Okay all,I want to hear about experiences with boat rental while you're camping.I am most interested in how you felt it costed for the fun, how you decided on how much of a day to take out and what are the gotcas?We camp in our small 21' TT with our 2 boys 7 and 9, so we have to keep up the entertainment. We've done horseback riding and really liked that, but boating seems to be something too.We plan to camp into Kentucky more this summer. We know there are lots of parks around the flood controlled rivers that make lakes. What's your impression of these places? Do you find the marinas to be well run or is it just a tourist trap looking for your coin?Anybody bring both a tt and boat? Does that just get to be crazy or do you enjoy both together?

We have rented boats a few times. It can be very expensive. It depends what kind of boat you want. If you just rent a row goat with a motor for getting to see the lake and do a little fishing those aren't bad. Once you get into speed boats and pontoon boats they get expensive fast.

I was a avid boater before I got into RV'ing. I even have a Porta Bote and outboard that we use when RV'ing.Last summer we rented a Pontoon boat for the first time. It was $400.00 or so for a 1/2 day. Which I felt was expensive. However from experience boating is an expensive hobby.I imagine it would have cost me $200.00 or so to bring a boat with me. That's extra fuel,ramp fees gas etc. So now it cost me $200.00 more to just walk down to the dock and drive off.I would rent a Pontoon boat again for a 1/2 day or so as a treat for the kids.Boating is expensive no way around it, but renting maybe a psueudo economical way to mix boating and camping vs. owning and maintaining a boat + an RV

We have rented a boat once a summer for several years when we go to the 1000 islands. It usually costs about 300-350 for the day with a pontoon boat. We have a nice time and it is our big expense for the trip. When my children were small I carried our own life vests. I didn't want to use the marinas. We also rented many a fishing-type aluminum boat just to tool around in the various little lakes that we camped at. This is not a big expense usually 25 dollars for half a day which is plenty with little kids.

You know, I wonder about the cost of boat rental too. We have rented in Flordia, just never while camping in the midwest.I'm going to guess the average low end of the number of days a 400 dollar a day boat goes out is 10. That's 4000 revenue, maybe that's low, so lets say 5000 a month revenue.I wonder where the expenses go? First insurance, then dockage fees to own the marina, then salaries, gas that might need to be higher on this list, either loan payment or lease fess plus deprecation.All that adds up I bet. But, you know I have never met a super rich marina owner! Now that said, I bet most of them are small partnerships with the local good ole' boys who own half everything involved!I once had they guy in Florida tell me it was better to let his boat sit at 400 dollars a day than rent it every day for 200 or less. I think he was saying that 200 was too much wear and tear. His supply and demand curve made it better for him to rent less for higher, as long as the market would bear it!

Any rich marina owner was rich before he bought the marina. The saying goes " If you want to get a Million dollars when you sell the marina you have to buy one for 2 million first."

Experience with Boat rental during a trip? | Good Sam Community

Cotay
Explorer
Mar 29, 2014
We rented a Pontoon boat last summer at Lake Don Pedro for $500 for the day. Afterward we went out and purchased a Yamaha AR230. The only bad thing is now we rent a pickup to tow it if we want to take both it and the TT. Gas is expensive for sure, but we also use the boat more often for short day trips. It really opened up our outdoor activity options.
dewey02
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2014
We have our portabote mounted on the side of our Travel Trailer and we go boating and fishing wherever we go. Most state parks, National Forests, etc. have public water access boat ramps that are free. Other than out of state fishing license, we don't spend a dime. I don't think we've recouped the $2k we paid for the boat, but if we were paying $400 a pop for a pontoon rental, 5 or 6 rentals would have cost us that much. Plus, we never have to watch the clock or wait for the vendor to open up, and many good camping and fishing lakes don't even have boat rental vendors.
texas_train
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
quote=USARMYCW]A boat is something your buddy owns.
our water view home, "The most excellent Sea Ray Sapphire Queen"[
It is great to have a buddy that owns a nice boat, ... But its better to own your own and have a best buddy that owns a boat / motor repair shop!!! ;0)
GaryWT
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
We have rented a pontoon boat, it was 300 for half a day I think plus 500 deposit on a card. Wish it was a little cheaper but might do it again if it is nice. I have seen some campgrounds that are cheaper than the 300.
TheAmRheins
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
pk, I know you were asking about Ky lakes, but about the same distance there is a place in Ohio you & your boys would probably enjoy - the Mohican river where you can camp, tube, canoe - nice tame river (not deep or fast) a bit crowded on weekends but lots of fun
engine31
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
PK1023 I am a camper & a boater you will find that the fees for renting a pontoon or runabout will vary on the lakes in KY. the larger lakes and marinas are going to cost you a little more ie: ( Lake Cumberland or Dale Hollow or Kentucky Lake). The smaller lakes (Nolin, Barren, Taylorsville) a little cheaper. Also you may find that rental fees during the week are cheaper when the supply & demand is down then on a weekend. Some of the KY State parks offer weekend or daily rental specials you would have to contact the individual park and or marina. Most all offer a daily rate sun up to sundown. Most will require a deposit, but will provide you with a tank of fuel. Good luck on you search happy safe camping and boating!
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Feb 25, 2014
patperry2766 wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
Expensive? $400.00 divided by the adults(5) = $80.00 per day, each.

That is a bargain for a days worth of entertainment.

I admit it is a lot of money, but you also have a lot of people sharing in the fun.

That's assuming the cost was split evenly among all the adults..it wasnt, but it was still fun

That is your fault for making your friends pay up! :B:B:B LOL

Glad you had a good time. That is really the important part.
patperry2766
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2014
Dog Folks wrote:
Expensive? $400.00 divided by the adults(5) = $80.00 per day, each.

That is a bargain for a days worth of entertainment.

I admit it is a lot of money, but you also have a lot of people sharing in the fun.

That's assuming the cost was split evenly among all the adults..it wasnt, but it was still fun
USARMYCW
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
A boat is something your buddy owns.

I find it's cheaper to rent than to own.
matt7591
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
The happiest day in some people's life is the day they buy a boat. The second happiest day is the day they sell it. Renting is cheap!