Utah Jet Ski Rental FAQ
Quick answers for first-time Utah renters: what to bring, what's included, and the rules that matter.
We’re a family-owned shop in Woods Cross, and these are the questions we hear most from first-time Utah renters. Don’t see yours? Call us at (801) 923-8185. A real person picks up, 8 AM to 8 PM daily, all year.
Booking and pickup
What’s included with my rental?
Every jet ski comes with two U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, the type Utah law requires (opens in a new tab), and we stock sizes from small child and youth to adult S, M, L, XL and XXL. Each machine seats up to three riders. Machines go out with an empty tank, so plan to fill up on your way to the lake; gas cans are available on request (if you refuel from one, pull the machine out of the water and away from the ramp first, and follow the marina’s own rules). For pickup, we hitch our trailer to your vehicle at no extra charge (that’s why you need a 2-inch hitch and flat 4-prong lights). Add-ons: extra life jackets ($10 a day) and a tube package with rope ($30 a day). Wakeboards (with a tow rope) are included with the Wake 170 and Wake Pro 230 on request. We’ll walk you through the controls and the basics at pickup, even if you’ve never been on a jet ski before.
Where and when do I pick up?
Pickup is off-lake at our Woods Cross spot: 901 S. 1800 W, Woods Cross, UT 84087. During the rental season, April through October, we’re open 8 AM to 8 PM daily. When you get here, park next to the trailer with your machine on it, and our walkthrough covers the drain plugs, straps, winch, brake and reverse lever and more before you go. Picking up away from the lake is the whole idea: no rental counter to wait at, and better prices than the on-lake shops. You still share the public ramp, so on a busy weekend, get there early.
How far are the lakes from your Woods Cross pickup?
From our pickup at 901 S. 1800 W in Woods Cross, Pineview and Willard Bay are about 40 minutes away, Jordanelle about 50 minutes, Utah Lake just under an hour, Deer Creek a little over an hour, and Bear Lake a little over two hours. Lake Powell is a multi-day trip: just under five hours to Bullfrog, or a little over six to Wahweap. By late summer 2026, Pineview’s Anderson Cove launch was closed (since July 20), the Port Ramp Marina was closed for reconstruction, and from August 31 the reservoir was closed to motorized boats, so check the Forest Service’s ramp status (opens in a new tab) before you tow. On October 5, 2026, Utah State Parks (opens in a new tab) listed both Willard Bay marina ramps closed (launch at your own risk) for low water. Only a few Lake Powell launches took motorized boats that fall (per the National Park Service (opens in a new tab)). Each of our lake pages lists the drive and the ramps for that lake.
When is your rental season?
April through October. November through March is our off-season: no rentals then, but we still answer the phone at (801) 923-8185 from 8 AM to 8 PM daily, and you can book April–October dates online anytime.
Do you deliver to the lake?
Yes. We deliver to Bear Lake, Pineview, Willard Bay, Jordanelle, Utah Lake, and Deer Creek, and to other lakes with our approval (we don’t deliver to Lake Powell). The delivery fee is per trip and depends on the location, so call (801) 923-8185 for a quote, or pick up in Woods Cross and tow it yourself. When a lake’s ramps are closed, we still deliver, just to other lakes, and if a machine can’t be launched at a lake, we’ll let you know.
How do I book?
Use the “Book Online Now” button anywhere on the site. It takes you to our booking partner, Recreogo, where you’ll pick your dates and machine. Prefer to talk it through? Call us at (801) 923-8185.
Riders, machines, and fuel
How many people can ride at once?
Every Sea-Doo model we rent seats up to three riders, and each machine comes with two life jackets, so add an extra jacket when you book if three will ride. See specs for each machine on our fleet page. Every rider wears a life jacket, and never carry more riders than the machine is rated for.
Is fuel included?
No. Our machines go out with an empty tank and come back empty, so fill up on your way to the lake, and there’s no topping off before you return. Gas cans are available on request: refuel from a can only with the machine out of the water and away from the ramp, and follow any rules the marina has. Booked delivery? Ask us to fuel the machines on the way to your drop-off, for the added cost of the fuel.
Do I get to choose which jet ski?
Yes. We rent three Sea-Doo models, the GTX PRO 130, Wake 170 and Wake Pro 230 (the GTX PRO 130 also rents as a set of two), and you pick when you book. They range from an easygoing first-timer ride to a stronger machine for experienced riders. Compare them on our fleet page. We also rent stand-up paddleboards ($35 a day, with one life jacket per board), and a tube package with rope is $30 a day. Wakeboards (with a tow rope) are included with the Wake 170 and Wake Pro 230 on request.
Do you rent waverunners?
Our personal watercraft are Sea-Doos, the same sit-down, three-rider machines people call jet skis or waverunners. Compare our three models on our fleet page.
Can I pull a tube or a wakeboarder?
Yes, and Utah has rules for it. Besides the driver, you need an observer on board, at least 8 years old, to watch and communicate with the person you’re towing, and the observer displays a 12-by-12-inch orange flag when a tow is finished or about to begin (Utah Outdoor Recreation (opens in a new tab)). Ask us about a flag before pickup.
Rules and requirements
Do I need a license or boater education card to drive a jet ski in Utah?
Utah doesn’t issue a jet ski license. From January 1, 2027, every driver needs a short boating safety course taken once each calendar year (jet skis count as motorboats), and that includes visitors from other states. It takes under 20 minutes on average and covers life jackets, safe operation and navigation, the dangers of boating under the influence, and invasive mussels, so it replaces the separate Mussel-Aware Boater course. Your proof is good through December 31 of the year you take it. This is state law (HB 54 (opens in a new tab)), not just our rule, and driving without proof or a rental briefing is an infraction. Bring proof, or we’ll go through the state’s safety briefing with you at pickup. Keep your proof with you on the water. Utah Outdoor Recreation’s boating FAQ (opens in a new tab) calls it the Mandatory Watercraft Operator Course and says a NASBLA-approved course from another state doesn’t count for it.
How old do I have to be to rent?
You must be 18 or older to rent one of our jet skis, and everyone who drives one must be 18 or older too, with a signed waiver on file.
Can I bring my dog?
No pets: our machines are people-only.
Can I ride after dark?
No. Utah law doesn’t allow jet skis on the water between sunset and sunrise (Utah Code 73-18-15.3 (opens in a new tab)), so plan to have the machines on the trailer by sunset. In the fall that can be well before 8 PM.
Can I take the jet ski to Lake Powell?
Lake Powell is one of Utah’s most beautiful rides, and yes, people tow there. The catch is that Lake Powell is mussel-infested, so Utah’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) rules require decontamination or a set dry time when you leave, and every boat has to stop at any inspection station that’s open. For our machines it’s the decontamination: if you take them to Powell, you bring them back inspected and professionally decontaminated, with the inspection and decontamination paperwork for each machine. Our Lake Powell page explains how to get it done. The clean-drain-dry steps are state law, not a suggestion. Before you tow, read up at the Utah AIS Prevention Program (stdofthesea.utah.gov) (opens in a new tab) (Utah’s official state campaign to stop invasive quagga mussels) and make sure every driver has finished Utah’s annual boating safety course (opens in a new tab), which covers the mussel rules. Budget extra time at the lake in both directions.
Can I take the jet ski to the Great Salt Lake?
No. Our machines aren’t allowed in salt water, including the Great Salt Lake, so pick one of the freshwater lakes on our lake pages.
Money, weather, and the unexpected
How much does it cost to rent a jet ski?
We rent by the day, with no hourly or half-day rentals, and a full day is up to 12 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM. It’s $235 a day for the Sea-Doo GTX PRO 130, $275 for the Wake 170 and $325 for the Wake Pro 230, or $425 a day for a set of two GTX PRO 130s. Rates are before taxes and fees, which are added at checkout. Multi-day discounts on the jet skis start on rentals of 3 or more days; call us at (801) 923-8185 for custom pricing. Stand-up paddleboards are $35 a day. The refundable $500 damage hold per machine is separate from the rental price. Every rate is on our pricing page.
What’s the deposit and how does payment work?
Single-day rentals must be paid in full to confirm your reservation. For multi-day rentals, pay the full amount up front or put down a 50% deposit; the balance is processed 2 days before your pickup date, and a deposit follows the same cancellation policy as full payment. Separately, we place a refundable $500 damage hold per machine on your card; it isn’t processed until the day of pickup. It’s released within 3 to 7 business days after the machine comes back in its original condition (timing depends on your bank). If repair or replacement costs run over $500, the difference is charged to your card, with an itemized invoice. You’ll see the exact, current numbers when you book through Recreogo, and you’re always welcome to call us first.
What’s your weather and cancellation policy?
Utah lakes can turn windy fast, and we’d rather you ride on a good day. Cancel 11 or more days before pickup for a full refund, or 6 to 10 days before for 50% of the rental fee back. 5 days or fewer before pickup there’s no refund, but if you cancel 1 to 10 days before pickup, we’ll try to re-rent the machines and refund whatever we recover. A cancellation on the day of pickup gets no refund of any kind. If the weather is unsafe for your rental day, you can reschedule: call us at (801) 923-8185 and we’ll find you a new date. Weather is a reason to reschedule, not to cancel, and once a booking is rescheduled or rebooked it can’t be refunded for any reason.
Can out-of-state visitors rent?
Yes. Our booking listings ask the same of every renter: you must be 18 or older, with a valid driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance, plus a vehicle with a 2-inch hitch and a flat 4-prong light hookup if you’re towing. Utah’s annual boating safety course (required from January 1, 2027) applies to visitors from other states too. Bring proof, or we’ll go through the state’s safety briefing with you at pickup. Plenty of folks come from out of state to ride Utah’s lakes; call us at (801) 923-8185 with any questions.
What happens if the machine breaks down?
If something goes wrong on the water, stop, turn the engine off and stay with the machine with your life jacket on. Check the simple stuff: the safety lanyard is clipped on, there’s fuel in the tank, and nothing like weeds or rope is caught in the intake. Then call us at (801) 923-8185 and we’ll troubleshoot with you. We answer 8 AM to 8 PM; after hours on a multi-day rental, text us. If it still won’t run, it’s done for the day: get it back to the ramp (a tow from another boater or the marina is at your cost) and load it on the trailer. We can’t diagnose a failure over the phone, so we inspect the machine at our shop. If it turns out to be a mechanical failure you didn’t cause, we decide case by case, and you may get a refund for the lost time, a credit toward a future rental, or a swap to another machine.
What to bring
- A valid driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance (both required to rent)
- If you’re towing: a vehicle with a 2-inch hitch and a flat 4-prong light hookup
- A card for the refundable $500 hold per machine
- Proof of Utah’s annual boating safety course (required from January 1, 2027), or a few extra minutes at pickup for the state’s safety briefing
- Sunscreen, a towel, and water (Utah sun is no joke)
- Closed-toe shoes for the launch ramp
- A change of clothes; you will get wet
Still have a question? Email us at info.bluewaverentals@gmail.com or call (801) 923-8185. We’re happy to help you plan your day on the water.