Boat Rentals in Georgia — Lanier, Hartwell, Coast
Georgia boating is Atlanta-area reservoir + Atlantic coast. Lake Lanier (Atlanta's playground), Lake Hartwell (GA-SC border), Lake Allatoona, and the Atlantic coast (Savannah, St Simons, Jekyll, Cumberland) anchor the catalogue. PickRV's GA catalogue is pontoon-heavy on Lanier + sailing-light on the coast.
Dominant boat types in Georgia
Notable waters in Georgia
Lake Lanier (Atlanta)
38,000 acres — Atlanta's primary boating lake; pontoon + ski boat culture.
Lake Hartwell (GA-SC border)
56,000 acres — USACE reservoir; bass-fishing pontoons.
Lake Allatoona (Atlanta NW)
12,000 acres — closer-in alternative to Lanier; ski boat country.
Atlantic coast + Sea Islands (Savannah, St Simons, Jekyll)
Saltwater inshore + ICW sailing.
Okefenokee Swamp (GA-FL border)
Unique cypress paddling — guided kayak + canoe rentals only.
Georgia state boating rules
Georgia Department of Natural Resources — boating- 1
Georgia boating education required for operators born on or after Jan 1, 1998 of motorized vessels.
- 2
PFD requirement: USCG-approved wearable per person; children under 13 must wear.
- 3
BWI threshold BAC 0.08; aggressively enforced on Lake Lanier holiday weekends.
- 4
Saltwater coastal fishing license required separately.
What the Georgia state agency doesn't tell you
PickRV — first-hand context that the official .gov pages skip.
Lake Lanier holiday-weekend wakes are the highest in the Southeast — anchored pontoons get swamped if positioned wrong.
Atlantic coast tides reach 8-9 ft — sailing + cruising plans must account for ICW depth at low tide.
Okefenokee paddling is unique cypress swamp experience but requires guided rental in most cases.
GA coast 'marshfront' shrimp-boat culture is a unique boatside dining offering.
Lake Lanier was created by USACE in 1956 — submerged towns + cemeteries still beneath the water; deep-water diving sites.
Best season
April-October. Peak: May-September. Coast is mild year-round.
Looking for a rig in Georgia?
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Our scale — honest
GA coverage is concentrated in Lake Lanier (Atlanta metro hosts) and coastal Savannah / St Simons. Hartwell + Allatoona hosts onboarding.
Georgia boat rental FAQ
Do I need a GA boating card?
If born on/after Jan 1, 1998, yes — NASBLA card. Adults older exempt.
Are there boat launch fees on Lake Lanier?
USACE-run launches charge $5 day-use; private marina launches vary. Most PickRV listings include the launch fee.
Georgia rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 7% · not collected by PickRV
- Boater education
- Not required by the state
- Alcohol aboard
- Open container prohibited in cabin
PickRV per-state rules data is being verified for this state — defensible defaults applied