Life Is Better on the Lake

Rental Boat Rules & Guidelines

New Boater Education Law

Starting July 1st, 2025 anyone renting a watercraft, in the State of Minnesota, must have their Watercraft Operators Permit.

• Operators Test: Watercraft Operators Permit Test Site
• Boater Regulations: MN DNR - New Boater Education Law

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at 651-296-6157.

Rules

1. Renter must be 25 years of age with a valid driver’s license to rent or drive a pontoon.
2. Late Fee: Renters will be charged $50.00 FOR EVERY 15 MINUTES the boat is returned after the designated rental time. For example, if you are 16 minutes late you will be charged $100.
3. Damage Deposit: A pre-authorization of $500 will be charged to your credit or debit card upon arrival, which will be used to cover any damage sustained.  If the damages exceed $500 the renter is responsible for the difference beyond the pre-authorized amount.
   • NO CASH OR CHECK for the pre-authorized amount. Assuming there is no damage when the boat is returned, the pre-authorization will be terminated.
   • The credit/debit card used for payment and/or the pre-authorization must be present.  Your name must be listed on the card as a signer, including corporate credit/debit cards.
4. No smoking on the rental (or at the marina) at any time.
5. No pets.
6. Absolutely no skiing, tubing, or towing of any kind behind the rental boats.
7. Alcohol:
   • No kegs allowed.
   • Please make arrangements for a designated driver.
   • The driver of the pontoon is strictly prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages during rental.
8. No gas-powered generators.
9. No grills allowed.
10. No silly string, glitter, or crepe paper decoration on the pontoon as it stains our vinyl flooring and seating.
11. No tieing up to other boats or structures. Commercial docks such as restaurants or marinas are the only exception.

Parking

We must limit the number of cars in our lot due to parking capacity, which will be strictly enforced.

• 30’ pontoon - 4 vehicles
• 25’ pontoon - 3 vehicles
• 14’ fishing boat - 2 vehicles

Cancellations & Refunds

Cancellations:

• Cancellations may be made up to 10 days prior to your rental date, without penalty.
• Cancellations made 9 days or less, prior to the rental date, will result in a forfeiture of the rental fee.

Weather Policy:

• Weather related cancellations on the day of your rental are acceptable if we are experiencing any of the following:
  • Lightening
  • High winds in excess of 25 mph
  • Heavy rain
• To avoid being charged, renters are required to call us prior to the rental time and request a weather-related cancellation.
• Forecasted weather at 30% or less does not warrant a refund of your rental amount if said party chooses not to go out. This will be based on the forecast from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for Excelsior, MN.
• Howard’s Point Marina reserves the right to cancel the rental at any time if it is deemed unsafe for the boat or renters to be on the water, for which a full refund will be issued.

Partial Rain Day:

• If a pontoon comes back to the marina early due to one of the above weather conditions, the renter will be prorated for their time on the water.

Summary of Minnesota Boating Rules and Regulations

Safety is everyone's responsibility. You must always be aware of your surroundings

1. Speed Limits: There is a 5 mph speed limit within 300 feet of the shore and within 150 feet of structures, swimmers, or anchored craft. These limits help reduce large wakes near the shore.
2. Life Jackets and Throwables: Boats must carry one USCG-approved life jacket for each person, and those 16 feet or longer also need a throwable flotation device. Children under 10 must wear a life jacket at all times.
3. Boating Under the Influence: Boating while under the influence of alcohol, or any other controlled or illegal substance, is illegal. The Minnesota limit is 0.08. Underage drinking is strictly enforced. Watercraft owners or operators may be held liable.
4. Riding on Gunwales or Decking: It is illegal to ride or sit on, or operate a motorboat while someone is riding or sitting on the gunwale (top edges of the hull), bow, transom, decking over the bow, side or stern while underway (unless it is equipped with an adequate railing).
5. Navigational Lights: Proper navigational lights (red to port, green to starboard, white 360 degrees around watercraft) must be displayed when boating after sunset and before sunrise.
6. Wakes: It’s illegal for your watercraft’s wash and wake to endanger, harass or unnecessarily interfere with any person or property.
7. Channels & Navigation: No person may interfere or block navigation of watercraft, moor, or otherwise create safety hazards in channels or public passageways. Swimming, towing, jumping from bridges and overtaking boats in channels is also prohibited.
8. Buoys: Operators must be aware of the waterway markers to safely navigate the lake.
9. Speed Limits:
   1. DAYTIME Speed limit: 40 mph
   2. NIGHTTIME Speed limit: 20 mph