How to Rent a Boat on Lake Minnetonka

You want to fish or float on Lake Minnetonka, but don’t own a boat? No problem. It’s easier than ever to rent a boat on Lake Minnetonka.

Before you set sail on your Lake Minnetonka boat rental, please make sure you understand how to operate the watercraft safely. The lake has rules, just like the road. Make sure that you fully understand your boat, the lake’s navigational buoys, and the day’s weather conditions before renting a boat on Lake Minnetonka.

This is a guide to help you make an informed decision about renting a boat on Lake Minnetonka. I’ll first cover the most popular types of boats available to rent, then provide an overview of the different businesses that actually make these rentals possible.

Disclaimer: I receive no compensation for these recommendations. This is a summary of my own research, to make your Lake Minnetonka boat rental experience easier.

Lake Minnetonka Boat Rentals: Watercraft

If you’re an experienced boater, I’m going to assume you don’t need this guide. From that starting point, we can narrow it down to three options:

• Pontoon
• Powerboat (deck boat, ski boat)
• Fishing boat

The majority of you, dear readers, will want a pontoon. It’s the slowest, but the least complicated of these three options, making it a great fit for less-experienced boaters. You can typically fit 8-12 people comfortably on a pontoon, so it’s often used for family gatherings and social parties.

However, if you have moderate experience captaining a boat and don’t have a large party, then a powerboat would be your next option. This is just a generalist motorboat, sometimes called a ski boat or deck boat, that is typically used for cruising, water-skiing, or water-tubing.

The final option is fishing boats, which are primarily used (yes) fishing. They don’t accommodate many passengers, and they are typically smaller and have a lower draft so they can navigate into tighter and shallower waterways.

Pontoons

Pontoons are known for their stability and spaciousness. By design, they’re basically just a large, flat platform which rests atop two or three large aluminum tubes called “pontoons.” They’re typically fenced in for safety and have plenty of seating.

Even though they’re not typically marketed specifically for fishing or cruising, there’s nothing stopping you from using them that way. They are extremely versatile watercraft and a great one-size-fits-all option.

I’m also including here “Duffy Boats,” which are a brand of electric, pontoon-like boats.

Powerboats

I’m calling these powerboats but they’re basically any boat that’s not a pontoon or dedicated fishing boat. The only criteria is that it has a motor. Depending on their size and power, they can generate a wake (waves behind the boat) for water-skiing or tubing.

There’s typically an open area at the stern (back of the boat), from the captain’s chair to the engine, and sometimes also an open area at the bow (front of the boat). If you imagine a boat in your head, it probably looks like this.

Fishing Boats

Fishing boats are for fishing. They typically fit 2-5 people comfortably, and have a partially covered deck so the occupants can spread out and walk around easily when reeling in their catch.

They also feature useful storage accessories for your bait and gear, such as holders for your fishing rods and wells for your bait. They are also likely equipped with depth-finder electronics and GPS units.

Lake Minnetonka Boat Rental Companies

There are three (3) types of companies to rent a boat on Lake Minnetonka. Those that are:

1. On-Lake
2. Off-Lake (Delivers to Lake Minnetonka)
3. Not commercially-licensed

My advice is to stick with #1: rental businesses directly on Lake Minnetonka. Unless there’s a specific reason to rent from a company that delivers boats to Lake Minnetonka, i.e. a needing a particular type of boat or model, there’s little reason to go through the trouble of booking from an external (off-lake) dealer. Some charge delivery fees, and even when they don’t, it’s a more smooth experience launching from a proper dock than a public launch. For these reasons I’ll limit your options to proper, on-lake rental services.

Another option is what I’m calling “Not commercially-licensed” — these are rentals which are typically made available by a private boat-owners with a fleet of one. Like the off-lake services, I also discourage using these peer-to-peer owner-renter platforms. They have less accountability and are probably less likely to be well-maintained. Furthermore, they likely won’t provide you with as thorough of an on-boarding education as you would receive using a proper commercial rental service

So, in the category of “On-Lake” Minnetonka boat rentals, we have the following major players. Note that Price Ranges provided are estimates for the 2025 season. Actual price depends on day of week (weekend or weekday), time of day (morning, evening, full day), and watercraft, and fees.

Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruises and Guides

I wanted to add two other options for someone looking to get out on Lake Minnetonka without owning their own boat.

• Chartered cruises (Al & Alma’s, Bay Charter, Lady of the Lake, PaddleTap, Paradise)
• Fishing guides

You won’t be captaining the boat yourself, but they are great and easier options than going through with a full rental yourself.

If you’ve recently booked a Lake Minnetonka boat rental, feel free to share your experience in the comments below.