Pontoon

Question

I read in our house review that the folks rented a pontoon that picked them up on the houses dock. The host doesn't know who the folks went thru, anyone know rental companies that will pick you up on your dock?

Answer

Good question. I looked into pontoon-boat rental options around Lauderdale-By-The-Sea (LBTS) / Broward County, but didn’t find many that explicitly advertise *dock pick-up* right at private house docks in LBTS. However, there are a few that come close, plus some caveats and suggestions.

Here are some rental companies and options to consider, along with things to watch out for:

Overnight Boat Rentals (Lauderdale-By-The-Sea) — This company offers “Free Drop off / Pickup at Your Dock” for weekly rentals, and they have pontoons (as well as other boat types).
Lauderdale Charters — Based in Fort Lauderdale. They have pontoon charters (party-style pontoons, tritoons) with licensed captains.
Pontoon Party — Also based in Fort Lauderdale. They do private charters for 3, 4, 6, or 8 hours, cruise the Intracoastal, hit sandbars, bars, etc.
Pebbel — A peer-to-peer-style listing platform. They list pontoon rentals in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale) for various sizes, including no-captain options.
Sunny Skies Boat Rentals — They run pontoon adventures around Fort Lauderdale’s rivers and waterways; good for day tours and custom trips.

Important Considerations / Limitations

Even though Overnight Boat Rentals says “dock pick up / drop off,” make sure to confirm *which* docks they service. Not all “docks” are private residential docks — some might be public or community docks.
Many of the charter-type companies (Lauderdale Charters, Pontoon Party) operate out of marinas, not private house docks, which may mean you’d need to be okay with meeting them at a more public or commercial dock.
If you’re hoping to *rent and leave the pontoon tied to your private dock* for your whole stay, that’s much harder to find. Insurance, liability, and rental company policies often make that undesirable or disallowed. You’ll need to ask very specifically whether they do overnight or long-term rental and dock it at your place.
Captain vs bareboat: Some rentals require or strongly encourage a licensed captain. If you want to drive the pontoon yourself, make sure the company allows bareboat rental and that you meet their requirements (age, experience, licensing).
Costs: Having pickup or drop-off at your dock may add to the charter cost, depending on the company’s policy and how far your dock is from their base of operations.

My Recommendation

Contact Overnight Boat Rentals first, since they explicitly list dock pick-up / drop-off. Ask them to verify they can service *your specific dock address*.
If they can’t, call Lauderdale Charters or Pontoon Party, describe your situation, and ask whether they will consider a custom pick-up at a private dock (some charter companies are flexible, though not always).
If you go with a peer-to-peer option like Pebbel, message the boat owner directly in your inquiry to ask about dock pick-up. Make sure to clarify in writing so there are no surprises.
Confirm insurance, deposit, cancellation, and damage policies before you commit. For private docks, companies may have more strict requirements or disclaimers.

In short: yes, there *are* pontoon companies in the Broward / LBTS area, but finding one that will reliably pick up at a private dock requires more legwork and clear communication. Start with Overnight Boat Rentals, and don’t shy away from asking for custom service — some companies may do it for the right setup.

Pontoon

More Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions