Before planning your trip to the lake, you should consider the price of owning a boat. But what if the price of boat ownership is too high? Would you cancel your trip? No no…. there is a great solution if you can’t afford to own your own boat, you can rent it!
You can easily find boat rental services about anywhere you find boats. Whether you are looking for a speed boat rental, an electric boat rental, or anything else, you just need to be sure that you find the boat and waterway that can offer the experience that you want. You might be wondering how much you have to spend to rent a boat. How much does it cost?
On average, renting a boat anywhere can cost between $150 and $600 daily. However, there are different factors that can affect the rental price, like the type of boat you are looking for, location, season, Rental Company, etc.
Another important factor affecting the boat rental cost is whether you want to skipper the boat or the owner prefers it to be operated by his professional crew. As if you will act as the captain of the boat, then obviously, you would not pay for the services of hired captain; it will save you some money.
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Factors Affecting the Rental Cost
While deciding on the right boat for you, you should consider the type of activities you are hoping to do on the boat, how many people you want to take with you, and most importantly, your budget.
There are also many other factors that affect the rental cost of a boat. Below you can take a look of some of those.
Size:
As a general rule, a bigger size boat will cost more than a smaller size boat. If you decide on the trip with your big gang of friends, you will surely need a big boat to go, so you should be ready to pay more.
Season:
The season is also one of the major factors that can affect the cost of boat rental. Like in the off-season, some boat rental places offer discount prices to bring in customers. The cost for a small daily boat can vary by about $400, depending on the season.
Many boat rental companies usually advertise off-season and on-season prices, but some companies have three or four designated seasons. The seasons are defined by certain dates, so when you are going to rent a boat, you should be aware of the dates.
For instance, Lake Power Resorts and Marinas have shown three different prices for a 24’ powerboat;
- 1/1/22 to 6/4/22 for $499
- 6/5/22 to 8/20/22 for $600
- 8/21/22 to 12/31/22 for $499
Some boat rental places vary the price by specific dates. In order to see a rate estimate with these rental places, you have to choose the dates you want to rent the boat. Normally, you have to choose the dates on the calendar on which you need a boat, and the price you get will include any variation due to the dates chosen, boat type, and how many days you want to rent a boat.
Location:
Another important factor that you should consider is location. When you make a plan to go boating, you should first compare the costs of boat rental companies near you. Once you have decided the location where you want to go, then you should look at boat rental costs for companies in the location during the season you will be visiting.
The rental prices will be higher for popular rivers, lakes, or other water bodies. This is because, in these places, the concentration of the people who want to rent is high; that’s why the demand for boat rent goes up. However, in less popular or less crowded places, the rental prices are generally to be affordable. So if you decide on your boating trip to the less popular places, then you are likely to have better prices but fewer options for boats.
Other costs to consider During A Rental Boat
Fuel:
When renting a boat, you should also consider fuel costs. Some rental companies may include the fuel rate with the rental and expect to get the rental back near empty.
However, some companies do not have this offer, so they may charge extra money for the fuel, or you have to fill the boat by yourself.
Insurance:
Some rental companies may ask for boat rental insurance when you rent a boat. Insurance may be covered in the boat rental cost, or they may charge extra money.
If you want to rent a deck boat for a day, you may have to deposit $800 to the rental agency (if they demand); if you bring the boat back safely, you will get your deposit back, but if the boat is damaged, then the rental agency will take your deposit or some part of it.
Parks and lake pass:
When you are deciding to rent a boat, be sure to check out the prices for the lakes or states you will be attending. For example, if you are traveling to National Park, an annual national park pass costs $80 only. With this park, you can travel to any national park within 12 months from the time you brought it.
However, if you do not have the pass, you need to buy a day or week pass for the park you decide to travel to.
Different types of rental boats along with their price:
These 5 boats with different price ranges can help you to make decisions on renting and what price you may be looking at.
Airboat rental prices:
Airboats are not very common, and generally, they are used in areas full of vegetation and shallow waters. They are not rented out to anyone to captain, while they are used as tour boats on guided tours.
Moreover, they are rented on an hourly basis rather than on a daily basis but still can rent one for a day.
Airboat rental prices are as less as $17 to $30 for an hour per person on the boat or as high as $42 per person for the hour, which can be about $100 for a family of four or five.
One this that you should be aware of about the airboat is that this boat is suitable for tours and not for a relaxing time out on the water.
Bow-Rider boats rental prices:
Bow-rider boats are usually used for water sports such as wakeboarding, tubing, and water skiing. They are very fast on water and offer a thrilling ride, making them perfect for casual family outings.
Bow-rider boats can be available from pretty basic to crazy luxury; that’s why they can vary in price. If you are renting them hourly, the price can range from $40 per hour for a basic model to $300 per hour for a fancy model.
However, if you decide to go with your family or friends on a picnic for a long period of time, then you should check the daily price rate. In this case, even if you book a simple basic boat, the daily rental price can go from $200 to as high as $900.
Cabin cruisers rental prices:
These boats are fun family boats that are perfect for long trips and even for a couple of days. They are commonly used for swimming, tanning, and coasting near the shore.
Their spacious design makes them great for taking a break from the sun and playing cards, catching a nap or hanging out.
The one thing that makes them less demanding is their price, so if you are on a tight budget, you should find another, but if you are ready to spend a penny, this boat is for you!
An hourly cost of a cabin cruiser is about $200 to $400, and if you want to get it for half day, generally for a few hours, you will get the cabin cruiser at the rate of $800, depending on where you rent from.
If you want to rent it for a full day, the prices could range from $1,000 to $1,500, with the fuel cost.
Cuddy cabin boats rental prices:
Cuddy cabin boats are usually smaller and slower as compared to cabin cruisers, but they are available at cheaper prices.’
They are great for a small group of people looking to get away from the water. They are used for swimming, coasting along the shore, or tanning in the sunshine.
The rental rate of a Cuddy cabin boat can be as low as $150 for an hour to $400 for a day for simple models. However, for luxury models, you should expect $250 per hour to $800 for a day.
Pontoon boat rental prices:
Pontoon boats are great for relaxing days put on the water as they are very comfortable, spacious, open, and built to fit many friends and guests. They can be used for fishing, light water sports, or drifting on waves.
As pontoon boats have a great level of luxury and possibilities to spend, that’s why their prices also vary widely. In the Midwest, their rental cost can range from $150 to $500 for 6 to 7 hours, while an hourly price range is $120 to $230.
