Rental Policies

All Rental Fees are Due upon Booking

Rental is paid in full at the time of booking for taking the watercraft off-line. Payment can be made online via credit card.

Day of Rental Deposits will be authorized with a credit card on the day of booking and will stay authorized for seven business days.

Cancellation Policy 

Any Cancellation of any kind will result in a cancellation/restocking fee of 10% of your rental. During peak season (May through September) Customers must cancel one month in advance to receive 90% of their money returned. This is to ensure that only serious inquires apply and guests can plan their vacations accordingly. Cancellations not in peak season, must cancel one week in advance to receive 90% of their money returned. Cancellations made outside of the grace period will result in 50% of money returned. Cancellations/Refunds will not be made if the customer already has possession of the watercraft and asks to cancel their reservation. Weather does not justify a cancellation.

Launch Time & Pick-Ups

Renters must arrive at the BRBR rental office 20-30 minutes before reservation time to complete the necessary safety information and boat/jet ski inspection. These items are required; if you are late, time will not be extended to the rental period.  Late fees of $50 per 15 minutes of being late will be charged to the card on file during Peak Season (May- September), as we run on a tight schedule to ensure everyone gets on the lake in a timely manner. The public boat ramp will be busier the later your launch time is. This is something that is out of our control, thank you for your understanding.

If renters are late for their pickup by more than one hour, a call must be made to the office. If no call is made, the rental may be forfeited, as well as all rental fees. No refund will be issued. 

“No Show” renters will be charged the total rental amount.

Requests to be taken out of the water earlier than your pick-up time will NOT result in a refund issued for time not used.

Weather Policy

Please understand, Blue Ridge Boat Rentals is based in the North Georgia Mountains, which is a rain forest type of climate. We cannot control the weather, and it does rain almost daily for very brief periods of time.

BRBR reserves the right to cancel any reservation due to dangerous weather conditions. If BRBR does cancel a reservation due to inclement weather, a refund for the total rental amount will be issued to the customer in the form of a rental voucher that is valid for one year.

The prediction of inclement weather, light rain, and/or clouds does not justify a rental cancellation. If the watercraft is out on the lake for more than 4 hours and returns early because of inclement weather, there will be NO refund.  If the watercraft is out on the lake for less than 4 hours and returns early because of inclement weather, there will be a rental voucher of $150.

If the following conditions exist on the lake: heavy rain lasting more than 1 hour, lightning, thundering, tornado advisory, severe winds, or any conditions BRBR considers this unsafe boating conditions, then the renter will be given a rental voucher for time not used during the rental.

Weather conditions and weather checks can only be given in person on the day of the rental based on the actual weather conditions on the lake at the time of the rental, not future weather predictions and/or forecasts. 

Gasoline

Watercraft fuel tanks will be full at the time of departure. The renter will be responsible to pay for the fuel cost for the duration of the rental. This charge will be charged to the card on file.

Pre & Post-Rental Inspection 

The pre-inspection is to go over any previous damage to the watercraft, as well as a safety tutorial.

The post-inspection is to go over the watercraft, just like the pre-inspection, to see if there is any visible damage to the watercraft. If the watercraft is not taken out of the water after your rental, our mechanics will do the inspection at BRBR. BRBR has the right to inspect the watercraft up to 7 business days post rental for any damage that was not noticed while in the water.

Towables (tubes, water skis, wakeboards, etc.)

Renters ARE NOT allowed to bring and use their own towables.  Towables include tubes, water skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, etc. Other items not allowed to be brought on BRBR watercraft include kayaks, surfboards, and paddleboards.  Bringing and/or using a personal tube will result in losing your deposit. Water toys and floats, such as noodles and lounging floats, are allowed. 

Tow equipment failure or non-use of towing equipment during the rental period WILL NOT result in a refund. If there is a failure with a rental item, call the office (706-900-0033) as soon as possible. The equipment will be replaced as soon as possible. 

Sea-Doos and Wave Runners ARE NOT allowed to pull any towable of any kind!  If this policy is not adhered to, Renter will forfeit their security deposit.  

Arriving Late Fee

Renters are required to arrive at our office by the designated rental time. We suggest arriving at least 20-30 minutes before. Arriving late could result in a fee of $50 for every 15 minutes the renter is late.

Returning Late Fee

Renters are required to arrive at the Lakewood Landing Boat Ramp by the designated return time assigned. Returning the watercraft after the designated return time will incur a late fee.  This charge is $50 for every 15 minutes the Renter is late. 

Damages

The entire security deposit will be authorized on the day of the rental to the Renter’s credit card on file for each watercraft rented. If there is ANY damage to the rented watercraft, the Renter will be responsible for that damage. This applies to all damages, no matter how big or small.  The deposit will be released if no damage has occurred. 

If damaged and after an appropriate deposit is paid, BRBR will take the craft to be accessed (by the repair shop of BRBR’s choosing) for the remaining repairs required to get the watercraft back to the condition it was before the rental. Suppose the required repairs cost more than the deposit. In that case, the renter’s credit card on file will be charged the remaining amount, plus associated costs (including transportation fees, parts, labor, and lost revenue). 

A lost revenue fee amounting in the daily rental rate of the boat will be charged to the renter for each day the damaged watercraft is out of commission.

Protection

Protect your rental from an unforeseen accident. Accidents happen, and we understand that! Protect yourself from additional charges. This rental protection covers; lost buoys, anchors, dock-lines, ropes, first aid kits, paddles, throwables, or phone cords. This protection also covers damage to any accessories such as, tubes, water-skis, wakeboards, wake surf boards, kneeboards, or lily pads, Sunchills, also any accessory ropes included with the towable. 
*This protection does not cover damages to the watercraft itself! Each rental will be subject to a rental security allowance that will be held on the card for the duration of the rental. For more in depth information about our rental security deposit, please see “Rental Deposit” on our website and on your waiver.

Safety Gear

We provide safety equipment for all watercraft; safety jackets, throw cushions, fire extinguishers, oars/paddles, and anchors and lines. Safety items are not to be used for any purposes other than in the event of an emergency. Any equipment that has been misused will be charged to the Renter. Charges will come out of the security deposit.

Anyone under thirteen (13) must wear a life vest while the boat is in motion. Any individual on a towable must be wearing a life vest while riding.

Individuals on a PWC must wear a life vest at all times.

Age Limit

You must be 25 to rent and operate any rental watercraft and have a valid driver’s license.

Smoking/Grills

Sorry, no smoking or grills are allowed on our watercraft. We do not allow cooking/grilling on any boat. Absolutely no smoking on any watercraft. There will be an additional cleaning charge of $100 if evidence of smoking of any kind is determined.

Pets

We are a dog-loving family! You may see our dogs here during your day!

That said, we value the quality and condition of all our watercrafts and want them to remain in excellent condition. We have a two-pet limit per boat; please remember they add to your weight limit on the watercraft. We ask that the watercraft return in the same condition it was left in. We have a $10 per pet fee that will be added for additional cleaning.

If the watercraft returns with an excessive amount of the following; pet hair, dirt, clay, sticks, paw prints, seat tears/rips, seams ripped, carpet ripped, etc., fees will apply.

Detailing is $20 a foot based on the watercraft you rent. (24 ft x $20= $480) Please be respectful of this policy.

Cleanliness

Any boats/equipment returned highly muddy, and dirty, with food and trash, were strewn about, will be subject to an additional cleaning charge, to be determined upon inspection. All trash must be taken off the boat with Renter.

Updated February 2024.