Delray locals and Palm Beach County residents know Lake Boca is a perfect boating destination. Between the warm, sandy-bottom waters and great dockside dining, Lake Boca has something for everyone! It’s perfect to take the kids out for a day on the water, or to cruise around with friends. What are you doing this weekend? Read on for our full travelog on this boater’s paradise.
Where to start
To visit Lake Boca, it’s easiest to depart from our Delray or Hypoluxo locations. Because all of your travel will be along the intracoastal through slow and no-wake zones we recommend giving yourself enough time with a reservation of at least 4 hours. Check the weather forecast and the tides before you leave—we recommend that you visit Lake Boca on a high tide to enjoy easier navigation and turquoise waters.
What to reserve
You’ll love making this trip on any of our dual consoles! Ranging in size from 21’-25’, our dual consoles from brands like Key West, Cobia and Boston Whaler are a comfortable ride for larger groups while still cruising in style! Our smaller dual consoles can accommodate between 4 and 8 people, and the larger 24′ or 25’ vessels can comfortably seat 10 or 11 passengers.
The layout of the dual console is designed to seat a lot of people comfortably plus easy movement around the vessel. So it’s easy to keep an eye on kids in the bow from your comfortable seat in the stern, and you’ll know if someone needs more sunscreen or some water. And if anyone gets a little too much sun, the Bimini top over the main part of the vessel offers plenty of shade.
And like all our boats, our dual consoles feature top of the line tech like touchscreen GPS and depth finders, which will really come in handy while navigating Lake Boca. Login to our reservation portal to see what boats are available right now!
How to get there
Your visit to Lake Boca couldn’t be easier. We’ll stock your cooler with plenty of ice, and you bring the drinks and snacks. We’ve also taken care of the tunes! The Member Services team at Gulfstream Boat Club has put together their favorite playlists on Spotify!
From our Hypoluxo Club, head south along the Intracoastal. Along the way you’ll pass Beer Can Island and Boynton Inlet on the east, Two Georges on the west, Ocean Ridge Natural Area, and Prime Catch before passing Marina Delray where our Delray Club is located.
From our Delray Club, keep heading south along the Intracoastal, passing restaurants such as Deck 84 and Che!!! You’ll cruise through two smaller lakes on the way, Lake Rogers and Lake Wyman, but don’t stop now! Keep going past Gumbo Limbo Nature Center because you’re almost at Lake Boca. Palmetto Park Road is the northern boundary of the lake, and where it begins to widen. Camino Real and Ocean Boulevard are the southern boundary of the lake. The Ocean Boulevard bridge is a recently enhanced drawbridge opening every 15 minutes, and just beyond this is the Boca Inlet.
As you enter the Lake, keep a close eye on your onboard depth finder to navigate this area. On clear days you should be able to see the color changes in the water where you’ll find the shallows and sandbars to anchor on. The middle of the lake is where the sandbars can be found—on busy weekends, just look for where other boats have anchored up, being careful while navigating to look for other boats with the right-of-way or swimmers in the water.
What to do
For many boaters, the name of the game at Lake Boca is relaxation! You’ll see boats anchored on the sandbars and tied up together as boaters enjoy beautiful days on the water with their friends. Lake Boca is a popular spot on weekends and holidays—it’s a beautiful and fun spot for friends and families to spend quality time. If crowds aren’t your jam, take a tip from a local and visit on a weekday to avoid the congestion!
As a boater, anchoring at a sandbar in the calm waters of Lake Boca is the perfect way to enjoy hanging out in the water without having to be too concerned about currents or waves. Pack along some snacks, drinks, sunscreen and a hat and live your best life in the calm waters of Lake Boca. For bonus points, bring along some inflatables or pool noodles!
On the southeast end of the lake, the Seaspray Grille neighbors the Boca Inlet and overlooks the crystal clear water from the Atlantic Ocean. Members can dock their boat and enjoy a delicious meal and cocktail by the pool! The chic and family-friendly vibe of the Seaspray Grille has us coming back time and time again. Their menu showcases South Florida’s freshest seasonal flavors and local catches. Foodies can enjoy a wide range of contemporary meals like the Pear Tortellini and a Mahi Rueben sandwich, dining in or to go!
What to look out for when you visit Lake Boca
The trip from the Club to Lake Boca is a feast for the eyes. Enjoy the passing scenery of nature preserves and the beautiful architecture of the waterfront homes. You’re likely to see manatees and osprey and some wading birds. You might even see some dolphin!
Navigating Lake Boca requires boaters to be aware of the tides and gauge their depth at all times. As shoaling and sandbars continually shift with the tides and current boaters should always maintain at least 3-3.5 feet of depth. Starting off with sufficient depth when you anchor means you won’t be left high and dry when the tide goes out!
The center of Lake Boca is a large sandbar, which protrudes towards the north end of the lake, so we advise boaters to travel along the outer rim of the lake using the channel markers if they are not planning to anchor right away. If you’re not sure what the channel markers mean, our dockhands will be happy to remind you before you depart—just ask!
Make great memories and take great photos! Timing your visit with high tide means deeper, clearer water so your pics of the day will be full of that gorgeous turquoise our county is famous for!
Visit Lake Boca this weekend. It’s just one of many destinations in Palm Beach County that Members of Gulfstream Boat Club can enjoy with their membership. Want to learn more? Scope out your next destination and see more of GBC member’s favorite spots and hidden gems by visiting our Instagram or scrolling through our designated list!
If you’ve visited this beautiful spot and have stories or photos you’d like to share, send them to us and you might be featured on our Instagram or Facebook!