There’s nothing more exciting than planning a summer getaway to a cottage with friends and family for the summer. There are all sorts of boat rental options to pick from in Ontario and it can be overwhelming to navigate each website to find the best rental price around your location. At RORE, we make your search for equipment easy.
On RORE, you’ll find some of Ontario’s hottest jet ski, boat, and sea doo rental spots. Browse daily rental prices for popular locations like Toronto, Tobermory, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Georgian Bay, Huntsville, Kawartha Lakes, Kingston, and more. Check out the most affordable prices before you make a rental reservation.
This guide will help you get started, whether you’re renting that sea doo for a great time with family or a fleet of jet skis to kick-off an adventure with your friends.
For those of you just getting started in the fun of planning an adventure or trip with equipment from RORE, we’ve also included some important things to remember before you set sail.
Jet Skis vs. Sea Doos vs. Waverunners
When it comes to personal watercraft (PWC), there’s no question that no matter what you see on YouTube, your experience will differ depending on a couple of factors: speed, comfort, reliability, and passenger capacity.
In all fairness, the term ‘jet ski’ is the model name for one of the first PWCs to hit the market, made by Kawasaki back in the 1970s. It is a commonly used term now, much like Sea-Doo (made by Bombardier) and Waverunner (made by Yamaha), which are model names that people generally use when they are referring to a PWC.
If you’re looking for a ride that everyone in the family will enjoy for a weekend, you’ll want to consider a PWC with passenger capacity. Three seater marine machines are usually more powerful, pushing roughly 1000cc (90 horsepower) or more. Keep in mind that the bigger the jet ski and the more passengers you carry, the more fuel it will take to operate.
If you’re going on a solo ride or with a couple of people with their own equipment, then you may want something more aggressive. Again, there are plenty of options out there and every brand will have something you’ll enjoy. If you’re on a smaller lake, you can get away with something light. Somewhere in the range of 800cc to 1200cc should suffice and will keep your fuel costs lower.
If you’re going to be on one of the bigger lakes in Ontario, rent something a little more powerful and fun to drive at higher speeds over waves. Consider that you may also be riding it for over an hour at a time, so you’ll want to get something a little bigger so that you’re comfortable. The cost of fuel will be a little higher but you’re adventure will be much more enjoyable.
Whether you’re renting a set of Yamaha VX Waverunners, Sea Doo GTRs or Kawasaki Jet Skis, you’re bound to find something to fit your boating needs.
Bow Riders vs. Pontoon boats
Sometimes the idea of renting a jet ski or sea doo sounds like a lot of fun, but then you realize that maybe you’d prefer something a little more relaxing to carry the family around on. Or what if you want to tow the kids on water tubes or a ski?
If you’ve changed your mind about renting a jet ski, then you’re still on the right page. Boating can also be a lot of fun on a bow rider or pontoon boat.
So, what’s the difference between these two types of boats? The main structural differences are their shapes. The bow rider usually has a pointed bow (the front of the boat) where passengers can ride. A pontoon boat is usually a little box-like. It floats on pontoons , which makes it very stable. It is very comfortable and usually has seating for more passengers. If you’d like to rent something relaxing, a pontoon boat is the way to go. On the other hand, if you have kids or teens under 15 years of age, pontoon boats may get a little boring.
For a rental that thrill seekers will love, consider a boat that can tow water tubes. What a lot of people don’t know is that jet skis can’t legally tow water tubes in Ontario. If this is a deal breaker for you, a bow rider is what you’re looking for. In order to tow a tube or a kid on skis, make sure the boat you’re getting has at least 35hp. If you are pulling an adult on skis, you will want at least 70hp to get them out of the water.
Because there are plenty of boats available for rent in Ontario, daily rental rates for boats are usually comparable to jet ski rentals.
Important Things to Remember
Rental limitations
Because sea doo and jet ski rentals can be risky for the owner, they must take reasonable precautions before you can make a reservation.
On RORE renters must be over the age of 20 and have a valid driver’s licence (preferably issued by the government of Ontario or Quebec) submitted on their rental account before they can rent any type of equipment.
In addition, you must confirm that you have a valid boating licence before any jet ski rental can be confirmed. We encourage all listers to check this documentation when the renter arrives to pickup their rental.
You must also have a valid credit card for any boat rentals. To protect the renter and the lister, cash should not be exchanged in person. It is standard practice for a lister to ask for a security deposit between $500 to $3,000 to cover services and fees as a result of any accidental damage. The deposit is held in escrow by RORE and reimbursed within 24hrs, once the lister confirms that the boat is returned safely and in good working order. This deposit may also cover the use of a trailer, which is covered in the next section.
Boat Trailer
Whether you’re booking a jet ski or boat rental, you will need to find a way to get the boats to water. In most cases, if you’ve rented something on RORE, the lister also has a trailer available to move the rental. Consider asking if the trailer is available for daily rentals, hourly rentals, or the entire rental period. In some cases the lister will include this in the price of their boat rentals.
For larger boats, you should have a car or truck with the appropriate towing capacity for the combined weight of the boat and trailer. You may also need a brake controller installed on your vehicle. For a sea doo or jet ski rental, most mid-sized vehicles with a towing package should be able to handle the weight.
Safety Equipment
Before setting out on a boat in Ontario you would be wise to look for a couple of common safety items onboard. These include life jackets for everyone onboard. Infants and children need to have a life jacket that is suitable for their weight, so be sure to check the operational effectiveness on the inside of the jacket.
Anyone driving the boat will need to take and pass a safety training test in order to get the pleasure craft operator card. This is essentially a licence to legally drive a boat. Simply search for boat safety Ontario and you should be able to find a company that issues the training and testing online.
Adventure awaits!
Now that you understand the basics of boat rentals in Ontario, what are you waiting for? Head on over to the RORE search and find that perfect sea doo boat rental, or browse various jet skis and get ready to make your trip one to remember. Happy sailing!
