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    Specialty Boat Rentals

    5.0 (116 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    Jeannie P.

    I worked with Mike on booking a pontoon boat with a tube, and he was responsive and easy to work with. He gave us clear instructions, was timely, and he also provided some nice tips on areas to explore with the kids. The boat was clean and in great condition, and we enjoyed a gorgeous day on the lake. We would rent a boat from him again, and he'd be the first person we would call!

    Naoko O.

    I can't recommend Specialty Boat Rentals highly enough. Shan was amazing- communicative, timely, and super helpful. The boat itself was really nice and we had a fantastic time at Emerald Bay. If you're looking for a boat to rent for your next South Lake Tahoe outing, look no further!

    We brought our own rope and inflatable.
    Kiki K.

    A must do! We had a blast renting the pontoon boat from Shan. We loved it so much that we booked a second reservation during our same vacation! Some people from my group were running late and he adjusted our start time so we still got the full four hours on the water, no questions asked. For an extra $100 we could add another hour, which we did. It was great working with Shan, everything was handled over text and Venmo, which was super easy. He even helped carry our cooler and all our random stuff on the boat. Once we settled in, he gave a quick demo of how to drive the boat, which ended up being really easy/straightforward. We were able to navigate it on our own just fine. We took his suggestions on where to go and we were off! You have a ton of freedom and can basically go anywhere you want. We opted for Emerald Bay and on our second trip we went to D. L. Bliss. Both places were stunning! We had so much fun that we accidentally left our GoPro onboard and Shan was so awesome that he met us the next day to bring it to us. I doubt you'll find better customer service or prices from other companies in Tahoe! Tip: definitely bring a cooler full of bevies, trash bag, towels, and a hoodie (if you'll be out past 5pm) Thanks Shan, we can't wait to come back and rent from you again!!

    Everyone was comfortable, and the built-in stereo added some great music.
    Aaron S.

    Where to begin... how about our first phone call to Shan? So professional, reassuring, knowledgeable, and I stopped looking for a rental after talking to him. This was Cassandra's 21st birthday, and she planned the whole thing herself! We met the crew at the launch location and when they saw that we had a family member who used a walker, they jumped right in and helped us get her and our things on to the boat. Friendly, funny, professional... great crew. The pontoon boat we were on looked almost new and was impeccably maintained. The boat performed so well that Kaylie (12) could drive it with no worries (she loved it, too). If you have ever thought of doing this... then do it, because you will not regret it. We'll probably be out again in a couple of months. Thanks Shan, and the rest of the crew - all awesome!

    Alyssa P.

    We had a great time on our pontoon! Shan was great in helping us book & schedule the boat. He was very flexible and great. Day of, Pete helped us find a great spot to dock the pontoon and go swimming. He gave us awesome instructions and pinned dots on our phone map to navigate to our area. We had a blast!!

    Pontoon Boat
    Mark P.

    Stan and his crew were great. They deliver the boat to Elv Dorado Beach in South Lake gassed up and ready to go. If you're new to boats they are perfect for you. One of their team will bring it into the beach, then take it out to deep water. Same on the return - they meet you off the beach, and bring the boat in. Aside from that go explore the lake!

    Happy girl on her way back from a great boating day!
    Liz A.

    Exceptional service you can only get from a local small business who truly care and know their stuff. First of all, I like to support locals doing their thing anyway, trying to be a niche in the community and these guys got it down. I read past reviews and didn't hesitate to call them right away. They did not disappoint. I've been to Tahoe for many years and usually roll into the big biz guys to rent a boat, but have had an eye opening lately of the importance in supporting your local small businesses, especially, after the tough last year. The boat was roomy and clean, the instructions were clear and informative, price was fair, and the pick up and drop off were pretty rad. Overall excellent experience. Highly recommend. Shan answered my calls and texts and was just wonderful, nice, and professional. My go to boat rental forever! Thank you!

    Ramil R.

    We had the best time renting a pontoon from Shane! He offered the best deal for 4 hours out on the water. The boat was perfect for our family of 8 to cruise around, check out Emerald Bay, and do some fishing. Fishing poles were provided and he gave us some tips on where to cruise around. We couldn't be happier with the service, friendliness, and overall boating experience. We will definitely hit up Shane next time we are back in Tahoe!

    Jay T.

    Shan IS really the man. It's not just a clever slogan. Can't wait for Shan to take us out again.

    Jocelyn S.

    Shan was awesome to work with! We had an amazing time on the water. Boat was clean and easy to drive. Already planning our next outing! Rent from Shan.

    Minerva C.

    This is our second year booking with Shan and he has been amazing and very accommodating. We always have a lot of fun on his boats. The transactions are always smooth and easy. He's very knowledgeable of the lake and always points us in the right direction of what we're trying to do that day. We recommend Specialty Boat rentals 100%. Thankz you Shan!!

    Reina C.

    Shan was amazing to work with!! He was extremely flexible and responsive to all my concerns. The day before our scheduled trip, it was showing it might rain, and he was flexible to schedule us earlier to avoid the rain. I really appreciative of that. If I ever visit Tahoe again, I will no doubt rent from Shan again :)

    Jay S.

    Outstanding! The owner was very helpful, very friendly and easy to work with! He made us feel like we were his best customers and gave us the red carpet treatment! We HIGHLY RECOMMEND this boat rental!

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    6 years ago

    Great experience! Easiest process of securing a boat in the Tahoe area. Can recommend enough! 5 stars!

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    5 years ago

    Shan was extremely helpful and accommodating during our trip to Tahoe! Thank you for an exceptional experience!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Specialty Boat Rentals

    Review Highlights - Specialty Boat Rentals

    Shan (owner) was able to get us a boat rental the same day we requested and was always available for inquiries.

    Mentioned in 74 reviews

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    Action Watersports At Lakeside Marina

    Action Watersports At Lakeside Marina

    3.5
    (86 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    I was honestly a little nervous booking here because so many of the jet ski rental companies in…read moreSouth Lake Tahoe have pretty mixed reviews. We decided to take a chance, and I'm really glad we did. The whole process was super easy. We literally just walked up, rented a jet ski for two people, and were out on the water pretty quickly. Everyone was really friendly, and they explained all the rules and safety stuff in a way that was clear and easy to understand. There is a designated area you're supposed to stay within, but it wasn't hard to follow at all and there was still plenty of room to have fun. We the best time! If you're looking to rent a jet ski in South Lake Tahoe and you're unsure where to go, I'd definitely recommend this place. Easy process, nice staff, and a really fun experience overall.

    Horrible experience!!!! We were kicked out after only about…read more20 minutes, even though we paid for a 1-hour rental. The issue was that we entered an area where we were not supposed to ride. We did not understand that it was a restricted swimming area. We saw other watercraft and people paddling nearby so we didn't know we can't go that area. We also slowed down as we approached the shore and we believed we were following the rules that had been explained to us, including staying within the designated boundaries and not accelerating in restricted zones. Instead of clearly explaining the situation or giving us a warning, two staff members approached us angrily and told us we could not continue riding because we were "trying to kill people." When the rules were explained before the rental, we were told about the boundaries and what to do if we wanted to switch riders, but we were never clearly told which route to take when returning to shore or how to identify swimming-only areas. When we brought this up, staff simply said that the rules were included in the paperwork we signed. We were only told that it was our own responsibility if something happened to us before signing. No one specifically told us to carefully review additional riding rules!!!

    Photos
    Yup, that's me at 54 years old at 1000 feet up.
    Yup, that's me at 54 years old at 1000 feet up.
    Brandon did everything but drive the boat. Here he's photographing my family. They make the SD card/photos available for purchase.
    Brandon did everything but drive the boat. Here he's photographing my family. They make the SD card/photos available for purchase.
    Action Watersports At Lakeside Marina

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    MS Dixie II

    MS Dixie II

    3.3
    (479 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    We enjoyed the dinner cruise very much, the only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the…read moreinstructions indicated we could get a shuttle to pick us up with at the Harrah's Casino across the street from the Caesars Republic where we were staying, and due to the construction there we could not access it. Even a gentleman that worked at Harrah's called Zephyr resorts to alert them of the issue but unfortunately, we were already running late, and just decided to drive there. We were very fortunate to find a parking there fairly easily. I did complain to the ticket booth clerk and he said he would pass on the message. Now, as far as if he did or not, who knows. The rest of the experience there was wonderful. We got a recording of a narrated tour of the lake and enjoyed the rest of the experience. We took family pictures upon entering, and bought them at the gift shop on the upper level of the river boat. I would highly recommend, except, just drive to the resort yourselves and park there. Hope this review helps!

    We had a wonderful time on the scenic day tour. During the boat ride there are moments of learning…read moreabout the lake and its history, which was very interesting. The food was also very good, with a lot of options, even for vegetarians. There aren't enough seats inside the boat for everyone, so arrive early (our tour was at noon and we started lining up at around 1115 am) in order to secure a seat. Otherwise, you're stuck at the top deck, exposed to the elements. It was very smooth sailing and super relaxing. Would highly recommend it!

    Photos
    Main eating area
    Main eating area
    Live music on the sunset dining Cruise
    Live music on the sunset dining Cruise
    Sunset on Lake Tahoe

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    Sunset on Lake Tahoe
    Cruise Tahoe

    Cruise Tahoe

    4.8
    (20 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    This was a very special tour for my very special mom's 80th birthday. She hasn't been to Lake Tahoe…read morein 60 years, and I knew she would love being on the lake *and* a tour of Vikingsholm - she couldn't hike to/from the castle, so this cruise was the perfect tourist combination for us. Captain Stacy and Mate Katerina were gracious hosts and provided us with lots of cool Tahoe history, in-between serving us cocktails and pointing out mutliple "must-see" points of interest in Emerald Bay. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour Vikingsholm (our docent was wonderful as well), with an added bonus of seeing Eagle Falls because we had a little extra time. When we returned to the boat, Captain Stacy provided us with delicious snacks and made sure we were "fed and watered" before returning to the marina. We had considered a few other boat tours of Lake Tahoe, and I'm SO happy we chose Cruise Tahoe. It was intimate but we weren't crammed in like sardines, very professional yet laid back, and the perfect amount of time on the lake for us. Highly recommend! Side note - directions to the Tahoe Keys Marina were excellent and appreciated for us 3 directionally-challenged girls.

    We had a fantastic tour of Vikingsholm Castle with Cruise Tahoe!…read more Parking was difficult to find, so they wisely recommended that we arrive early. It was a 1-hour ride out to Emerald Bay in our gorgeous, stylish boat. We were welcomed by our 2 friendly crew members & served 2 drinks as part of the tour (wine, champagne, mimosas or beer, or one cocktail). Other cocktails were available for $9 with high-quality liquor, and non-alcoholic drinks were all free. It was so fun to visit the beautiful, luxurious castle, fully furnished and exquisitely decorated. We got to see tons of rooms, including an impressive kitchen, lovely servant's quarters, dining room, guest rooms and more. Our guide was engaging and really made us fall in love with the property and the wonderful woman that had it built. On the ride back, we were served very tasty appetizer plates and enjoyed fabulous scenery. Everyone was in high spirits because this was an amazing tour with an excellent company!

    Photos
    Ride back with drinks & snacks
    Ride back with drinks & snacks
    One of our appetizer platters... We had 2 for the boat to share, with 2 baskets of crackers
    One of our appetizer platters... We had 2 for the boat to share, with 2 baskets of crackers
    Dining room

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    Dining room

    Specialty Boat Rentals - boating - Updated June 2026

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