Please arrive 31 minutes BEFORE your departure time to find parking, sign waivers, use bathrooms, and listen to our safety speech and operating instructions. This way you will get your full time out on the water. If you show up at 9 for a 9 o’clock rental that will eat into your time—we cannot extend your rental timeslot because we need the boat back at the return time to clean and gas the boat for its next rental. Please be aware of your travel time so there is no rush and you are able to receive your full time on the lake!!

Parking is EXTREMELY limited in Tahoe. We are lucky at Tahoe Vista Inn and Marina to have our own private lot, but we have space for only ONE car per boat reservation. If you are bringing more than one car, there is free street parking in front of our location, although it can fill up early on weekends and even weekdays.

Unfortunately, late arrivals do not receive extra time. Your rental period starts at the scheduled departure time, so we strongly encourage early arrival to ensure you get your full time on the water. We do our best to accommodate everyone but we also need to respect the time of the renters who have the vessel after you and our closing time so our employees don’t have to stay late.

NLTBR only rents to customers over the age of 21.

We do not allow renters within 200 yards of shore or to anchor the boat without a captain. This includes docking and beaching the boat. Anchoring in Tahoe is EXTREMELY difficult with our depths and weather. You may float with the boat in the off or accessory position. If you would like to pull up to the on-the-water restaurants you can hire one of our captains!

You will be fined $500 if excessive sand is in the boat. The only way that can happen is if you beached the boat or brought it to a dock.

No, It is not required. We do recommend getting your CA Boaters Safety card for an optimal time out on the water.

CA BOATERS CARD

We will give you a safety and operation briefing before every rental! We want to make sure you are comfortable before leaving the dock.

BRING:

  • Water, Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hats, Swimsuit, Towels
    • Reusable water bottles preferred
    • Rub-on sunscreen preferred
  • Jackets and layers recommended
  • Food, cups, and drinks
    • We can provide a cooler & limited ice for free
    • Alcohol is permitted but not allowed for any drivers

Do NOT Bring:

  • Messy foods: anything that will leave stains
    • i.e. Cheetos, mustard, nacho cheese
    • We will charge a cleaning fee if our seats are stained
  • Glass
  • Styrofoam coolers
    • These are not allowed on Lake Tahoe
  • Dog (unless you are renting the single-decker pontoon)

Yes!

We provide U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejackets for every passenger, including children and infants. Lifejackets are required to be worn THE ENTIRE TIME when jet skiing, tubing, and for everyone under 13 years of age (USCG law). We provide lifejackets in sizes Infant- 4XL, but you are more than welcome to bring your own Coast Guard-approved lifejacket.

Unfortunately, puddle jumpers are not Coast Guard-approved since they are not designed to keep an unconscious child’s face out of the water and do not undergo the same rigorous testing as a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket.

Yes, subject to availability. If you wish to change your boat type or upgrade, please contact us as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

Yes, we offer multi-day rentals. Your accommodation must have a private mooring or boat lift for safe overnight mooring options. Please contact us directly to discuss your specific needs.

We offer discounts for full-day rentals ONLY. Please call or email 5 days or more prior to booking/departure date to learn more.

Cancellation Policy: No refunds, full or partial, include the non-refundable 6% booking fee. If you cancel 14 days or more before your departure date, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel within 14 days we will refund 50%, hold a credit for the full amount, or reschedule you. Day-of cancellations are ineligible for refunds, but they can be rescheduled or a credit for the full amount can be put on your account. Please note that rescheduling or holding a credit makes you ineligible for a future monetary refund.

Weather Policy: NLTBR reserves the right to reschedule due to weather. Safety is our priority and we will not send you out if we do not deem it safe. This is solely NLTBR’s decision and will be made on the DAY OF your rental. If it is made and you choose not to reschedule, you may hold a credit or be refunded. If there is a state of emergency (wildfire, weather, etc.) we will hold a FULL CREDIT for you. If AQI is measured DAY OF at 150 AQI we will reach out to renters. At 201 AQI we cancel all rentals. We do not give cash refunds. Credits have no expirations and can be used for ANY future rental with us. If you get less than half of your rental time due to weather, we will compensate for time lost on the lake. Time does not correlate directly to price.

Fuel is not included in bareboat rentals. Our boats are filled before every rental and upon your return so that you only pay for what you used. Fuel is typically charged to the card on file within 24 hours of rental completion, subject to weather and gas dock operation hours. 6-pack charters (ex. Sunset Cruise) and jet ski rentals DO include the price of fuel.

Fuel is currently $8.69/gal at North Tahoe Marina. Half Day rentals average 10-15 gallons while Full Days average 15-30 gallons. THIS IS NOT A QUOTE, only an estimate for your budgeting purposes. Fuel consumption will vary based on activities, speed, engine off time and other variables.

What is a Bareboat Charter?

Because Lake Tahoe is a federally governed lake the rules may be different than the lake you are coming from, even if you live in California. Per the US Coast Guard definition:

Charter (bareboat) Operation: A valid (bareboat) charter is an agreement where the charterer has use of the vessel for a period of time and is considered the owner. A charterer takes on the legal obligations, is responsible for the crew, passengers carried, and others.

Elements of a valid bareboat charter may include:

1) The charterer must have the option of selecting & paying crew, although the owner may require general levels of proficiency for the crew that is retained based on federal statutes;

2) The master/crew are paid by the charterer;

3) All food, fuel and stores are provided by the charterer;

4) Insurance is obtained by the charterer;

5) The charterer is responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel;

6) A platform for events that does not involve consideration, even when moored at the pier;

7) The vessel is surveyed upon return to the owner.

We have our own list of captains you may choose from, or if you would like to bring your own captain for your bareboat charter, they must bring:

  • A Valid MMC
  • Proof of 2 years employment on Tahoe (Pay stub/W2)
  • Possess a basic CPR/First Aid card (Current)

USCG Bareboat Charter Information

Afternoon timeslots are priced higher due to demand. Many visitors book the afternoons, assuming it’s the best time to be on the lake.

However, mornings on the lake are typically much calmer, with glass-like water and fewer boats, providing the perfect conditions for tubing, cruising, and soaking in the serene beauty of Tahoe. We understand that sleeping in while on vacation is tempting, but trust us—waking up a bit earlier is worth it. Peaceful mornings on the lake set up your entire day to be memorable and enjoyable. Plus, morning slots come at a lower price, giving you an exceptional experience and greater value.

Don’t just take our word for it—try the morning slot and see the difference for yourself!

Our Pontoon is the only vessel that we allow dogs on. MAXIMUM of 2 adult, fully potty trained dogs. We want to keep our boats in the best condition and although we love dogs, cleaning up their hair takes a long time.

Pricing does not include gratuity for Captains or Dockhands. If they provided you with above and beyond service, it’s a great way to show your appreciation for their work. For Captains, typical gratuity for a half-day (3 ½) hour rental is $100, and for a full day (7 hours) is $200.

YES! We require that one adult stays on the boat at all times and stays aware of the surroundings. Boats can float away quickly as wind picks up. Be aware of anyone in the water BEFORE starting the boat or even getting into the captain’s chair.

There are no specific age restrictions for passengers. However, all children under 13 are required by law to wear a lifejacket at all times while on the boat. We provide all lifejackets.

We HIGHLY recommend an AM rental with young kids. It will work best with nap times and the lake is often SIGNIFICANTLY calmer in the morning.

No, our boats do not have bathrooms on them.

Yes, you may fish from our boats. You must purchase or have a valid California or Nevada fishing license, depending on your location on the lake.

Fishing License Resources:

CA – online or in person through local sales agent

NV – online

We provide a complimentary tube upon request with our speedboat rentals (except for our Budget boat). For pontoons, we offer lily pads (large foam rollouts that float on top of the water) as an optional add-on for $40.

Please note that personal equipment is not permitted for use behind our boats.

Our employees created a guide to help you plan your trip to Tahoe. Included are activities for both on and off the boats.

GUIDE TO TAHOE

Watch Our NLTBR Safety Guide