Boat Rentals & Marinas
Okanagan Lake Boat Rentals
Kelowna
THINGS TO DO · KELOWNA & WEST KELOWNA
Rent a pontoon, catch a morning wake surfing session, or paddle quietly along the eastern shoreline of Okanagan Lake.
25 ways onto the water · Updated October 2026On-the-water guide · Go Kelowna
01AT A GLANCE
The details that matter.
Public launches and private marinas line the waterfront, giving you quick access to deep water. Wake surfing is a major draw during the summer months. You will need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card to drive motorized vessels here.
- Boating Season
- May to October
- PCOC Required
- For all motorized boats
- Lake Length
- 135 kilometres
- Local Legend
- Ogopogo
01LOCAL PICKS
Boat rentals & clubs
Wake boats, pontoons and captained charters.
Boat Rentals & Marinas
Kelowna Boat Rentals
West Kelowna
Boat Rentals & Marinas
SunWave Boat Rentals
Kelowna
Boat Rentals & Marinas
Kelowna Boat Charters
Kelowna
Boat Rentals & Marinas
OKGN Boat Rentals Inc.
Kelowna
Boat Rentals & Marinas
WildWake Boat Rentals
Kelowna
Boat Rentals & Marinas
Okanagan Luxury Boat Club & Valet
Kelowna
Boat Rentals & Marinas
LakeDay Boat Rentals
Kelowna
Boat Rentals & Marinas
Ktown Elite Boat Club
Kelowna
Boat Rentals & Marinas
Wake Up Boat Co
West Kelowna
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•ALSO WORTH A LOOK
Paddleboards & kayaks
Rent a board by the hour, or have it delivered to the beach.
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•THE GUIDE
Okanagan Lake Surface Guide
Learn where to rent gear, how to handle mandatory mussel inspections, and which bays block the afternoon wind.
The short answer
Grab a wakeboard boat from Kelowna Boat Rentals if you want speed. For quiet mornings, pick up a stand-up paddleboard from LakeSurf Premium Rentals or launch an outrigger canoe at the Kelowna Paddle Centre.
01Get Powered Up
Rentals and Wake Surfing
Okanagan Lake attracts heavy summer traffic for tubing, pontoon cruising, and wake surfing. Local charter companies stock everything from sporty bowriders to high-performance surf boats that generate massive waves. Groups often rent these larger vessels to spend the entire day on the water.
If you want a full-service trip, Kelowna Boat Rentals operates on the westside and brings boats directly to you for multi-day hires. They supply the necessary gear and walk you through the controls. Wake surfing dominates the local scene, and several charter companies rent specialized boats with experienced captains so you can skip the driving.
Booking weeks ahead is necessary for July and August weekends. The person at the helm must carry a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), which rental agencies check before handing over the keys. The main season runs from May through early October.
Local tips
- Reserve your vessel weeks ahead for weekend trips.
- Ask about multi-day discounts and dockside delivery.
- Hire a captain to skip the stress of driving.
- Carry your Pleasure Craft Operator Card at all times.
02Human-Powered Fun
Paddleboarding and Kayaking
Taking a paddleboard or kayak out lets you inspect the shoreline closely and spot local wildlife. The lake edges are dotted with calm coves that are hard to reach by larger vessels. You can find gear right on the beach at several spots.
On the west side, LakeSurf Premium Rentals and Okanagan Water Sports Boat Rentals stock boards and kayaks. Chill Paddle Board Mobile Rentals drops equipment off right at your vacation rental. Down south, Peachland Beach Rentals sits directly on Beach Avenue. Up north, Pebble Beach Hut gives you a quiet access point away from the main city traffic.
The Kelowna Paddle Centre operates as a non-profit community hub on the eastern shore. They run lessons and social paddles for all skill levels. Their fleet includes single kayaks and massive outrigger canoes.
Local tips
- Launch early in the morning for glassy water.
- Zip up your lifejacket before leaving the shore.
- Use mobile delivery companies to avoid strapping boards to your car roof.
- Sign up for a group paddle to meet other enthusiasts.
03Getting In
Marinas and Launches
Bringing your own vessel means finding a spot to drop it in. The Water Street Boat Launch sits right downtown, while the Cook Road Boat Launch handles traffic near the Eldorado Hotel in the Mission area. Across the bridge, the Gellatly Bay Boat Launch is the primary access point. Expect to pay launch fees at some of these ramps.
Marinas around the lake sell fuel and rent out slips. The Kelowna Yacht Club commands a large section of the downtown waterfront, running extensive member services and boat rentals. Other marinas have transient moorage, but you should always call ahead during July and August to secure a spot.
Every watercraft entering British Columbia must pull into an open invasive mussel inspection station. You must clean, drain, and dry your hull before backing down the ramp. This mandatory rule stops the spread of species that could ruin the local watershed.
Local tips
- Back down the ramp early on weekends to skip the lineup.
- Keep cash or a card handy for launch fees.
- Pull the plug and dry your hull to pass mussel inspections.
- Phone marinas directly to check fuel hours and slip availability.
04Safety First
Rules and Lake Safety
Anyone driving a motorized boat in Canada must carry proof of competency. A Pleasure Craft Operator Card satisfies this requirement and lasts for life. You can take the course and pass the test online before your trip. Police patrol the water and hand out fines to drivers without their cards.
Transport Canada mandates specific safety gear for every vessel. You need a properly fitting, Canadian-approved lifejacket for every passenger, a buoyant heaving line, a bailer, a sound-signalling device, and a watertight flashlight. Driving a boat while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a criminal offence. Always designate a sober skipper.
Watch your wake near the shore. A strict speed limit of 10 km/h applies within 30 metres of the shoreline to protect docks and swimmers. Heavy wakes easily flip paddlers and swamp smaller boats. Give other vessels plenty of space and watch for swimming areas marked by white and orange buoys.
Local tips
- Pass your operator card test online before arriving.
- Count your lifejackets and check safety gear before untying.
- Keep alcohol off the boat if you are driving.
- Slow down to 10 km/h when you get close to the shore.
05Reading the Lake
Wind and Calm Waters
Conditions on this deep, long lake shift rapidly. Mornings usually bring flat, glassy water that is ideal for waterskiing or stand-up paddleboarding. By early afternoon, a steady wind often blows in from the south. This creates heavy chop and whitecaps in the open sections.
To escape the afternoon chop, tuck into sheltered bays. The shoreline down in Peachland blocks the wind well. The areas around Gyro Beach and Rotary Beach stay relatively flat. Paddling the west side near Bear Creek Provincial Park or hugging the shoreline inside Gellatly Bay also keeps you out of the rougher water.
Check the marine forecast for wind speed and direction before untying from the dock. If you are in a small boat or on a board, know your limits. Head for the nearest shore immediately if the wind spikes. Sticking close to the edges gives you a fast exit route and smoother water.
Local tips
- Set your alarm and get out early for the flattest water.
- Read the wind forecast before leaving the house.
- Retreat to sheltered bays when the afternoon southerly hits.
- Head straight to shore if whitecaps start forming.
06Local Legend
The Ogopogo Lore
The Syilx/Okanagan people have passed down stories of a sacred lake spirit named N'ha-a-itk or n ̓x̌ax̌aitkʷ for centuries. They respected this powerful water spirit and made offerings for safe passage, especially near Squally Point and Rattlesnake Island. It was a revered entity, not a monster.
Settlers in the late 1800s started reporting a large, multi-humped, snake-like creature in the water. An English music hall song in the 1920s gave the creature the name Ogopogo. Since then, tourists and locals alike have claimed sightings, sometimes backing them up with grainy film footage.
Eyewitnesses usually describe a long, serpentine body and a head resembling a horse. Scientists point to large sturgeon, boat wakes, or swimming otters as logical explanations. Keep an eye on the water near Peachland and Rattlesnake Island, which remain the most common spots for reported sightings.
Local tips
- Watch for strange wakes moving against the current.
- Take a photo with the Ogopogo statue at Kerry Park downtown.
- Cruise out to Rattlesnake Island to see the legendary habitat.
- Ask long-time residents if they have ever seen the creature.
Kelowna Downtown MarinaOkanagan Lake Boat RentalsKelowna Yacht ClubLakefront Sports Centre LtdKelowna Boat RentalsSunWave Boat RentalsKelowna Boat ChartersOKGN Boat Rentals Inc.LakeSurf Premium RentalsEldorado Yacht ClubWildWake Boat RentalsOkanagan Luxury Boat Club & ValetOkanagan Water Sports Boat RentalsOkanagan Beach RentalsKelowna Paddle CentreShelter Bay MarinaLakeDay Boat RentalsOllie's Beach RentalsS & J Daily Paddleboard RentalsChill Paddle Board Mobile RentalsLakeSUP Paddleboard CompanyPeachland Beach RentalsPebble Beach HutKtown Elite Boat Club
•AND ONE MORE
Marinas & yacht clubs
Moorage, fuel and dockside patios.
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•Insider Access
Let a local take you there.
Tours, rentals, shops and stays run by Kelowna locals, all bookable from their profiles.
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•THE FULL LIST
Search all 25.
Search by name, narrow by type or community, and sort by the most-reviewed or highest-rated. Every card opens a full profile.
See them on the map25 places
Boat Rentals & MarinasKelowna Downtown MarinaKelowna Downtown Marina is your central hub for boat and jet ski rentals, moorage, and lakeside amenities, ideal for exploring Okanagan Lake from the heart of the city.★ 4.4 (979) · KelownaBoat Rentals & MarinasOkanagan Lake Boat RentalsOkanagan Lake Boat Rentals, operating from the Hotel Eldorado Marina, offers a diverse fleet for watersports and cruising, perfect for memorable lake adventures.★ 4.8 (858) · KelownaBoat Rentals & MarinasKelowna Yacht ClubKelowna Yacht Club, Canada's largest freshwater marina, offers premier moorage, upscale dining, and rentals for members, providing a vibrant lakeside lifestyle in downtown Kelowna.★ 4.5 (700) · KelownaPaddleboarding & KayakingLakefront Sports Centre LtdYour downtown hub for Okanagan Lake adventures, offering rentals for boats, jet skis, paddleboards, kayaks, and e-bikes to explore water and land.★ 4 (402) · KelownaBoat Rentals & MarinasKelowna Boat RentalsService in West Kelowna.★ 4.8 (392) · West KelownaBoat Rentals & MarinasSunWave Boat RentalsSunWave Boat Rentals offers accessible and affordable boat rentals across Okanagan Lake, perfect for families and friends seeking a fun day on the water with a variety of vessels.★ 4.4 (280) · KelownaBoat Rentals & MarinasKelowna Boat ChartersDiscover Okanagan Lake with private captained boat charters, offering thrilling watersports, relaxing cruises, and custom lake day experiences.★ 5 (219) · KelownaBoat Rentals & MarinasOKGN Boat Rentals Inc.OKGN Boat Rentals Inc. specializes in captained boat charters, offering Malibu wake boats and pontoon boats for watersports and relaxed cruising on Okanagan Lake.★ 5 (176) · KelownaPaddleboarding & KayakingLakeSurf Premium RentalsService in West Kelowna.★ 4.8 (161) · West Kelowna
Boat Rentals & MarinasEldorado Yacht ClubThe Eldorado Yacht Club, nestled at the luxurious Eldorado Resort, offers premium boat rentals and captained experiences for an upscale and effortless day on Okanagan Lake.★ 4.3 (111) · KelownaBoat Rentals & MarinasWildWake Boat RentalsWildWake Boat Rentals offers high-quality speed boats, pontoons, and wakesurf boats, often with a captain, for thrilling and unforgettable Okanagan Lake experiences.★ 4.9 (107) · KelownaBoat Rentals & MarinasOkanagan Luxury Boat Club & ValetOkanagan Luxury Boat Club & Valet provides a hassle-free, premium boating experience through exclusive memberships, rentals, and convenient valet services in Kelowna.★ 4.9 (97) · Kelowna•STORIES
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•FAQ
Good to know
Yes. Anyone driving a motorized boat in Canada needs proof of competency, usually a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Rental agencies can issue a temporary licence after you complete a safety checklist with them.
