2023 Pontoon Boat Season
Saturday, May 13 – Sunday, September 17
Pontoon Boat Rates
| Duration | Rate |
| Prime Time 5 hours |
$495 |
| Full Day 9 Hours |
$595 |
Terms and Conditions
- Renter must be at least 25 years of age. Operators must be at least 21 years of age with valid driver’s license and no DWI/DUI convictions in the past 3 years. Operator must have previous boating experience operating a similar watercraft.
- All power boat rentals require a $500 security and damage deposit credit card authorization prior to departure. Within 24 hours of the reservation we will add the hold to the same credit card used for the reservation, unless you ask us to use a different card. Funds will only be captured from the hold if there is damage or loss of rental equipment.
- Boats will be provided with a full tank of gas and must be refilled by renter prior to return. All fueling must be done at Parkside Marina where our boats are typically stored. If gas dock is closed on your return we will refill later and charge against the hold on your credit card
- Pontoon boats are kept in slips on the Wabasha Municipal dock. We do not deliver pontoons to other locations.
- Renter must sign the Pool 4 Rental Agreement before boarding. Please view the rental agreement summary on our website before completing your reservation. E-signature instructions will be emailed after reservation is complete.
- All passengers must have signed the Pool 4 Waiver and Release of Liability prior to boarding. Instructions will be emailed to Renter after the Renter e-signs the Rental Agreement. Please forward on to all participants ahead of rental. It saves a lot of time if waivers are completed before arriving at the dock.
- Participants cannot exceed the USCG ratings in terms of persons or weight. These are documented with the boat descriptions.
- No children under 6 months of age or under 16 pounds are allowed on board. Life preservers do not work with such small children so best to wait until they are older.
- No glass is allowed on the river. If bringing beverages be sure to bring in cans, boxes, or plastic.
- All adults fishing the Mississippi River must be in possession of a Minnesota or a Wisconsin Fishing license and abide by regulations of the state in which they are licensed.
- Our boats are for pleasure use only and not to be used to transport people or equipment, to tow boats, or as work boats (e.g. dock install/removal). Only passengers that have checked-in with Pool 4 Adventures are allowed on the boat during the boat rental policy period.
FAQs
What if I have to go to the bathroom?Vision Design
- Our rental boats are not equipped with heads or porta-potties, so you will have to dock the boat and go to a shore location with a bathroom.
- Our boat cruises are all less than 2 hours and will not make bathroom stops, so please use bathroom before boarding.
Can I smoke or chew on board?Vision Design
- No smoking, vaping, or chew is allowed on any of our boats, at the launch, or on the docks.
Can we bring a grill?Vision Design
- No. We do not allow use of grills on-board of transport of grills.
Can we dock at a restaurant?Vision Design
- Yes, docking at restaurants is allowed as long as there is public dock space available and the Operator is capable of docking the boat.
- Three fenders must be deployed on the docking side of the boat before reaching the dock and speed must be kept slow. All passengers must be seated unless they are helping to secure the boat to the dock.
- We do not recommend docking on windy days as it can be difficult to avoid damaging the boat – both on approach and while the boat is secured to the dock.
- To avoid theft, be sure to secure or take along anything that may be easily carried away (including fishing rods, electronics, and personal items), and try to have a seat where you can keep an eye on the boat.
- Repairs for boat damage resulting from improper docking of the boat, and losses from theft while docked, are the responsibility of the Renter per the Rental Agreement.
- If you have a particular destination in mind, let our shore staff know and they can provide some guidance on docking at that location.
Can we drink alcohol on the boat?Vision Design
- Yes. Minnesota law allows alcoholic beverages on boats. Open container is allowed, even for the operator, but the Operator cannot be under the influence or will be subject to the heavy penalties associated with DUI – so do not drive under the influence. If you find yourself without a sober driver, anchor in a safe place and call us for assistance.
- No glass containers or drinkware is allowed on our boats. Please use plastic, cans, and boxes as appropriate.
- Coolers are available for rent with our boats. We can stock with ice and water too.
What foods are good to bring on board?Vision Design
- Chips, sandwiches, veggie trays, fruits, cheese and meat trays, all work fine assuming you have a cooler. For beverages we recommend clear liquids and low sugar content beverages – they cause less mess and fewer bugs. No glass can be brought aboard.
- It can be hot on the water so bring foods that work in that environment. Frozen treats, chocolate, and melty treats are not allowed. These generally do not hold up well in heat, and often cause messes and extra cleaning charges. We recommend ice cream after your boating adventure!
- Red wine and other staining foods/beverages are not allowed. There are lots of spills on boats, and stains on upholstery, bimini tops, life preservers, etc., can be very hard to remove. These foods can easily drive cleanup charges and even damage replacement charges. Please stick to clear liquids as much as possible.
- We also recommend you take care with snacks and candy and not allow them to be ground into upholstery and flooring.
- No sunflower seeds or any other foods that involve spitting are allowed.
- Nothing is to be discarded in the river. Please put any food waste in the garbage for disposal on your return.
Will towables be secure when we are cruising?Vision Design
- We provide towables uninflated and stowed. You will have to inflate them prior to use and deflate and stow them when complete. A 12V pump that makes this a quick process – 5 mins or less – will be provided with the towable.
- In the pre-departure boating overview, we will cover this process.
Can I bring my own water skis, or tube or other toys?Vision Design
- We do not allow you to bring your own towables (tubes, boards, skis) or float pads. The towables and float pads we offer for rent will fit on the boat without obstructing the driver’s view or impacting seating for passengers. We can’t ensure that level of safety with other gear.
- If a boat does not support towables, then no towables are allowed, whether yours or from Pool 4. Refer to the boat description to see if towables are allowed.
- Aside from towables and float pads, bringing your own smaller water toys is okay (e.g. noodles, beach balls, inflatable toys) as long as they do not obstruct the operator during transport or impact seating for passengers.
I’m not familiar with the area – how do I know where I can safely tow my kids on a tube?Vision Design
- In the pre-departure boating overview we will cover areas that are better choices for tubing and swimming – we recommend the Minnesota side of Lake Pepin.
- Never tow in the main channel – this is a high-traffic area and a shipping lane.
- Please ask our deckhands if you have any other questions related to towing.
Can we raft our boat? (tie to other boats while adrift)Vision Design
- No. The River is generally quite wavy and it is nearly impossible to hold boats together without putting rub and scratch marks on the boats. The fenders we provide are not designed for rafting so we cannot allow it.
Can we beach our boat?Vision Design
- Yes. Beaching boats along the Mississippi is common, but it takes a good deal of knowledge of the area to do it safely. There are many wing dams in the area that can be hit when beaching and hitting a wing dam (a rock pile) can do serious damage to the hull and lower unit.
- Please let us know if you plan to beach the boat and we will give you some additional pointers to make sure you can do it safely.
What other things are needed for our adventure?Vision Design
- There must be at least one cell phone on the boat and the number provided to Pool 4 adventures staff prior to departure. Please charge your phone before coming to the boat. Most boats have a 12V outlet and some also have a USB charger port. If you will need to charge your phone please bring your own cable.
- Be prepared for the weather – hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. Pontoons have Bimini tops but fishing boats offer no protection from the sun or weather.
- We recommend that you bring some non-DEET dry formula bug spray – especially on fishing trips when operating close to shorelines. When on the main river bugs are often not a problem. DEET can be very damaging to boat upholstery – it is not allowed on Pool 4 Adventures boats.
Can I purchase add-ons even though I am not the Renter?Vision Design
- Yes. Most add on gear and services can be reserved by email and paid for on-line or on your arrival.
- Please try to complete payment for add-ons before arrival – we don’t want to delay your party’s departure to run credit cards.
Who needs to wear a life jacket?Vision Design
- Minnesota state law requires that children under 10 must always wear a life jacket unless the boat is anchored and being used as a swim platform.
- Participants that are elderly, or cannot swim, or that are at-risk for going overboard for any reason should always wear a life jacket while on the boat.
- The basic life preservers provided with the rental are not designed for long-term wear. For those wearing a life preserver the entire trip, you might consider bringing a more comfortable vest with you or renting a neoprene or inflatable vest from us.
Do I need to bring my own life jacket?Vision Design
- Pool 4 Adventures will ensure that there are USCG approved life preservers on-board for all passengers. These are the basic orange vests you are probably familiar with. These emergency vests are not adequate for tubing and are generally not very comfortable for long-term wear.
- If you will be tubing or just want a more comfortable life jacket you can bring your own (must be USCG approved) or consider renting a neoprene or inflatable vest from us. You can view options on our web site and call or email us with upgrade requests. We have limited availability, so the sooner you reserve it the better.