Frequently Asked Questions

To rent any watercraft you must be 25 years of age with a valid drivers license. We rent Pontoon boats, Wake boats and Wave runners.  All watercraft have the same policy. 

A $100 deposit required per half day rental booking. This deposit is refundable as long as you give us 48 hour notice before your scheduled booking departure. Or if we make a determination that the weather is unsafe for boating we will refund your deposit.  All other deposit refunds are at our sole discretion. 

Your deposit is refundable as long as you give us 48 hour notice before your scheduled booking departure. Or if we make a determination that the weather is unsafe for boating we will refund your deposit.  All other deposit refunds are at our sole discretion.

The answer is yes! To better service you we have watercraft in all three of those locations. You will find the location of each boat in the title description. All of our boats are on the water with assigned docking.  We are NOT able bring a boat to a different docking location. Please read the location in title description and be prepared to go to the boats location for pickup. 

Current state regulations do not require a boaters license at this time. However we do ask that you are competent in operation of watercraft, and have operated watercraft in the past.  The renter is 100% responsible for any damage  to the watercraft until it is safely returned to Flathead Boat Rental for inspection. If the watercraft is damaged and is in not rentable the renter is responsible to pay for any damage and downtime at full price. 

No,  Fuel / Gas is an additional charge prices vary based on current marine market conditions. Our boats require premium non ethanol fuel.  All rentals will leave the dock with a full tank of fuel and you only pay for the fuel you use.  Minimum fuel charge is $30.  The triple pontoon boats have 50 gal tanks. The wake boats  have 56 gallon tanks.  The typical rental uses between 1/4 to 1/2 of a tank of gas on the boats.  For example if you rent a pontoon and use 1/4 of a tank of fuel.  the pontoon has a 50 gallon tank so 0.25X50=12.5 gallons. You will be charged the marine market rate per gallon times 18.75 gallons.  If the marine rate is $6.00 your fuel charge will be $75. All boats rented from the Lakeside location return to the fuel dock at the end of the rental period and will be refueled at the pump you will pay the harbor separately for the fuel cost.

Life jackets are included with all rentals. Life jackets are required by state law. 12 years and younger must wear a life jacket at all times.  All persons must wear a life jacket while on a wave runner or when in the water for any reason at all times. We carry life jackets for most shapes and sizes however if you would be more comfortable bringing your own life jacket it must be US Coast Guard approved.  

Yes, absolutely a captain is available for the surf boat lessons and charters at all times. If your group requires a captain there is an additional charge per hour. Please let us know in advance if your group requires a captain. 

"Encore" in Somers, "Reel Escape" in Lakeside, and "Fishful Thinkin'" in Bigfork are our fishing friendly boats. Please book choose one of these if you want to go fishing. If you are not fishing you can still book one of these boats they come with a towable tube as well. 

A STATE ISSUED FISHING LICENSE IS REQUIRED TO BRING FISHING EQUIPMENT ON THE BOAT.  IF YOU PLAN ON FISHING ON THE RESERVATION WATERWAYS YOU MUST ALSO GET A TRIBAL FISHING LICENSE.  Your Montana fishing license can be purchased at the state website link here. https://ols.fwp.mt.gov/

All of our Pontoon boats are Pet Friendly.  No pets allowed on our Wake Boats no exceptions.

Here is a list of capacities from greatest to least. For your safety please do not exceed these posted capacities. 

Voyager: 25 foot Triple Pontoon 17 passengers, 12 adults max 2455# Max Persons and gear, engine 200HP,  50 Gal fuel tank.

Grizzly and Bobcat: 24 foot Triple Pontoons are 16 passengers, 12 adults max 2255# Max Persons and gear, engine 150HP,  50 Gal fuel tank.

Encore, Group Therapy, and Happy Hour  :  are 23 foot Triple Pontoons 13 passengers, 10 adults max 1890# Max Persons and gear, engine 150HP, 50 Gal fuel tank.

Fishful Thinkin' and Reel Escape: 23 foot Triple Pontoons are 13 passengers, 10 adults max 1890# Max Persons and gear. engine 150HP, 50 Gal fuel tank.

Axis Wake Boat: 14 Passengers, 2100# Max Persons and gear, Engine 400HP, 56 Gal fuel tank. 

Pontoon boats include 1-2 passenger towable tube as requested at no additional charge. 

Wake Surf Boats include 1-2 passenger towable tube as requested at no additional charge.  Wake surf boat also includes a Wake Surf Board at no additional charge.

WE DO NOT include or rent Water skis or Wake boards feel free to bring your own.

DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN TOWABLES only our 2 rider tubes are allowed behind our boats.

Our service area does include Wild Horse Island to site see. However there are no public docks on the island itself.  So yes you can take the boat to the island however you cannot make landing on the island. Our boats must stay 300 feet away from shore so there is no way to get onto the island. 

No under no circumstances can you beach any of our watercraft including the Wave runners. All of our watercraft must remain 300 feet away from the shore and other boats or objects on the lake unless coming into the docking areas.   The renter is 100% responsible for any damage  to the watercraft until it is safely returned to Flathead Boat Rental for inspection. If the watercraft is damaged and is in not rentable the renter is responsible to pay for any downtime at full price.  

No there are areas you cannot take the watercraft. The lake is 15 miles wide and 27 miles long with a surface area of 191 square miles. Our service areas extends down the south shore of Wild Horse Island. Yes you can make a loop around Wild Horse Island.  East shore travel only recommended to woods bay however our service extends South to Blue Bay.  Blue bay is due west of Wild horse Island.  All of our boats have GPS navigation with clearly marked service areas. Under no circumstances can our boats travel outside service area further South then the line that extends east from Wildhorse island to blue bay. However this does give you access to nearly 3/4 of the lake.  DO NOT take our watercraft through  Finely point or the Narrows to Polson bay. 

Yes, However there is a Sandbar which extends 300 yards all along the North shore of the lake. You must find the channel and follow the channel markers to go up the river safely. Sportsman's bridge Hwy 82 is the furthest you can travel up Flathead River.  Travel in the river has greater risk experienced boaters only please.  The renter is 100% responsible for any damage  to the watercraft until it is safely returned to Flathead Boat Rental for inspection. If the watercraft is damaged and is in not rentable the renter is responsible to pay for damage and any downtime at full price.