FAQ's & common questions
Q: Do I need a park permit?
A: Yes, a Nebraska state park permit, either daily or annual, is required to enter the park. Permits can be purchased in advance online through the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (outdoornebraska.gov) website or at the check-in kiosks near the Martin Bay entrance.
Q: If I was born in 1985 or before, do I need a boaters safety?
A: No, the state of Nebraska only requires watercraft drivers to have obtained a boaters safety card if you are born on January 1, 1986 or later. Any drivers born in 1985 or before just need to have a valid US drivers license. Please note that any drivers licenses from outside the country are not accepted. However, even if it is not required, it is still a beneficial course to take for safety reasons.
Q: If I have a boaters safety card in a state other than Nebraska, am I okay?
A: Yes, so long as you obtained a boaters safety card in any of the 50 United States, you are legal. It is recommended to take a boaters safety course in your home state if you have not obtained one and require it.
Q: How long is a boaters safety course good for?
A: It is good for life with no renewal required.
Q: Will I need to show proof of a completed boaters safety card if I am required to have one?
A: Yes, we will need to see a copy of the boater safety license, either electronic or hard copy. It is recommended to have it on your person as well while on the watercraft should you get pulled over by game and parks for any reason, the boaters safety card will need to be shown to the officer.
Q: Do watercraft passengers have to have a boaters safety card?
A: No, only drivers are required to have a boaters safety card.
Q: If I need to cancel, when do I need to cancel by?
A: Please give us at least 8 days advance notice of any cancellation. If a cancellation is received 7 days or less prior to the reservation date, the deposit charged is non-refundable.
Q: Do I have to trailer/tow the watercraft?
A: No. Our equipment is launched in the water at our dedicated beach location by our team.
Q: How is the passenger count set for a watercraft?
A: Limits are set by the coast guard and the watercraft manufacturer and should never be exceeded. The maximum passenger limit or the weight limit, which ever comes first, must be followed. There is no substitution allowed for children to adult ratios, meaning you cannot count 2 children in place of 1 adult and exceed the passenger limits of the watercraft. On pet friendly options, pets count towards the passenger limit,.
Q: Do you have any pet friendly rental options?
A; Yes, we have select pontoon and tritoons that are pet friendly. There is a limit of 2 dogs per boat on pet-friendly options only. Please note that dogs count towards the passenger limit. Ski boats and jet skis are not pet or fishing friendly. Please ask if a pet friendly pontoon or tritoon is available at the time of reservation, if one is needed, to ensure one is available.
Q: Can I bring food and drinks on the boats?
A: Yes, you may bring food and drinks on the boat. We do ask you try to avoid drinks that may stain the interior, such as red colored drinks. We do ask you please be respectful of the equipment, remove any trash upon return and try to clean any food and/or drink spills.
Q: Can I bring a cooler and/or grill on the boat?
A: Yes, you can bring coolers and/or grills. For grills, use on the boat is not permitted due to fire hazards and are only allowed on the boat to transport to a beach location and must be used on the beach. Grills must be cooled before being put onto the boat.
Q: Is alcohol permitted at or on the lake?
A: No, Lake McConaughy is a dry lake, meaning possession or consumption within the park limits is illegal and not permitted.
Q: Can I bring my own life jackets?
A: Absolutely, you can bring and use your own life jackets if you so choose. Otherwise, we provide life jackets with the rentals at no additional charge. Fees apply for non-returned life jackets.
Q: What size of life jackets do you have?
A: We have all sizes, fitting infant through 4x/6x. Life jackets are picked up at our beach location with the rental.
Q: What time zone are you in?
A: We are in mountain time. We only have 2 phone carriers out here (Verizon and Viaero) so all other carriers bounce off towers in the next time zone which often causes confusion - we are the same time as Denver, CO.
Q: What happens if the weather is bad?
A: We ask you please give us a call to request information as to whether or not we are sending out watercraft. Communication is key. Refunds will be given if we determine it is not safe to send out watercraft or to be out on the water. Any early returns due to unsafe weather will be refunded on a case by case basis.
Q: Do you offer wakeboards?
A: We do not, we only offer water skis and tubes for towing behind boats. Towing behind jet skis is not allowed.
Q: What is the difference between a pontoon and a tritoon?
A: A pontoon has 2 toons and a tritoon has 3 toons. The 3rd toon on the tritoons make them more stable and cut through the water a little easier.
Q: Can you tube and/or water ski off a tritoon?
A: Yes, you can. Our tritoons have 150hp motors on them so they are a great option for tubing and/or water skiing from.
Q: Can I bring my own tube or water skis for towing behind the boat?
A: Absolutely, you can bring and use your own tube or water skis to use if you so choose. However, there is no towing allowed on jet skis.
A: Yes, a Nebraska state park permit, either daily or annual, is required to enter the park. Permits can be purchased in advance online through the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (outdoornebraska.gov) website or at the check-in kiosks near the Martin Bay entrance.
Q: If I was born in 1985 or before, do I need a boaters safety?
A: No, the state of Nebraska only requires watercraft drivers to have obtained a boaters safety card if you are born on January 1, 1986 or later. Any drivers born in 1985 or before just need to have a valid US drivers license. Please note that any drivers licenses from outside the country are not accepted. However, even if it is not required, it is still a beneficial course to take for safety reasons.
Q: If I have a boaters safety card in a state other than Nebraska, am I okay?
A: Yes, so long as you obtained a boaters safety card in any of the 50 United States, you are legal. It is recommended to take a boaters safety course in your home state if you have not obtained one and require it.
Q: How long is a boaters safety course good for?
A: It is good for life with no renewal required.
Q: Will I need to show proof of a completed boaters safety card if I am required to have one?
A: Yes, we will need to see a copy of the boater safety license, either electronic or hard copy. It is recommended to have it on your person as well while on the watercraft should you get pulled over by game and parks for any reason, the boaters safety card will need to be shown to the officer.
Q: Do watercraft passengers have to have a boaters safety card?
A: No, only drivers are required to have a boaters safety card.
Q: If I need to cancel, when do I need to cancel by?
A: Please give us at least 8 days advance notice of any cancellation. If a cancellation is received 7 days or less prior to the reservation date, the deposit charged is non-refundable.
Q: Do I have to trailer/tow the watercraft?
A: No. Our equipment is launched in the water at our dedicated beach location by our team.
Q: How is the passenger count set for a watercraft?
A: Limits are set by the coast guard and the watercraft manufacturer and should never be exceeded. The maximum passenger limit or the weight limit, which ever comes first, must be followed. There is no substitution allowed for children to adult ratios, meaning you cannot count 2 children in place of 1 adult and exceed the passenger limits of the watercraft. On pet friendly options, pets count towards the passenger limit,.
Q: Do you have any pet friendly rental options?
A; Yes, we have select pontoon and tritoons that are pet friendly. There is a limit of 2 dogs per boat on pet-friendly options only. Please note that dogs count towards the passenger limit. Ski boats and jet skis are not pet or fishing friendly. Please ask if a pet friendly pontoon or tritoon is available at the time of reservation, if one is needed, to ensure one is available.
Q: Can I bring food and drinks on the boats?
A: Yes, you may bring food and drinks on the boat. We do ask you try to avoid drinks that may stain the interior, such as red colored drinks. We do ask you please be respectful of the equipment, remove any trash upon return and try to clean any food and/or drink spills.
Q: Can I bring a cooler and/or grill on the boat?
A: Yes, you can bring coolers and/or grills. For grills, use on the boat is not permitted due to fire hazards and are only allowed on the boat to transport to a beach location and must be used on the beach. Grills must be cooled before being put onto the boat.
Q: Is alcohol permitted at or on the lake?
A: No, Lake McConaughy is a dry lake, meaning possession or consumption within the park limits is illegal and not permitted.
Q: Can I bring my own life jackets?
A: Absolutely, you can bring and use your own life jackets if you so choose. Otherwise, we provide life jackets with the rentals at no additional charge. Fees apply for non-returned life jackets.
Q: What size of life jackets do you have?
A: We have all sizes, fitting infant through 4x/6x. Life jackets are picked up at our beach location with the rental.
Q: What time zone are you in?
A: We are in mountain time. We only have 2 phone carriers out here (Verizon and Viaero) so all other carriers bounce off towers in the next time zone which often causes confusion - we are the same time as Denver, CO.
Q: What happens if the weather is bad?
A: We ask you please give us a call to request information as to whether or not we are sending out watercraft. Communication is key. Refunds will be given if we determine it is not safe to send out watercraft or to be out on the water. Any early returns due to unsafe weather will be refunded on a case by case basis.
Q: Do you offer wakeboards?
A: We do not, we only offer water skis and tubes for towing behind boats. Towing behind jet skis is not allowed.
Q: What is the difference between a pontoon and a tritoon?
A: A pontoon has 2 toons and a tritoon has 3 toons. The 3rd toon on the tritoons make them more stable and cut through the water a little easier.
Q: Can you tube and/or water ski off a tritoon?
A: Yes, you can. Our tritoons have 150hp motors on them so they are a great option for tubing and/or water skiing from.
Q: Can I bring my own tube or water skis for towing behind the boat?
A: Absolutely, you can bring and use your own tube or water skis to use if you so choose. However, there is no towing allowed on jet skis.
