FAQ

Each year we open in Mid-April for Weekends only.

On Victoria Day weekend we begin 7-days a week operation until the week after Labour Day.

Then in the Fall we operate weekends only until Thanksgiving Day.

**If you would like to rent a boat mid-week when we are scheduled weekends only in Spring or Fall, please call 226-210-4386 and we will do our best to accommodate you.

No. We will provide a Boaters Safety Checklist (Transport Canada Approved) which acts as a Temporary Boating License for the duration of your rental with us.

We always recommend getting one as you only need to perform the test once and you have it for life. But don’t worry if you don’t have yours yet. Go ahead and make your reservation and on the day of your rental we will provide a Temporary Boaters License after your safety briefing and on-water orientation.

YES, you can make a reservation here or any of our Book Now buttons.
For questions, call our office at 226-210-4FUN (4386)

The Renter must be at least 21 years old, RAW, in its sole discretion, may refuse to rent the Watercraft to the Renter if RAW determines that the Renter or additional operator is not competent to operate the Watercraft. Renter is in good physical condition sufficient for operating watercraft, knows how to swim, and knows of no reason why he or she should not participate. Only Renter’s 21 years old or over may operate Watercraft. Children may not drive Watercraft. The Renter must provide a valid Drivers License and a proof of current motor vehicle insurance when renting the unit along with the trailer. Any other participants driving the motor craft must meet the same criteria and must be listed on the Rental Agreement.

No. RAW Watersports operates on a policy of fuel responsibility similar to car rentals, meaning that renters are responsible for the fuel they consume during their rental period. This policy ensures that each renter can use the boat to their desired extent without any limitations. Before setting off on your adventure, RAW Watersports will ensure that the boat is fully fueled. At the end of the rental, you will be required to refill the fuel tank or the staff will gladly do this for you and deduct the pump price from your security deposit.

For your reference the table below shows the average fuel expense for a 3 hour rental.

Fishing Boat $10 – $20

Small Pontoon Boat – $20 – $50

Large Pontoon Boat – $30 – $60

Jet Ski – $30 – $70

Sea Doo Switch Jet Boat – $70 – $140

We use FareHarbor as our booking system. FareHarbor is part of the Booking.com group and creates powerful tools that help tour and activity operators run their business with ease and efficiency. With over 15,000 tour companies worldwide using FareHarbor, they are the gold standard in rental booking software.

Yes. Our Essex County location is based in Puce at the Puce River Harbour Marina. You can boat from our docks behind the Sandbar Restaurant or you can take the boats anywhere in Ontario by trailer. We also offer a convenient Ontario-wide delivery service.

Yes, of course tax is applicable. And like TicketMaster, we use a booking system that charges a 6% convenience and credit card processing fee. This charge is displayed as taxes and fees and billed at checkout.

Renters are responsible for all physical damage to equipment unless Damage Protection is purchased (covers up to $1500). A Rental Agreement and release of liability, waiver of claims, assumption of risks and indemnity agreement must be signed by Renter and a pre-authorized credit card hold which ranges by item rented from $750 per rental unit, up to $1,500.00 per rental unit; is required as a security damage deposit. This deposit is applied on the day of the rental and is not required at time of booking.

50% of your rental total is required on date of booking. We accept  Visa / Mastercard / Amex/ Discover. The Damage Deposit is due on the day of your rental. The name on the credit card must match the name on the rental agreement.

To ensure the proper overnight storage of watercraft, it is important to follow the guidelines provided.

Storing watercraft on the beach is strictly prohibited due to the potential damage it may cause to the watercraft. Instead, several acceptable options for overnight storage are available.

The first option is to place the watercraft back on the trailer. This ensures that they are safely secured and protected from any potential harm.

Additionally, storing the watercraft at a marina dock is another viable choice. It is important to note that a transient slip may be required for this option, but the necessary assistance will be provided to arrange this if needed.

If you happen to have a sheltered dock that meets RAW Watersports approval, it is also an acceptable option for overnight storage. To gain approval, you may need to provide pictures of your sheltered dock and engage in a conversation with RAW Watersports to ensure it meets the necessary standards. If your sheltered dock does not meet the criteria, alternate overnight storage options will be suggested to you.

To recap, the watercraft should be stored overnight in any of the following ways: back on the trailer, at a marina dock with a transient slip if required, an approved sheltered dock (with RAW Watersports approval or alternative options suggested). Following these guidelines will help safeguard the watercraft, maintain their longevity and avoid costly damage.

Every unit will undergo an inspection prior to and after your rental. Renters are responsible for any and all damages sustained to rental equipment (unless Damage Protection up to $1,500 is purchased), persons, or property as well as loss or damage of accessories onboard during rental period. The cardholder must be present to sign for the damage deposit and the rental agreement. If the rental is returned free of damage, your deposit is usually refunded within 24 hours if there is no damage but can take up to a week.

Waivers are common for rentals and tours. You agree to be bound by these terms when you sign the rental agreement that is emailed in your rental conformation. They are for the protection of us all, and to ensure that the next to rent the equipment are treated fairly (for example, to ensure you return the rental on time so that it is ready for the next rental customers.)

The renter is responsible for ANY damage incurred during the rental period. Unless Damage Protection is purchased which covers up to $1500. If you wish to purchase additional coverage we suggest the following:

Check with your credit card provider, as often they offer insurance as long as the rental is made on their credit card.

Contact your car/home insurance company, many policies allow for additional coverage for the duration of the rental as a rider on your existing insurance policy.

The best thing is to simply treat your rental with care, as though it was your own, and refrain from using it in water where you don’t know how shallow it is. Most people return their rental without any damage and receive their entire deposit back.

Feel free to grab your spot months in advance. Reservations fill up fast! If your plans change, cancellations can be made AT LEAST 7 days prior to Rental Period start date and you will be issued a full refund. Reservations cancelled inside 7 days will be provided a gift card to rebook when convenient. Date change requests are subject to availability.

If you are from out of town or would prefer the convenience of being able to cancel right up to the moment of your bookign with a full refund, we recommend purchasing BOOKFLEX at checkout which costs just 10% of your activity. You will receive a full refund minus the BOOKFLEX fee.

Your safety is our top priority and RAW reserves the right to cancel this rental agreement due to inclement or impending bad weather that would prevent the safe operation of the watercraft. Rental fees will be prorated based on time used. If the entire rental is cancelled by RAW we will issue a gift card for you to rebook or if you purchased BOOKFLEX at checkout which costs just 10% of your activity. You will receive a full refund minus the BOOKFLEX fee if you choose not to reschedule.

Kinda. While it’s usually not an issue, RAW’s ability to provide a rental watercraft, when reserved, is contingent upon and subject to the return of the unit by the previous lessee, or any other cause beyond LESSOR’S control. In the unlikely event that your Watercraft is not available, we will make it up to you with a full refund and an offer to rebook at a later date.

In-Water Rentals will be ready for you at the Sandbar Restaurant at Puce River Harbour at 930 Old Tecumseh Road, Belle River, ON N0R 1A0.
On Trailer Rentals will be picked up at our boat yard at 209 West Puce Road, Belle River ON, N0R 1A0

Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your booking time to perform the watercraft orientation and safety briefing. All participants must be present. All rentals must be returned by end time of your booking and date stated on contract. Failure to do so will result in additional charges of up to $50 per each 30 minutes late.

All of our trailers use a 2″ Ball.

Yes! We will deliver to most any Ontario location if you rent for 5 days or more. Our fee is $0.80/ km round trip for pick up and delivery. Just let us know if you want us to deliver when you make your reservation? Here are some spots we can deliver to or that you can use to launch your boat rental (Click Here)

After we drop off the rental, and the customer has signed acknowledging receipt, we do not assume responsibility for stolen or lost/ damaged rentals.

We suggest 15-20 minutes depending on the equipment you’re renting. It is helpful if all your online documents are signed ahead of time to save time during the check in process. We will send you a reminder the day before to complete any outstanding paperwork. It is also important to arrive on time so that we can keep on schedule.

We have a wide range of sizes of life jackets and will provide them to you free of charge for the duration of the rental, so you do not have to bring life jackets with you. The only exception would be if you have a baby or very small child, you should bring an appropriate life jacket with you. The best life jacket is the one you wear, so feel free to bring your personal life jacket if you like.

NO! Our boats do not meet the legal requirement to have alcohol or narcotics on boat and are strictly prohibited.

Any additional operators must sign the Rental Agreement at time of pickup with the named Renter present. A maximum of one other operator per vessel can be listed at no extra charge.

Notify us immediately. We have a chase boat to provide support and relationship with towing companies. Should any rental have any damage more than reasonable wear and tear, the renter will be billed for the repair. Raw Watersports at its sole discretion will determine what “reasonable wear and tear” is.

In a dispute, an official quote will be obtained by the authorized boat dealer/ authorized repair centre.

No sorry. This can be a dangerous activity and as such it is prohibited by our insurer.

You cannot boat or land in America. There may be waterways that are closed and/ or dangerous to navigate that the staff will inform you of during your check-in. We do require that you let us know where you plan to use the boat to ensure safe operation for you, your passengers and our equipment. You must respect local waterway regulations.

We use tracking devices on all of our boats. These are used to ensure our assets are secure and within Ontario. This information is collected and stored for up to 3 years. This information may be used as proof of damage or used in any case to assist us in resolving a dispute.

No problem! If you want to be sure to lock down your reservation, just go ahead and make it and on the last checkout page there is a “Comments” box where you can add any questions or requests.

It is better to reserve your spot now before the peak season starts. Reservations open March 1st year.