The boat people actually want to be on.
Birthdays, staff parties, reunions, long-weekend celebrations — this is most of what we do on Okanagan Lake. Our 25-foot Canalake PDD25 is a double decker, which changes the day more than it sounds. An upper sun deck for anyone who wants heat and a view, a shaded lower deck with wraparound seating for anyone who doesn't, and a water slide off the top for everyone in between.
The part that matters most for a party: nobody has to stay sober to drive. Every rental includes a Transport Canada certified captain who operates the boat. On a self-drive rental, someone in your group draws the short straw and spends the day at the wheel watching everyone else. That problem disappears here.
It also means nobody needs a boating licence, nobody has to reverse a trailer down a busy ramp in August, and nobody is responsible for reading the weather or finding a swim spot. Your captain handles all of it.
What's included in every party rental
- A Transport Canada certified captain — no boating licence needed
- Fuel
- Bluetooth, USB and AUX sound system for your playlist
- Water slide from the upper deck and a swim ladder
- Private changing room
- Life jackets in adult and children's sizes
- All required safety equipment
- No damage deposit and no hold on your card
Bring your own food and drinks
There's no catering and no minimum spend — bring whatever your group actually wants. The only rules are no glass on board, and BC law restricts open alcohol on a boat while it's under way. Your captain will explain exactly how that works before you leave the dock; it isn't a problem, it just has rules, and knowing them in advance saves confusion on the day.
There's a private changing room tucked under the slide, which is rare on a rental pontoon. On a long afternoon it means you don't have to cut the day short and run back to shore.
How the day works
You meet your captain at the Water St boat launch in downtown Kelowna, fifteen minutes before your start time. Load your cooler, pair your phone to the stereo, and go. Tell your captain what kind of day you're after — a slow cruise with swim stops, a run to the quieter coves away from the crowds, or a sunset trip — and they'll build the route around it.
Rentals run from two hours to a full day. Two hours suits a sunset cruise or a quick celebration. Four is the most popular and gives you time for a couple of swim stops without watching the clock. Six and eight hour days suit bigger celebrations where people want to eat, swim, and settle in.
Good for
- Milestone birthdays and surprise parties
- Company days out and staff celebrations
- Family reunions where ages range from 6 to 76
- Long weekend get-togethers
- Stag and stagette weekends, and bachelorette parties
- Visitors who want a boat tour of Okanagan Lake with the party attached