HOW TO RESERVE A PONTOON BOAT?

• You have to fill out a request for a boat on our boat portal and fill out the survey questions. You do that by selecting a boat you want and requesting to book for days you would like. From there, we will either send you an invoice or reach out with more questions.
• Just because you have requested a boat does not mean your reservation is confirmed. Once you have paid in full, your reservation is confirmed

WHAT IS Boat Club / VQUIP / BoatSTR SHOULD I BOOK THROUGH THEM?

• Boat Club is our platform that shows the boats and their pricing / availability. Please request a boat through the boat portal. VQuip is our partner platform that handles reservations and customer selected insurance once the booking has been confirmed through BoatClub software

Can we book through the website?

• Yes we take bookings through the website. We can also make the reservation and send you an invoice over the phone (336)390-5798

WHAT ARE THE OPERATOR REQUIREMENTS?

• To operate a boat in North Carolina you must be either born prior to 1988 OR have a boaters license. You can get this license for free at /www.boat-ed.com/northcarolina/.

WHAT ARE THE RENTER REQUIREMENTS?

• The renter needs to be 26 years old or older. The operator / operators need to be legally permissible to operate a boat (look above for operator requirements).

IS PULLING A TUBE, SKIING OR WAKEBOARDING ALLOWED?

• Each boat is different in this regard. "Family Fun on Hyco Lake", "The Bentley", and "Ready for Fun" do not permit tubing, the other boats do permit it. We can rent tubes at an additional cost per day. If you rent a tube you must purchase insurance. Any other water sport must be provided by the renter. Please be careful and tell our crew what you plan on doing so they will safely teach you how to do so.

CAN I RENT A TUBE OR ROPE FROM YOU?

• Yes you can rent a tube per day but you must purchase insurance as well through VQuip booking

ARE PETS ALLOWED ON THE BOATS?

• Yes. We love our pets and will love on yours. However, if they chew any of the seats up or do any damage, your credit card that is held will be charged.

HOW OLD DO WE NEED TO BE TO RENT THE BOAT?

• 26 years old or older. Look above for operating requirements.

IS THERE A DELIVERY FEE TO HYCO LAKE?

• No. If you want the boat delivered to a dock on the lake there is a $45 delivery fee. Delivery to the Lake Authority Boat Ramps (205 Kelly Brewer Rd. Leasburg, NC) is free.

DOES HYCO LAKE BOAT RENTALS DELIVER TO OTHER LAKES?

• No. We used to have an operation on Jordan Lake but consolidated operations due to staffing shortages. We recommend Motor-Boatin for Falls Lake

WHERE IS THE BOAT DELIVERED TO?

• Unless otherwise coordinated we deliver boats to the Hyco Lake Authority Boat Ramps.
• The address is 205 kelly brewer road Leasburg, NC
• The boat should be in the water and ready by your scheduled pickup time

HOW MUCH IS PARKING AT THE HYCO LAKE AUTHORITY?

• Parking costs $10 for the full day at the Hyco Lake Authority. Go into the Lake Authority office to get your pass for the day.

WILL YOU DELIVER TO HOUSES ON THE LAKE?

• Yes, we deliver and pick up from houses for a $40 fee. We will do boat orientation on the dock.

CAN WE KEEP THE BOATS AT A HOUSE OVERNIGHT?

• Yes, if you are staying at a house on the lake and the dock is safe for a pontoon boat with good water depth, you can keep it overnight.
• If you are doing this, we need to deliver the boat to you to instruct you on potential hazards in that area. Delivery is $40.
• You CANNOT operate the boat at night (dusk to dawn)

CAN WE OPERATE THE BOAT AT NIGHT?

• ABSOLUTELY NOT. This is very dangerous. There are hazards on the lake. You are only permitted to operate from dawn to dusk.

HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DO WE BOOK UP COMPLETELY?

• Some weekends all boats are reserved a couple of weeks or longer in advance. While less common, the same goes for some week-days. There have been holidays that we have a boat not rented until the night before or that morning. There have been holidays where they were all rented out a month in advance. The answer to this question is-as soon as you know a date, that is when you should book it.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO RESERVE?

• As soon as you are positive of a date, reserve/book it. Please note that reservations aren't complete until you have paid.

ARE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED?

• Yes. There is no office to walk in and grab a boat. If we have a boat and our crew has availability, you can rent it the same day. No guarantees of availability on any given day. You can call, text, email. Even for same day rentals. First check the website for Availability, if you aren’t sure or have questions, please call/text. Mainly because we are not already in the water. Do not drive to the lake to find us.

DO YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL LOCATION?

• No, we are a completely remote service. Do not try and find us without coordinating with us ahead of time.

WHAT TIMES ARE THE BOATS AVAILABLE?

• We are flexible, however, only to an extent. These times are preplanned prior to the day of rental. Renters can’t just leave the boat at the dock. They are the renter’s responsibility until you see and speak to a representative of Hyco Lake Boat Rentals LLC. We aim to deliver boats around 10 am and pick them up at 6 pm, however, our crew calls you prior to your reservation to finalize these times.

CAN YOU LEAVE THE BOAT UNATTENDED?

• No, the answer to this question with any additional reasoning is still NO. Hyco Lake Authority is a public ramp and no watercraft can be left unattended. To go to the restrooms or your vehicle, still NO. Have someone stay on the boat. To go to the store, NO. The obvious reason is it could be stolen or vandalized and it is your responsibility during the entire rental period. It is the renter’s responsibility until they see and speak to a representative of Hyco Lake Boat Rentals LLC. If you feel you will need to leave the boat ramp in your vehicle-please delegate someone to stay with and on the craft while you are gone.

DO YOU OFFER JET SKI RENTALS?

• No

DD YOU OFFER HALF-DAY RENTALS?

• You are welcome to ask us but we do not normally offer half day rentals. Sometimes, we can accommodate them depending on our crew’s availability.

IS GAS INCLUDED?

• Prices do not include fuel. You start with a full tank of gas and it is refueled when finished. Fuel consumption will vary depending on YOUR usage. For a $25 convenience fee, Hyco Lake Boat Rentals will fill it up for you and charge the card on file for your convenience. You are also welcome to do this. The fueling station is at the Marina which is a couple minute boat ride from the Lake Authority. Please be advised that there could be a line at the Marina so give yourself plenty of time to refuel. Please use non-ethanol gas if you fill it up and you must show our crew the receipt. If you do not use non-ethanol, we will have to drain the entire gas tank and refill it. In this case, we’ll increase the convenience fee to $50 and charge you for the gas. PLEASE JUST EITHER DON’T REFILL OR FILL WITH NON-ETHANOL. If you do not show us the receipt, we will assume you used ethanol gas and we will charge you the additional fee.
• DO NOT bring gas cans with gas thinking you will fill up on your own. Odds are, the gas is not Non-Ethanol and is not what we put in the equipment. And creates a repair bill for you.
• You will receive the boat full of gas. It is possible to use an entire tank in a day, this being said, air on the side of caution and refill the boat as needed (with non-ethanol gas).
• If you get gas, show the receipt to our crew.

WHERE CAN THE BOAT BE FILLED UP ON THE LAKE?

• You have the option to go to the only thing / Marina on the lake. The Hyco Lake Marina. Some basic food, drinks, snacks, AND ICE CREAM are also available there. If you decide to fill up there, please allow yourself plenty of time to get there, fill up and another 15-30 minutes to get to the dock at the preset time. While at the Marina, please use bumpers and have someone stand with the equipment to keep it off the metal parts of the docks. Damage caused by no bumpers and bouncing off the dock is still damage and costly.
• The address to the Marina is 9500 Semora Rd, Leasburg, NC 27291

DO YOU OFFER JET SKI RENTALS?

• No

ARE THERE FOOD OPTIONS ON THE LAKE?

• Yes, the Hyco Lake Marina has some food options (pizza, burgers, ice cream, etc.)
• Buoy’s Bar and Grill is right next to the Marina and is a good sit-down food option. The hours for Buoy’s differ so feel free to call in to them ahead of time to check. Their number is (336) 330-6000.

WHAT BUSINESSES ARE ON THE LAKE?

• The only businesses are the Hyco Lake Marina and Buoy’s Bar and Grill. The lake Authority Park is the only public swimming / park area. The lake authority park has a bathroom.

CAN YOU RENT DURING THE WEEK?

• Yes absolutely. We recommend reservations in advance.

What is the weather policy?

• We do not want anyone boating in unsafe conditions. PLEASE WATCH THE WEATHER DAILY. IF THE WEATHER APPEARS UNSAFE, LET US KNOW AND WE WILL EITHER WORK TO FIND ANOTHER DATE THAT WORKS OR WILL REFUND YOU.

What if there is thunder / lightning during our rental?

• Safety is our biggest priority. n the event of lightning, thunder, or encountering other unexpected ominous weather conditions, return to launch site immediately, or seek shelter off the water (whichever is closest & safest). Contact Hyco Lake Boat Rentals staff immediately letting them know you are safe, along with your location.

WHAT IF I AM LATE FOR THE PICK UP TIME?

• If the renter, operator, or anyone in the group is 15 minutes late, there is a $25 late fee due to throwing off the schedule. The renter may have to wait until a Hyco Lake Boat Rentals rep can get back around to you to give the instructional. The time gets finalized when you speak with our crew chief Shannon. Our crew is flexible but be upfront on when you ACTUALLY will be ariving.

WHAT ABOUT RETURNING THE BOAT LATE?

• Please stay aware of the time of day. If you give us an hour’s notice, we can change the pickup time. Less than an hour’s notice, and this is increasingly difficult.
• If there is no communication regarding a late return, there is a $50 late return charge after the first 30 minutes of being late. We are usually sitting waiting on that boat and can’t bring others in when they arrive.

WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE LATE FEES?

• Think about the reason you are on the water and who you are with. You are enjoying TIME with FAMILY and FRIENDS. We also enjoy the same. That’s the reason for the schedule. Time is money and we are away from our family and friends. And if you are late returning, we are late working. Thank you for your understanding.

PLEASE NOTE (these should be a given, but we’ve seen each one and many more that we just couldn’t list)

• DO NOT ALL GATHER AND AT THE BACK OF THE BOAT AND TAKE A SELFIE OR GATHER AT THE BACK OF THE BOAT AT ONE TIME FOR ANY REASON. In fact it is not safe to gather at either end or side at one time. We have heard stories of a boat flipping with people piled on the front and some drowned. On the back, Pontoons have motors that are built to suck up and use water for cooling, not for running under it.
• DO NOT OPEN THE GATES OR GO OUTSIDE THE CABIN WHILE THE MOTOR IS ON
• CUT THE BOAT ENGINE PRIOR TO ANYONE LEAVING THE CABIN OR GOING INTO THE WATER

RENTAL INSURANCE AND DAMAGE DEPOSIT

• There is no insurance policy that covers renters and their negligence while boating. We do partner with VQuip to provide an insurance option to renters.
• We do not charge a deposit but you do authorize us to charge the card on file for damages
• Renters are UNINSURED while renting our equipment. Yes we have business insurance, but you do not have insurance unless you purchase an option through our partner VQuip. Any damage through your negligence is your responsibility. We have a $2000 deductible for our insurance. If something happens that calls that entire deductible, we will split that with you.

SCHEDULING TIMES

• In a perfect world, you and I are there 15 minutes early. We live in a Great World, not a Perfect World. There is a fee if you arrive to pick up over 15 minutes after your scheduled time. When determining your pick up times, please take into consideration the earliness of the day, the people in your party that drag their feet and don’t believe in late fees, traffic, life. Please don’t set 10am (or any other time) then show up 10-15 minutes after that. Just set the time for 11am. Once you arrive, there is about 5-10 minutes of instructional time depending on questions and eager family/friends, then you are free. Loading your things can be done after the instructional or better yet, have the rest of your party lug everything down while you stand in the shade and learn about the boat. We try to be there, in the water waiting on you at your time. Please be on time. There’s a late pick up fee. The Renter has to be there to accept the boat as well as the Operator, if other than the Renter is operating the craft. We only release the boat to the Renter. However, we still need everybody there for safety training and orientaion. All boat passengers and operators will need to sign that they received the orientation,

CAN WE TIP THE CREW?

• Absolutely, you can do so through the Square payment processor or in person.

WHERE ARE THE BRAKES? or HOW DO I STOP THIS THING?——————-THERE ARE NONE AND USE REVERSE TO SLOW DOWN.

• As much as I think those are hilarious, newbies to the operations of watercrafts have asked these. The answer is There are no brakes.

WHY ISN’T THE BOAT MOVING?——————IS THE MOTOR DOWN IN THE WATER??

• I did have a customer call and I could hear the motor running, it was a new boat and the motors are quiet in the water. I asked if the motor was in the water and (giggled) it was trimmed all the way up. So I seriously say in a joking manner, “The motor works best in the water.” The trim button is on the gear shifter and your thumb easily squeezes it to the up position.

THE BOAT WILL NOT CRANK——————-CHECK THE KILL SWITCH AND IS IT IN NEUTRAL

• This could be valid. Hopefully not with our newer boats. 99.5% is-be sure the shifter is in neutral and be sure the kill switch is attached. Unless your entire party has gathered at the back of the boat and submerged the motor, then in that case-It ain’t gonna crank! Stop trying, it is doing more damage! Call us.

HOW DO YOU RENT IF WE AREN’T AT THE MARINA OR HAVE A DOCK?——-WE DELIVER TO 205 KELLY BREWER ROAD. LEASBURG, NC

• We deliver the watercraft to the water specifically for you at preset times (that are set the day before when our crew chief calls you to finalize) to the Hyco Lake Authority Boat Ramps. It is extremely important and respectful to be as prompt as possible and even more so if you are going to be late, please let us know. Even tho we are dedicated to Hyco Lake Boat Rentals and love meeting each of you, it is the weekend and we have family to enjoy as well. So a well kept plan is good for everyone.

WHO MEETS US AT THE DOCK?

• Shannon and Kevin are a husband and wife team that is the integral part of our operation. They deliver the boats and go over safety training and tips to enjoy boating on Hyco. They have been fishing on Hyco for decades and know every inch of the lake. They are also very friendly, funny, and really care about making sure you have a great (yet safe!!!) time on the water.

HOW DID HYCO LAKE BOAT RENTALS START?

• My father and I operate a rental property on the lake and were tired of our guests asking us for boat referrals and having no options for them! We first figured out the logistics for providing a boat option to guests staying at our house and from there decided we would work to provide the option to whomever wanted an affordable and enjoyable boating option on Hyco.

Boat Rental Agreement

RESERVATIONS

• THE RENTAL AND TAXES ARE PAID AT THE TIME OF RESERVATION. THE SECURITY DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED.

PICKUP AND RETURNS:

• PICK UPS/DELIVERIES ARE BETWEEN 8:00 AM AND 11:00AM-TO BE SCHEDULED BEFORE THE DAY OF RENTAL. RETURNS ARE 6:00PM AT THE LATEST-TO BE SCHEDULED BEFORE THE DAY OF RENTAL. OTHER ARRANGEMENTS MAY BE AVAILABLE WITH PRIOR APPROVAL AND ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY APPLY. THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS ON EARLY RETURNS, OR LATE PICKUPS.

ELIGIBILITY:

• ALL RENTERS MUST BE 26 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER AND HAVE A VALID DRIVERS LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION. EACH DRIVER MUST BE LISTED ON THE BOATER PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT AND MEET THE NC BOATING LAWS AND WILL BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RENTAL AGREEMENT.

DAMAGE DEPOSIT / CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION

• WE DO NOT TAKE A DAMAGE DEPOSIT BUT WE DO REQUIRE A CARD ON FILE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL DAMAGES. DO NOT LEAVE THE EQUIPMENT UNATTENDED. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE UNTIL WE CHECK THE EQUIPMENT BACK IN.

CANCELLATION

• Cancellation will result in the loss of half the damage deposit ($100). RESCHEDULING AHEAD OF TIME, UP UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE IS FREE. No-shows that do not call to cancel forfeit their entire rental amount.

WEATHER POLICY:

• PLEASE WATCH THE WEATHER DAILY. IF THE WEATHER APPEARS UNSAFE, LET US KNOW AND WE WILL EITHER WORK TO FIND ANOTHER DATE THAT WORKS OR WILL REFUND YOU.

BOAT EQUIPMENT:

• EACH EQUIPMENT IS EQUIPPED WITH ALL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT REQUIRED, INCLUDING LIFE JACKETS (10 NORMAL SIZED LIFE JACKETS). IF YOU HAVE KIDS OR UNIQUELY SIZED INDIVIDUALS, BRING JACKETS THAT FIT THEM ACCORDINGLY.