FAQ

Viewing posts from the FAQ category

Can we visit Bird Island?

YES! A 10-acre plot of uninhabited land in the middle of Lake Butler was formerly known as Egret Island, designated as a bird sanctuary in 1958. It sits about 200 yards away from the shores of Downtown Windermere’s Fernwood Park, which has a boat ramp but limits parking to town residents only. However, it has become a bit of a party haven in recent years. Although trespassing is prohibited on the island, the shallow sandy bottom and warm waters around it invite anchored boats to raft off the shoreline. Any Butler Lake Tours customers who choose to attend must obey all posted signs and take all trash with them. It is heavily patrolled by law enforcement, but a safe rule of thumb is “ankles in the water”!

Are we responsible for cleaning the boat when we are done?

Yes. There is a broom and rags/cleaner on each boat. Please clean and prepare all trash to discard before return to the Boat Ramp. If you leave food, crumbs, etc on the boat the birds will destroy the boat over night. Also, if you leave the boat dirty, you will be charged a cleaning fee. Our dock assistants will be ready to receive and park a clean boat.

What is the cancellation policy?

Once you book your rental date, you can cancel and get a full refund or request an alternate date anytime prior to 7 days before the rental date. Within 6-2 days prior to reservation you can cancel for a 75% refund. No-shows or canceling the day of will be charged the full rental rate. We can refund bookings to a gift card to use for a future booking if you so choose. Rescheduling to available day is FREE!

Is the dock wheelchair accessible?

Yes, State Operated boat ramps are wheelchair accessible. There is a safety lip and bit of a gap between the dock and the pontoon deck. However, the pontoon deck sits level in the water with the dock. So its just a matter of getting the chair over the gap and onto the boat.

Do all the pontoons have a cover for shade?

YES. All of our pontoons have a Bimini Top as standard providing shade for the Driver and back seats. It may need to be reclined for bridge clearance during the rainy season. Our staff will show you how to operate the Bimini Top upon arrival.

Can we have more people on board than what the boat can hold?

NO! Each boat is Coast Guard rated for a certain amount of people AND a certain weight capacity. Neither can go over. For instance, our 10 passenger pontoons have a max weight capacity of 1410 lbs. If you reach 1410 lbs with only 8 of your guests, then the max capacity you can have is 8. If you have 10 people already on board and you are still not at 1410lbs, that does not mean you can have 11. The max is EITHER the max number of people or the max weight, whichever comes first. Please call us if you have concerns about this question as overloading the boat with weight can create a dangerous situation.

Are there restrooms on board the pontoon?

No. Our pontoons do not have restrooms on board. There are portable restrooms at all boat ramps, including the Keene Park boat ramp where we launch. You may use them before, after, or at any point during your reservation. All other marinas on the Butler Chain of Lakes are private, so plan accordingly. There will be a Point of Interest map on board that also marks these Restrooms.