Do you provide a driver for the boat?
No, we are not allowed to have any staff on board during your rental time. This is a license and insurance issue. You are renting a ‘bare boat rental’ meaning the boat and all the safety equipment is all that is provided. You are responsible for the boat and everyone on board during your rental. If you or someone in your group is not familiar with boating, then this might not be a good idea.
What are the regulations for life jackets?
First off, anyone 13 years or younger MUST have a US Coast Guard Approved Lift Jacket on at ALL times (boat on or off, moving or stopped, anchored or not). For anyone over the age of 13, your Life Jacket and throw cushion should be readily accessible and you should know where the Life Jackets and throw cushion is located on the boat at all times. We require ANYONE, regardless of age or experience, to wear a Life Jacket at any time while swimming in water deeper than their height.
Is fishing allowed on the pontoons?
YES! The Butler Chain of Lakes has been renowned for their excellent water quality and good fishing. We do not have a live well on the pontoon boats, so bring your own storage. Be careful of your tackle as a fishing hook stuck into the seat can create a tear in the seat very quickly and will be considered damage to the vessel. Fishing Permits may be obtained HERE.
Is smoking allowed on the pontoons?
NO! Absolutely no smoking is ever permitted on any of our rental pontoons. These are new luxury pontoons and smoking can easily burn holes in the seats. Further, the fuel tanks on pontoon boats are exposed (unlike the tanks in your car) which makes smoking on any boat extremely dangerous. We are ruthless with damage charges if we find burn marks in the seats from smoking. DO NOT SMOKE ON ANY RENTAL BOAT!
Do you charge a fuel fee?
No. The pontoons boats are always full of gas when you pick up your pontoon rental. Rarely does a full day rental need more than one full tank of gas. However, in that case, the renter will need to visit one of the on-lake gas stations and put enough gas in the pontoon to return back to the dock. You are not responsible for returning the pontoon full of gas.
What if it rains?
It is Florida after all, where afternoon showers are so infamous that many locals swear they can set their watch by it. During the summer months, this is an almost daily occurrence around 3pm when the heat of the day has built up and collides with cool ocean air from the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Often the rain passes as quickly as it comes, but you should seek shelter and secure loose items as a precaution. These afternoon showers differ from a frontal weather system which carry stronger storms. Therefore, if you have had the rental out on the lake more than half the day (5 hours or more) and then it starts raining, we will not reschedule another full day. More times than not, the afternoon showers will last 15-30 mins and then blow over and the sun comes…
What time in the morning can we pick up our boat?
You can pick up your boat from our dock as early as 9am. Most rentals arrive around 8am-9am to pick up their boats. Our staff will reach out to each renter in the morning of your reservation to see what time your group plans to arrive. We do this to try to time our guests arrival so all reservations do not show up at the same time, causing delays. Remember, you have all day to enjoy your boat but they MUST be returned no later than 6pm. Be safe and be early!
Is drinking/food allowed on the boat?
Yes, you are welcome to bring a cooler and snacks on the boat. We do not allow any kind of grills on the pontoons. As for alcohol, on the Butler Chain of Lakes it is legal for people 21 years and older to drink on the boat. The driver of any boat on the Butler Chain of Lakes is to be sober at ALL TIMES.
Do you allow tubing or towing/skiing from the pontoons?
Unfortunately, we do not allow tubing or towing from our luxury pontoon boats. These boats are setup for casual enjoyment on the water, not for active water sports such as skiing, tubing, etc. Also, towing/tubing greatly increases the chances of someone getting hurt on The Butler Chain and we want everyone to be as safe as possible while renting our pontoons.
Are dogs allowed on the boat?
Yes, any dog under 25lbs is allowed at an additional charge. Further, the renter agrees that ANY damage due to the dog is the responsibility of the renter to pay for. We are family owned & operated and we have large dogs of our own. They are not allowed on the boats either. As we do love animals and our dogs, we also know the possibility of damage from dogs so if you are going to bring them please keep them off the seats.