Bachelorette party boat in Kelowna.

Two things that make this work for a bachelorette or stagette.

First: there's a private changing room on board. This is genuinely rare on a rental pontoon in Kelowna, and it's the thing groups tell us they didn't expect. It means getting into a swimsuit without an audience and sorting yourself out mid-afternoon, rather than queueing for a beach change room.

Second: a certified captain drives. On a self-drive rental somebody in the group spends the day at the wheel, watching everyone else enjoy themselves. Usually it's whoever organised the whole weekend. That doesn't happen here — a Transport Canada certified captain operates the boat on every trip, so the person who planned it gets to actually be there.

What you get

• The whole boat, privately — never shared
• Up to 12 guests plus your captain
• Private changing room
• Water slide from the upper deck and a swim ladder
• Bluetooth, USB and AUX sound for your playlist
• Upper sun deck and a shaded lower deck
• Fuel, life jackets and all safety equipment
• No damage deposit and no hold on anyone's card

Planning it

Pick your length first. Two hours works as an evening cruise, and suits a weekend where the boat is one item among several. Four hours is what most bachelorette groups book — long enough to swim more than once, eat, and settle in without the day being over before it starts.

Book early. Summer Saturdays on Okanagan Lake go quickly, and bachelorette weekends are usually planned months out. Two to three weeks is the minimum we'd suggest; for July and August weekends, longer.

Bring your own food and drinks. No catering, no minimum spend, no corkage. Just no glass on board. Ask us about the onboard alcohol policy before booking.

Decorations are fine. Balloons, banners, sashes, signs — all welcome. We only ask that nothing gets taped to the upholstery and that you skip confetti and glitter, which end up in the lake and can't be cleaned up.

How the day runs

You meet your captain at the Water St boat launch in downtown Kelowna, fifteen minutes ahead of your start time. Load the cooler, pair a phone to the stereo, and go. Tell your captain what the group wants — photos in good light, quiet water for swimming, a sunset finish — and they'll shape the route around it.

If the bride-to-be is nervous on the water, say so when you book. It's an easy thing to plan around and it's better known in advance than discovered at the dock.

Also worth knowing

• No boating licence needed by anyone in the group
• Photos come out best in the last two hours before sunset
• Sunscreen matters more than people expect — the reflection off the water catches everyone
• Cancel more than 3 days ahead for a full refund; within 3 days you can move to another date
• If your captain cancels for weather, you choose a full refund or a free reschedule

Planning something else? We also run party boat rentals and boat tours on Okanagan Lake from the same launch.