Boating and swimming on Lake Guntersville: rentals, rules and safety

Lake Guntersville is a big lake with plenty of room for everyone, from bass boats and pontoons to kayaks and swimmers. Here is how to get on the water, and how to stay safe once you are there.

Renting a boat

Several marinas around the lake rent pontoon boats by the half day or full day, and some also rent fishing boats, kayaks or paddleboards. A pontoon is the easiest choice for a group: it is stable, simple to drive and has room for a cooler and a swim ladder. Book ahead for summer weekends, ask what is included (life jackets, fuel and a map), and check the cancellation policy for bad weather.

Bringing your own boat

There are public boat ramps all around the lake, including in Guntersville and at Lake Guntersville State Park. Ramps can be very busy on summer weekends and during fishing tournaments, so launch early. Clean, drain and dry your boat and trailer when you leave, to stop invasive plants and animals spreading to other lakes.

Licenses

Most people who drive a boat in Alabama need an Alabama boating license, and the minimum age is 12. If you have a boating certificate from another state, check the current rules for visitors with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol, or ask your rental company before you arrive.

Paddling

Kayaks and paddleboards are best in the sheltered coves, sloughs and creeks, away from the main channel. Mornings are usually calmest. Stay close to the shore, wear a life jacket and keep an eye out for fast boats, which may not see you.

Swimming

The state park has a swimming beach, and many people swim from boats anchored in quiet coves. There are no lifeguards at most places on the lake. Swim near the shore or your boat, keep away from the main channel, boat traffic and docks with electrical power, and never swim during a thunderstorm.

Staying safe

• Life jackets: carry one for everyone on board, and put children in theirs before they step on the boat.
• Barges: the main channel of the Tennessee River is a working waterway. Barge tows cannot stop or turn quickly, so give them plenty of room.
• No-wake zones: slow down near marinas, docks and swimmers.
• Storms: summer storms build fast in the afternoon. Watch the sky and head in early.
• Alcohol: never drink and drive a boat. It is illegal and dangerous.

Read more about the lake in our guide to Lake Guntersville, and if you are fishing, see bass fishing on Lake Guntersville.