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.
Can we pick the boat up at different times?
No. Our staff is only at the marina from around 9am to around 10am in the morning to launch the morning and full day rentals. In the afternoons our staff is only at the marina from around 1pm-3pm. We DO NOT have staff at the marina all day. You can not just arrive at any time you like. Our staff reaches out to all reservation guests each morning to coordinate your arrival time so you can communicate your arrival time to them.
Do you need a Boaters License to rent a pontoon?
If you’re born BEFORE 1988, all you need is a valid Driver’s License. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who operates a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must pass an approved boater safety course and have in his/her possession photographic identification and a boating safety education identification card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Also, as an insurance policy anyone driving the boat has to be 25 or older, regardless of licensing. If you do not have boating experience, you can take a local or online boating safety course. See the FWC approved list (including FREE courses) here: MyFWC.com Boating Safety Courses Visitors may pay a small fee for a QUICK Temporary Boating Certificate.