Fishing Boat Rental Question

[ahicks]

We have a small marina across the bay from us on a lake with a pretty good reputation for fishing, located within a large metropolitan area. Marina location just a few yards from a main highway (5 lanes, very busy). They have 8-10 rowboats and keep one in the water ready to go on a moments notice. Rarely do I see 2 of those boats out at the same time. There's a smaller place on the back side of the lake that also rents rowboats, and same story there. These places have been in the same place the last 40 -50 years.

My take is you're wasting your time, even on just a hobby level.

 

[jkust]

If I was a person not in a position to own a 14 foot boat with a 9.9hp engine or similar and was relegated to fishing from the shore and not someone who was renting a cabin at a resort paying a thousand dollars for three days and adding the rental on to the package, I would imagine the number would be a low one.
Maybe I could scrounge $35 for a whole day.

 

[R055]

I simply asked "...how much would you be comfortable paying"? Only Roscoe gave me that answer, so I sincerely thank you Roscoe. I got other people's business models, legal advice, and every possible doomsday scenario known to mankind.

Thanks everyone and have a good day.
Jim

For a 14 foot fishing boat I would pay 60-100$(depending on how nice the boat is) for 8 hours. 40 dollars max a day for just oars.

Also I wouldn't give anything more than a 150$-200$ deposit for a small fishing boat.

 

[muskyfins]

Don't have a clue where you are located, but....

Near me in northern Wisconsin tourist towns with lots of lakes:

16' SmokerCraft with 50 hp motor, electric troller, flat floor with pedestal seats, livewell and fish finder,
lifejackets and all safety equipment, delivered to your cabin or campsite,
$350 for 4 days. $450 for a week.


There are others which rent similar for 2 days, $120/ day.

And ski boats with 115 hp , skis, and tube for $500 for 2 days.

PWC go for $150 for 4 hours, and $200 for 8 hours.
Another place rents out 1 or 2 year old pontoons 24' seating for 12, for $250 a day.

Another chain of lakes near me rents out 14' boats with 9.9 motor for $45 for 4 hours, $65 per day, $300 per week.

This is what I would be willing to pay -- $65 per day,

.....

Where are you at in Wisconsin? Not trying to be arguimentative here so don't take this wrong. I've spent a lot of time renting boats in northern wisconsin. About 20 years ago, the Smokercraft/equivalent was in the $500 range. The last one I rented in Hayward was a 16' Alumacraft with flat floor and tiller 40 HP. Was $700 for the week about 3 years ago.

To the OP--see the above statement about $700/week? I had enough and looked around for a fishing rig. (about 20 years too late) I bought the smokercraft in my sig. (which is somehow not showing up) It's a little older but in remarkable shape with a 75 Mariner that runs great. No trolling motor. Paid $600. Put 2 trailer tires on it. Saved it's own cost by triple so far. Going back to Hayward with it this year in September. I can spend $350 per year on maint/battery/trolling motor/wheel brearings/insurance and still be ahead by $350. Plus can use locally, hunting, etc. So as price points go, there becomes a point where it's just not worth it.

Also IMHO it is all based on location. Where I live (Chicago suburb) it's about $750 per day for a 20' bowrider with a 3.0. Booked all summer long. You couldn't get away with that up north.

What would have prevented me from buying a boat? Keeping the rental rate about $500 per week.

 

[Fishingaddict88]

To answer your question, I would be happy paying any of the following options. Boats go for quite a bit more than that in my area.

 

[jbcurt00]

But if you were in THAT area, perhaps it wouldn't seem reasonable.

Which was part of what I tried to convey that BB missed. Here in WV, or anywhere not w in 100mi (which seems an overly generous radius) of BB's targeted resevoir, what I, you or anyone else would or wouldn't pay is virtually irrelevant. ESP for basing a business model and pricing structure.......................

 

[roscoe]

Where are you at in Wisconsin? Not trying to be arguimentative here so don't take this wrong. I've spent a lot of time renting boats in northern wisconsin. About 20 years ago, the Smokercraft/equivalent was in the $500 range. The last one I rented in Hayward was a 16' Alumacraft with flat floor and tiller 40 HP. Was $700 for the week about 3 years ago.

To the OP--see the above statement about $700/week? I had enough and looked around for a fishing rig. (about 20 years too late) I bought the smokercraft in my sig. (which is somehow not showing up) It's a little older but in remarkable shape with a 75 Mariner that runs great. No trolling motor. Paid $600. Put 2 trailer tires on it. Saved it's own cost by triple so far. Going back to Hayward with it this year in September. I can spend $350 per year on maint/battery/trolling motor/wheel brearings/insurance and still be ahead by $350. Plus can use locally, hunting, etc. So as price points go, there becomes a point where it's just not worth it.

Also IMHO it is all based on location. Where I live (Chicago suburb) it's about $750 per day for a 20' bowrider with a 3.0. Booked all summer long. You couldn't get away with that up north.

What would have prevented me from buying a boat? Keeping the rental rate about $500 per week.

Minocqau area


http://www.northernwisconsinboatrentals.com/Fishing.htm


http://www.minocquarentals.com/minocqua-wi-boat-rental.htm

Fremont area.
14' Aluminum Jon Boat w/ 9.5 HP outboard, 3 Passenger
* 3 PFD?s (life jackets) & 1 throwable/seat cushion

2 Swivel seats, fuel, and oil included.
$89/day

Eagle river

http://www.tracksideinc.com/watercraft-rentals

There are some bargains out there if you look for them, and don't need a new shiny boat, and of course RESERVE EARLY.

 

[WIMUSKY]

...

 

[briangcc]

In 1998 my parents rented a 14' boat with 9.9 Nissan and I want to say it was between $600 to $1000 for the week (7 days), Canadian. Exchange rate at that time was somewhere between 25 & 50 meaning $1US was worth between $1.25 and $1.50CA. I'll let you guys do the math. Came with required safety gear, oars, anchor, and first tank of gas - premix. We were responsible for filling the tank after that but if my memory serves, we walked to the lodge, plopped down the cash for the gas and they mixed in the required amount of oil so if it was too much it was their fault, not ours. They also had a fleet of these so that if something went wrong, we simply hopped into another boat. They had (2) staff who were constantly repairing these boats as renters other than ourselves would constantly find unique ways to bugger them up.

That being said, I wouldn't pay anything to rent one. Got soaked riding on the front bench in 6" waves. Resulted in me buying my first boat - '99 Bayliner - and taking that up on vacation the following year.


My advice - look up what local lodges/camps/rental businesses charge in your area as that's the going rate, not what I would/wouldn't pay.

 

[muskyfins]

Minocqau area


http://www.northernwisconsinboatrentals.com/Fishing.htm


http://www.minocquarentals.com/minoc...oat-rental.htm

Fremont area.
14' Aluminum Jon Boat w/ 9.5 HP outboard, 3 Passenger
* 3 PFD?s (life jackets) & 1 throwable/seat cushion

2 Swivel seats, fuel, and oil included.
$89/day

Eagle river

http://www.tracksideinc.com/watercraft-rentals

There are some bargains out there if you look for them, and don't need a new shiny boat, and of course RESERVE EARLY.

Yeah. I see now Medford in your sig. I should learn to read.:facepalm:

Just as a vantage point for the OP, I submit the following opinions on the above which is worth at least double what he paid for it....:lol:

The first link above I have actually rented from, but speaking as the customer, he has 4 boats listed (but I thinkhe actually has a few more than that) and only 2 that are reasonably priced. (IMO) I ended up on a waiting list with him and got lucky someone dropped out. Good for him I suppose if he is that busy....

Minocqua Rentals....their cheapest fishing rig is $600 per week. Above the $500 price point. I paid $600 for my boat, used it and got to keep it... Yes, i see they have a "deluxe row boat with a 15 HP" for $460. Not enough boat for my $460.

Trackside--16 foot with a 25 HP for $575. Again above that $500 price point.

Some folks might find these prices for these rigs perfectly acceptable. Just not me and it drove me frm the rental market. It's all just opion.

As many have posted here..:deadhorse:...it is all location dependent. This all works in a high demand area like Minocqua or other vaction spots where you're virtually guaranteed renters because demand outpaces supply, but there are plenty of places I believe you'd have a hard time covering the expenses.

 

[EchoNovember]

Ignoring costs and whether or not you can turn a profit, I like option C. Basing on equipment gives them choice based on their budget. Around here, renting a boat was so expensive for a basic fishing boat I gave up and just bought a boat. Heck, for the price of a daily rental once a month I could buy a new boat and pay less on loan payments...

Making it cheaper to rent for a day, even 8hrs as a full day, then to rent for 8hrs at hourly is nice. Some places just do the math for you with the daily rate. $50/hour for 8 hours = $400 daily fee. Some dropped it to $350/day, not much of a bargain. "Rent for 7 hours, get an hour free!" Knocking two hours worth off is a better deal.

Now allowing a 24 hour rental? I would LOVE to see that. I would love to rent in the afternoon, fish through dusk, then wake up and be able to go back out at dawn and not have to wait for the rental office to open. Being able to use it on your own schedule for a full day or even a full weekend would be awesome. There are places near me that rent pontoons like that and will haul to a lake of your choice within X miles, but few that rent fishing boats the same way.

As long as you can turn a profit doing it, or are running a campground and want to just break even on it so you can use list it as an amenity to attract customers ("Cheap fishing boat rentals! Newer boats, with different options based on your budget!"), then go for it. Make it affordable or severely undercut competitors, and you will probably end up with a waiting list. Oh, and have a waiting list. Nothing is worse for customers than the stress of trying to call everyday to see if one opened up, just to find out they missed it by five minutes.

 

[catfish58]

Ok, does anyone have any positive feedback? What if we get smashed by a freakin asteroid? What If nothing bad happens, people catch lots of fish and have a great time? When you rent a car is the first thing you think of someone crashing into you and killing someone? Your boat can sink at anytime or someone could drown tubing off your boat. Is that the first thing you think of?

Do you honestly think I haven't considered any​ of this? I'm not a freakin idiot you know. Geez!!!

Does the state that you live in require boaters to be certified? The state that I live in (Alabama) does.When you rent a car, you have to provide a copy of your drivers license. All boat operators are required to have passed a boaters education course and have, in their possession a Boater Education Card if you were born after April 28,1994. If you were born before that date, you were grandfathered. I was but I took the course anyway.Even without the course, I had to register with the DMV. My drivers license has a D for driver and a V for vessel. I said that to say this: anyone who rents a boat may be required to be licensed where you are. Just something to consider.