warmer months, Lake Hopatcong is an ideal spot for boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports. In the winter off season, visitor and locals can enjoy ice fishing, waterfront dining, and scenic winter walks around the lake, depending on conditions. Check out our live webcam and Lake Hopatcong business directory for a live view of the lake and our top picks for dining and more.
There are two main public boat launches around Lake Hopatcong:
The Morris County Park Commission: Offers three well-maintained boat launch ramps and parking at Lee’s Park; also hosts several fishing tournaments in season.
Hopatcong State Park: A great location with easy access to the water, plus a life-guarded swimming area, concession stand, bath house, picnicking area, and playground.
Yes, there are several designated swimming areas on Lake Hopatcong. The most popular spot is Hopatcong State Park, which features a sandy beach area for swimming and enjoying beautiful lake views. Hopatcong State Park also offers picnicking, boat launch access, as well as volleyball and basketball courts, plus a soccer field and playground equipment. Insider Tip: During peak season, Hopatcong State Park can fill to capacity quickly, so make sure you grab your spot early on weekends and holidays before the park reaches full capacity.
Yes – Lake Hopatcong hosts several annual events and festivals, including the Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s Block Party in May, as well as their Lake Loop Bike, Hike and Paddle Challenge in fall.
The Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club hosts an amazing annual Fourth of July Fireworks display, as well as an Antique and Classic Boat Show each June. Bridge Marina also hosts regular events for the boating community, including boating safety certificate courses, Boating Shows and Open Houses.
Bridge Marina also hosts boat shows and an annual “Christmas in July” food drive for the Sparta Community Food Pantry. All of these events celebrate the community, the Lake’s beauty, and the local businesses that make Lake Hopatcong thrive.
All power boaters on Lake Hopatcong must have a valid boating safety certificate and boating license. All boaters must also comply with applicable federal and state boating laws, including those specific to Lake Hopatcong. More detail about boating rules and regulations on Lake Hopatcong can be found here.
To obtain a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate, you must complete a boating safety course approved by the New Jersey State Police.
Bridge Marina offers the approved New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate Course in Lake Hopatcong and Highlands, NJ throughout the season. With flexible course options and times and online scheduling available, we make it easy to get your New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate. You can see a course schedule and register online.
Great question! As a leading boating safety certificate course location in New Jersey, we are asked this often. A boating license (or boating endorsement) and a boating safety certificate are separate. Here’s how it works:
NJ Boating Safety Certificate: A Boating Safety Certificate is proof that you have taken and passed a state-approved Boating Safety Certificate Course.
NJ Boating License or Boating Endorsement: In addition to a NJ Boating Safety Certificate, non-tidal boat operators also need a boating endorsement on their New Jersey driver’s license. To obtain the endorsement, you must first complete a boating safety course approved by the New Jersey State Police. After completing the course, you will receive a boating safety certificate, which you must take to the NJ MVC, along with other required identification documents, to get your boating endorsement on your driver’s license.
Do you need an endorsement on your NJ Driver’s License? If you plan to boat on non-tidal waters like Lake Hopatcong, then yes – this additional endorsement is required. If you plan to only boat in tidal waters like Sandy Hook Bay, then no – you only need your NJ Boating Safety Certificate.
For more details on how to get your endorsement, please visit the NJMVC.
All New Jersey boaters must adhere to speed limits, no-wake zones, and regulations regarding alcohol consumption. There are also specific rules regarding age restrictions, mandatory safety course completion, and other regulations that must be followed.
Boaters on Lake Hopatcong must comply with applicable federal and state boating laws, as well as those specific to Lake Hopatcong.
For more details regarding boating rules and regulations in New Jersey, visit the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau
The Marine Services Bureau of the New Jersey State Police can provide a replacement if you have lost your NJ boat safety certificate. To request a replacement, please contact the Marine Services Bureau by email at [email protected] and provide the following information:
•Full Legal Name
•Date of Birth
•Complete Current Address (and any prior addresses the certificate may be under)
•Copy of Driver’s License or State I.D. (any scanned copies or photos must be in .jpg format)
•Phone Number
•Email Address
•Reason for the Request
Please note that all requests for replacement must be e-mailed or sent through the United States Postal Service.
Bridge Marina offers both small group and private, one-on-one lessons on Lake Hopatcong and Sandy Hook Bay in Highlands, New Jersey.
Our group training participants gain hands-on boat handling experience with a trusted captain aboard one of our beautiful Bridge Marina fleet boats. Group training sessions are designed for 2-4 participants and cover everything from boating basics to docking skills, as well as more advanced open water and tight quarter maneuvering skills. Each learning module is three hours in length.
Our private lessons offer participants a one-on-one, customized learning option, covering the modules of the participant’s choice aboard one of our fleet boats or the participant’s boat. The length of the lesson depends on the customized learning plan developed with the participant.