Jetskis and Watercraft Renting for Beginners

Even if you’ve heard of jet skis, motorboats, high-speed tubing, and other exhilarating outdoor water sports, you might not have given a lot of thought as to exactly how renting out any of those watercraft actually works.

Or, even if you do have some experience on a high-speed watercraft, it’s true that the protocol and guidelines for renting can vary from one company to the next. At Lake Mead in beautiful Las Vegas, we strongly encourage you to give us a call with any questions or concerns, but we understand that the distance to Nevada can be a bit much for our friends across the country.

While we would love to offer our services to everybody everywhere, we know that sometimes you might have to settle for a rental service closer to your home, so we’re offering these generalized tips to guarantee that your boating experience as smooth and fun as possible, even if you’re not with us.

First, you should consider the reasons to rent, as opposed to permanently buying a boat or jet ski:

More choices! You’re not committed to the feel, size, and maintenance work that comes long with buying a single vessel. Additionally, if you’ve tried renting from a number of different services in different locations, you’ll be treated to varying scenery and wildlife instead of seeing the same waters all the time.

Financial planning. An occasional day out on the lake is a much lighter blow to your wallet than investing in a boat to own full-time. While owning a vessel is definitely the right choice to make for some families, for others it’s less of a smart move. You’ll have to take on the maintenance costs, price of fuel, supplies, and even storage/docking of the vessel unless you own the waterway.

Condition of the craft. Rental jet skis, motorboats, and other vessels are kept in top condition, where buying a boat can either cost you an arm and a leg or shave off a chunk some of the price tag in favor of inheriting years of wear and tear.

Now, here are the most important tips and tricks to keep in mind when you are deciding where to rent from:

If you’re not sure how to find local renters in your area, a quick Web search can tell you what locations are near you. If that’s no help, a local tourism office, chamber of commerce, or similar outdoor fraternal organization can help you out.

Before you even head out to the location, do your research on whether you are required to carry a special license or any certification. This can vary from one state to another and even between locations within the same state. Most locations also have age requirements for passengers and for operators. If you are required to take any kind of safety education or operator’s training class, it is likely that the company can refer you to a course close by, or provide their own private instruction (almost always an additional fee).

Want to spend a day on the water but don’t know what model, type, or size of vessel is best for you and your family? That’s what the rental company is there for: to answer your questions and put your worries at ease.

If explain what you plan to do on the water – touring, relaxing, bringing a bigger crowd or something more private – they can help to match you to the perfect craft. If you’re looking for something small and fast, they can help you weigh the pros and cons of jet skis versus smaller speedboats.

Read any all all waivers, terms and conditions, and other rental agreements very carefull. These will be similar enough from company to company and mostly have to do with liability and safety, but the limits of how far you can travel, fuel refills, duration of the outing, and other details can certainly vary between locations. Some places allow you to carry out such fun activities as fishing, tubing, water skiing, even parasailing, while others restrict you to just boating. It’s also a good idea to pay attention to their protocol regarding any damage to the craft. We all like to think we’re careful enough to avoid such slip-ups, but anything is possible, especially if there’s a big crowd.

It’s a good idea to check out the vessel before you accept the keys (and the responsibility that comes with them). Make note of any scratches, stains, dents, or other visible damage. No matter how superficial, you never know when a company will try and blame those on you. List them on any paperwork you sign, and, if you’re allowed, take photographs of the vessel before you head out on it, time stamps included.

Familiarize yourself with emergency procedures and safety equipment. Make sure life jackets are always worn and fit properly, and if you notice that any of the emergency equipment is damaged or missing, speak up immediately.

These are just a few of the things to keep in mind when looking up locations to rent from. If at any time you have concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to call ahead and ask. Most of all, if you’re in the Las Vegas area, contact your friends at Lake Mead and we’ll get you all set up!

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