LAKE LIFE · KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Rental seasons and what’s included
The Lake Lanier boat rental season is shaped by the parks around it. Pontoons and tritoons, kayaks and paddleboards mostly launch from the Forsyth County side — here is when the season actually runs, what comes with the boat, and who is allowed to drive it.
When the Lake Lanier boat rental season runs
The lake is open year round. The infrastructure around it is not, and that is what shapes a rental calendar.
LATE MARCH TO LATE SEPTEMBER
Ramps and day-use parks
Several Corps of Engineers day-use areas and ramps run on a season, including Keith’s Bridge and Long Hollow. Forsyth County ramps stay open 24 hours year round, with day-use areas on shorter winter hours from November through February.
MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY
Beaches and paddle outfitters
Mary Alice Park’s beach and picnic areas open for the summer season in late May, while its boat launch stays open all year. Paddle outfitters tighten their weeks outside peak — some rent Tuesday through Saturday, others serve the county parks on weekends and holidays only.
Most Forsyth-side operators do not publish fixed opening and closing dates. In April and October, call before you drive out.
What a rental includes
It varies more than you would expect from one dock to the next. Two things to confirm on the phone: the fuel policy and the deposit.
USUALLY INCLUDED
A life jacket for every person aboard and the required safety equipment. Paddle rentals typically include the paddle, a vest and basic instruction.
Several Forsyth operators walk you through a Georgia boating safety video before you leave the dock. Build ten minutes into your reservation for it.
USUALLY EXTRA
Fuel is the big variable. Some rentals hand you a full tank, others settle up when you return. Tubes, wakeboards, skis, fishing gear and captain service are add-ons.
Expect a refundable security deposit held on a card, and a late fee if the boat comes back past its slot.
Who is allowed to drive it
BOATER EDUCATION
Georgia’s rule
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1998 must have passed a Georgia-approved boater education course and carry the card on board to operate a motorized vessel. Sixteen and older may operate any vessel with photo ID showing date of birth.
OFTEN STRICTER
The rental company’s rule
Rental operators set their own floor, and it is commonly 21 or older with a valid driver’s license. Personal watercraft are tighter still — in Georgia it is illegal to rent or lease a PWC to anyone under 16.
Cancellation windows also vary widely, from a full refund 48 hours out to no refund at all. Ask when you book, not when the forecast turns. Georgia’s requirement is published by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
See who rents on the Forsyth side
Pontoons, tritoons, kayaks, paddleboards and captained charters, from Charleston Park to Pilgrim Mill Road.