Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake speed boat rentals

Speeding around in your very own boat for a couple of hours, or even the whole day, is a great way to savor some fun in the summer sun. Here, you’ll find just about everything you’ll need to know about renting a boat at Lake Tahoe or Donner Lake.

Watch the Fireworks

*Only two companies in the Lake Tahoe/Truckee area rent boats for watching the fireworks. Advance reservations are required.

Ski Run Boat Company,

• Lake End of Ski Run Blvd., So. Lake Tahoe, Calif. • (530) 544-0200

Fourth of July special firework rental available. Pick up boat between 6-7 p.m. return by 11 p.m., after fireworks. Must be back after fireworks. Reservations are required. Large fleet featuring 18-foot to 24.5-foot speed boat rentals, accommodating 7-10 people, from $115-$180/hourly and $690-$1080 daily. Half-day rates also available. Twenty-four- and 26-foot Suntracker Pontoons seating 12-16 from $135-$150/hourly and $810-$900 daily. Half-day rates also available. 25-foot Catalina Sailboat, seating 8 people, requires half-day minimum $285 four hours, $570 full day. Fuel and tax not included. Accessories available to rent. Hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jet skis, kayaks and canoes also available.

Tahoe Keys Boat Rental,

• 2435 Venice Drive, South Lake Tahoe, Calif. • (530) 544-8888

Fourth of July special firework rental available. Pick up boat between 6-7 p.m. return after fireworks or by 9 a.m. July 5. Reservations are required. Large fleet featuring 18-foot to 24.5-foot speed boat rentals, accommodating 7-10 people, from $115-$180/hourly and $690-$1080 daily. Half-day rates also available. Twenty-four- and 26-foot Suntracker Pontoons seating 12-16 from $135-$150/hourly and $810-$900 daily. Half-day rates also available. 25-foot Catalina Sailboat, seating 8 people, requires half-day minimum $285 four hours, $570 full day. Fuel and tax not included. Accessories available to rent. Hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jet skis, kayaks and canoes also available.

NORTH LAKE TAHOE/TRUCKEE

Donner Lake Water Sports & Marina,

• two locations in Donner Memorial State Park and Donner Lake Marina, Truckee Calif. • (530) 582-5112

This is the only watercraft rental company serving Donner Lake with a location in Donner Memorial State Park offering a wide variety of non-motorized watercraft and a location on the west end offering both non-motorized and motorized rentals. Brand new three-seater jet skis run $70 for half-an-hour, $130/hour. Ski boats seating 6-8 people are $140/hour, accessories (water skis, wakeboards, etc.) $10 each additional. Pontoon party boats equipped with stereo system accommodates 14 people for $120/hour. Weekend hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; open at 9 a.m. on weekdays. No overnight rentals.

Bonus: Fuel included in all rental prices.

Action Water Sports

• Across from Hyatt Hotel, Incline Village, Nev. • (775) 831-4386

Minimum three-hour rental on all speed boats. 18-foot speed boats, seat 8, $170/hour; 24-footers, seat 12, $230/hour. Rental requires 30-minute check out. Water skiing/wake boarding is not allowed from rental boats. Waterski boat available for $215/hour includes captain, equipment, lessons if necessary and seats up to six people.

Bonus: Fuel & tax included in with rental

Tahoe City Marina

• 700 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, Calif. • (530) 583-1039

Minimum one hour rental on all speed boats. 20-foot Four Winns Horizons, seats eight, $130/hour; 22-foot SeaRay Select, seats nine, $150/hour; 23-foot Four Winns Horizon, fits 10, $160/hour. 22-foot Catalina sailboat, minimum two-hour rental, seats six, $80 per hour. Waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing is allowed behind all speedboats, rental is available onsite for extra charge. Fuel is not included in rental. Hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. no overnight rentals available.

Tahoe Water Adventures

• 120 Grove St., Tahoe City, Calif. • (530) 583-3225

Space extremely limited, reservations are necessary. Speed boats accommodate eight passengers, $150/hour, two-hour minimum, half-day $475; full-day $900. Waterski and/or wakeboard equipment included with boat rental. Multi-day rental available, call well in advance. Fuel not included in price of speed boat rental. Jet skis available for $100/hour, $360 half-day, $600 full-day, rental price includes fuel.

High Sierra Waterski School

• 1850 West Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, Calif. • (530) 583-7417

20-foot Ski Nautique, 6 passengers, $110/hour, $400/half-day, $700/full-day. 23-foot Sport Nautique, 9 people, $120/hour, $450/half-day, $800/full-day. One hour minimum. Fuel not included in rental, wakeboarding, tubing and waterskiing not allowed behind rental boats. Overnight rental possible, contact High Sierra for more information. Hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jet ski, pedal boards $20 per hour/$80 full day and kayak rental $25 under two hours, $40/two hours, $10 per hour after two hours. Waterski boat $130/hour, $460/half-day and includes captain, instructor, equipment, fuel and wetsuits on Competition Ski Nautique, seating up to 6 people.

Meek’s Bay Marina

• 7901 Emerald Bay Road, Tahoma Calif. • (530) 525-5588

18-foot Four Winns for $170/hour, 8 people; 20-foot SeaRay $190/hour, 8 people; 22-foot Four Wins $250/hour, 11 people. One hour minimum, fourth hour free. Kayaks, canoes and pedal boats also available. Tow behind all boats. Wakeboard or waterski package available for $35 per day, $10 additional item. Package includes board, rope, lifejackets and instruction. Hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., last rental at 4:30 p.m.

Bonus: Gas and tax included in the prices.

Almost anywhere with a buoy

Lakehouse Boat Rental

• (530) 318-2222

Specializing in boat delivery and longterm rental. Choose between 19-foot Four Winns, accommodating seven adults for $600/day or 21-foot, seating 9 adults for $700/day. Overnight and multi-day rentals available if renting party has access to a buoy on the Lake; delivery everywhere except Tahoe City.

South Lake Tahoe

Zephyr Cover Marina, Zephyr Cove Nev.

• 775-589-4901

Upscale SeaRays in 22-, 23- and 24-foot models available from $139-$169/hour; one hour minimum pro-rated by the minute after first hour, fourth hour free. All boats have Bimini tops (canopy tops) and 90% have water sports towers for wakeboarding. Rent before 10:30 a.m. and receive $25 off per hour. First set of waterskis comes free; wakeboard and tube rentals available. Boats accommodate 10-12 people, longterm rentals available, call for more information. Hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Waverunners, kayaks, canoes and pedal boats also available.

Lakeside Marina

• 4041 Lakeshore Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (closest marina to casinos) • (530) 541-6626,

18- to 24-foot speedboats available accommodating eight to 11 passengers from $125 to $170 hourly, minimum one hour rental. Fourth hour free. Fuel not included. Waterski and /or wakeboard package available for flat fee. Also renting jet skis $100/hr Yamaha and $125/Sea Doo, price includes fuel. Hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Popular Water Taxi departing at 10 a.m., Noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m. to Camp Richardson. Bring the bikes. Roundtrip tickets $18/adults, $12/children.