Watauga Lake boat rentals are one of the best ways to enjoy the water in Eastern Tennessee.
On a boat you can go fishing, waterskiing, tubing or just cruising around. Boating is the easiest way to enjoy the nooks and crannies of Watauga Lake, all 6,430 acres and 105 miles of shoreline.
Renting a boat eliminates the high cost, time and hassle of transporting, maintaining and storing a boat. All you have to do is drive to the marina and jump in the watercraft.
While several marinas exist on Watauga Lake, only two offer boat rentals: Lakeshore Resort and Marina and Fish Springs Marina. Both are located in Hampton TN.
These marinas have fleets consisting of runabout and pontoon boats.
Some have tow bars for waterskiing and tubing. Pretty much all of them have live wells for holding bait and fish. Some even have quiet trolling motors for navigating shallow water and not spooking the fish.
If you don’t want to rent a boat but also don’t want the hassle of owning a boat, consider joining the Carefree Boat Club. You can learn more about that below, too.
Watauga Lake Boat Rentals at Lakeshore Resort & Marina
Lakeshore Resort and Marina has three 20-foot runabout boats and a fleet of 24-foot pontoon boats for rent.
Two of the runabout boats – one with 115 horsepower and the other with 175 horsepower – feature a tow bar for waterskiing and tubing. They start at $175 and $250 per day. These offer rear bench sat, Bimini top, marine radio, plush seating, a smooth ride, plenty of speed and more.
The other runabout is for the anglers out there looking to catch some fish in Watauga Lake. This 115 horsepower boat with two front fishing seats has a livewell and a trolling motor, both terms defined above. This boat starts at $175 per day.
Max capacity for all the runabout boats are 6 people.
As for the pontoon boat fleet, Lakeshore Resort has nearly 20 24-foot pontoon boats for rent from $150 to $250 per day. Without going into detail about each boat, these pontoon boats seat 10 people and offer a sun deck, tow bar, anchor, comfortable seating, marine radio and more.
The price difference seems to relate to horsepower. The 50-horsepower boats start at the lower price point, meanwhile the faster and more powerful 115-horsepower boats cost $225 per day, including one for $250 per day.
For the most up-to-date info, click to www.lakeshoreresort.com or call 423-725-2201.
Lakeshore Resort and Marina is located at 2285 Hwy 321 in Hampton, Tenn.
For directions to Lakeshore Marina, see the map below:
Watauga Lake Boat Rentals at Fish Springs Marina
Another outfitter for Watauga Lake boat rentals is Fish Springs Marina.
They rent a fleet of Tahoe Pontoon Boats in Hampton, Tenn.
The 25-foot boats feature quiet and powerful 115 horsepower Yamaha 4-stroke engines. Max capacity is 10 people. All of the boats feature a live well, which is a tank for holding bait and caught fish. Other amenities include an AM/FM/CD player, fish locator/depth finder, marine radio, rear-access ladder and Bimini top.
The rental season at Fish Springs Marina is year-round. Boat rentals are for day-time use onlyNight-time use of the boats, whether for fishing, camping or otherwise, is not allowed. Pets are welcome. Life jackets and safety equipment are included.
For the fall and winter 2020-21 (Sept. 8 to May 9), rental hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. However, no Sunday rentals from Nov. 1 to April 4.
Here are the rates for the 25-foot Pontoon Boats in the fall and winter 2020-21 (Sept. 8 to May 9):
- Monday – Friday: $180 per day plus tax and fuel
- Saturday: $250 per day plus tax and fuel
- Sunday (Closed Sundays, Nov. 1 through April 4): $45 per hour plus tax and fuel
If you walk-in and a boat is available, the walk-in rate is $45 per hour with a two-hour minimum. Half-day rates are not available. Reservations can’t be made with the walk-in rate of $45.
Fish Springs Marina Rentalalso rents standup paddle boards, kayaks and canoes.
Directions and Map to Fish Springs Marina:
Fish Springs Marina is located at 191 Fish Springs Rd in Hampton, Tenn. Coming from Boone or Mountain City, Fish Springs Marina is located just past Shirley’s Restaurant and coming from Johnson City or Elizabethton, if you pass Shirley’s Restaurant you better turn around.
For the most up-to-date information and prices on rentals, click to the Fish Springs Marina boat rental page or call 423-768-2336.
Carefree Boat Club in Tennessee
Instead of Watauga Lake Boat Rentals
If you are looking for more permanent options without buying your own boat, consider the Carefree Boat Club.
This is a private club that allows usage and access to a variety of boats on bodies of water throughout the United States and even abroad. This option is more expensive than one-off rentals. But it costs less than outright owning a boat.
Carefree Boat Club membership costs 1/3 of buying a boat and paying slip fees, insurance, repairs, taxes, towing, maintenance and protection during the winter.
Boats range from 18 to 27 feet and include fishing boats, pontoons, cruisers, deck boats, water sport boats and sail boats. Memberships come with unlimited usage and safety instructions.
The Carefree Boat Club of Tennessee offers boats at Boone Lake, Holston Lake and Watauga Lake. With a Carefree Boat Club membership, however, you can access a boat at any of the Carefree Boat Club locations throughout the United States and abroad.
The Watauga Lake marina hosting the Carefree Boat Club of Tennessee is Lakeshore Resort and Marina.
Contact the Lakeshore Resort and Marina at 844.246.2628
For more information about the Carefree Boat Club, click to its website.
After learning about the options for Watauga Lake boat rentals, click to On the Watauga to find out more adventures on the Watauga Lake, Watauga River and in the Watauga Gorge.
And here’s a story I wrote about camping on Watauga Lake.