Renting a boat on Kootenay Lake

3 operators in this site’s data file rent boats on Kootenay Lake, grouped below by community.

"Everyone who operates a power-driven boat in Canada needs proof of competency" and must carry it while on the water. A rental company's own safety checklist can serve as temporary proof of competency for the length of the rental — Transport Canada does not require a renter to already hold a Pleasure Craft Operator Card.

Verified on 2026-09-22 against Transport Canada’s own Pleasure Craft Operator Card page.

Between this site’s tracked operators, the boat types on offer include bow riders, pontoon boats, deck boats, waverunners, towables and fishing boats — each operator’s own note in the directory above states exactly what it carries.

Bow riders, pontoon boats, deck boats, waverunners and towables. A renter without a PCOC completes and signs the company's own Rental Boat Safety Checklist, which the company states serves as temporary proof of competency for the rental. Fishing boats and pontoons from a full-service marina. The site states plainly: "No Boat Licence Required." Boat rentals from the West Arm at Balfour, 8 am to 5 pm, 4-hour minimum, staff give a safety briefing and checklist for renters without a licence.

This site’s data files mark a boat launch directly on Kootenay Lake at 2 BC Parks properties and 3 private operators.

• Kokanee Creek Park — On Highway 3A, 19 km east of Nelson, or reached from Balfour (12 km further) by taking the Kootenay Lake ferry from Kootenay Bay.
• Kootenay Lake Park — Three separate sections: Davis Creek and Lost Ledge are on Highway 31 north of Kaslo — Lost Ledge 25 km, Davis Creek 30 km, about a 30-minute drive; Midge Creek is 38 km south of Balfour on the lake's southwest shore.
• Nelson RV Park & Marina — Balfour
• Schroeder Creek Resort — Shutty Bench
• Woodbury Resort & Marina — Ainsworth Hot Springs

BC Parks’ own facility list also flags a boat launch at Kokanee Glacier Park, but that launch is on Gibson Lake at the Kokanee Creek trailhead, not on Kootenay Lake itself, so it is left off the list above.

Park launches verified against each park’s own BC Parks page; campground launches verified against each operator’s own website. See the camping and parks pages linked below for each source and date.