10 boat rentals near Charlotte starting at $250

Know before you go: You can’t just pull up to the lake, rent a boat and drive off into the sunset.

• Before you drive, you need to take a free boat safety class online.
• If you don’t have your boat safety certificate, or you don’t have a designated driver, many companies offer captains for an additional fee. Just make sure they’re properly licensed by the Coast Guard before you hire one.

Here are 10 boat rental companies to check out this summer:

Lake Norman

Tiki Time Boat Rentals — A company with a tiki-themed boat cruising on the lake with room for 19 passengers.

How it works: The hourly tiki boat ride starts at $250 and comes with a Bluetooth speaker, grill, seated bar, bathroom, karaoke, water mat, paddle boards and a cooler.

• Tiki Time also has other tritoon and pontoon boats starting at $75 per hour. Bookings are packaged by time on the water with options for four, six or eight hours.
• Pickup is at Hagers Creek Access Area in Mooresville.
• Book online or call (704) 900-3567.

Black Boat Club — This operator sells out every weekend. Reservations are typically needed a month in advance.

How it works: Black Boat Club has tritoon, pontoon and sports boats.

• They'll bring the boat to you — it's anchored primarily on Lake Norman, but they will also travel to Lake Wylie.
• Pricing starts at $600. They also offer luxury add-on experiences through their partnership with Upscale Studio & Events to create island setups, picnics on the water, proposal packages and custom boat styling.
• Book online.

Carolina Cruising Charters — Featured on MTV and Netflix, this company has tritoons and pontoons that can seat up to 15 passengers.

How it works: Carolina Cruising Charters provides the captain.

• Rates start at $499 and vary depending on the type of boat and how far you take it. They also offer tasting boat rides for brunch and wine.
• Additional fees vary for add-ons, including paddle boards, wakeboards and a custom video reel.
• Carolina Cruising Charters has three pickup points in Troutman, Cornelius and Denver.
• Book online or call (704) 850-5727.

Lake Effects — The company offers tritoons, ski boats and jet skis for rent year-round.

Details: Tritoons start at $359, ski boats start at $789, and jet ski rentals start at $219.

• Pick up is at 8693 NC Hwy 150 in Terrell and 571 Stutts Rd in Mooresville.
• Book online.

Morningstar Marina — This company has a 10-seat tritoon available to rent.

Details: $450-$575, not including taxes and fees.

• Tubes are available to rent for an additional $50.
• 21660 Crown Lake Dr., Cornelius.
• Book online.

Carolina Tiki  — This company has pontoons, tritoons and tiki boat options for 15-20 people.

Details: Boat rental times are available for two-, four- and five-hour time slots.

• The Cabana, which seats 20 people, is $1,300 for four hours and $1,550 for five hours.
• The Hut, which seats up to 15 people, is $1,400 for four hours and $1,700 for five hours.

• The La Cantina, which seats 18 people, is $800 for two hours and $1,300 for four hours.
• 8693 North Carolina Hwy 150, Terrell.
• Book online or email [email protected].

Lake Wylie

Lake Wylie Boat Rentals — This rental company offers pontoons that fit up to 10 people.

Details: $550-$850 for a full day (eight hours), including gas.

• $340-$625 for a half-day (four hours), including gas.
• Departs from 1010 Marina Village Dr. in Mt. Holly.
• Book online.

Tega Cay Marina — Rent a 10-passenger tritoon starting at $350, including the first full tank of gas.

Details: They offer full-day (eight-hour), half-day (four-hour) and two-hour rentals.

• Monday – Thursday half-day: $350.
• Monday – Thursday full-day: $595.
• Friday – Sunday full-day: $645.
• Evening rentals for two hours are $275.
• 28000 Marina Drive, Fort Mill, South Carolina.
• Book by phone at 803-547-2218 or email [email protected].

Boat Rental USA — Rent from a range of pontoons and boats that seat 10 to 12 passengers.

Details: They offer full-day (six-hour) and multiday specials for vacation renters.

• Prices start at $400.
• 15200 Soldier Road.
• Book online or call (980) 500-2889.

Wave Kings Watercraft and Adventures — A Black-owned boat company with tritoon boats that seat up to 12 people.

Details: They offer two-, three- and four-hour rentals.

• Two-hour rentals start at $319.99.
• Three-hour rentals start at $439.99.
• Four-hour rentals start at $549.99.
• Every Wednesday, the company hosts "wine down Wednesday" rides. Tickets are $35-$40 per person, which includes complimentary wine and snacks.
• Book online.
• Pickup locations vary. Captains or a representative will provide a pickup location prior to departure.

Editor’s note: We first published this guide in May 2022. We updated it in June 2026. This is not an exhaustive list of all the boat companies in the Charlotte area. Some platforms like Getmyboat, which has merged with Boatsetter, offer a full list of rental options to choose from.