Your Guide to Making the Most of Your Rental Boat Day on Beautiful Lake Norman
If you’ve ever had the privilege of visiting the Lake Norman area, you know there’s a whole lot to do both on and off the lake.
Referred to as the “Inland Sea” by locals, Lake Norman is the largest man-made lake in the state, covering more than 32,000 acres. Today, this 33.3-mile long lake has a whole lot to offer the family for a day out on the boat. If you’re looking to rent a boat, here are some important things you’ll want to know before you head out for a day on the water.
Understanding Boat Safety and Navigation
Since you’ll be using a rental boat which isn’t quite as familiar as taking out your own boat for the day, it’s important to freshen up on boat safety guidelines. After reviewing where important safety equipment is on the boat, understanding the controls, and getting a lay of the land around the marina, it’s time to get started.
—> Morningstar Marina Tip: Here’s a comprehensive Rental Boat Safety video to help you prepare ahead of time.
It’s crucial that the captain of the rental boat fully understands how to navigate shoal markers, channel markers, flags and buoys on Lake Norman. There are two areas where tubing is prohibited on Lake Norman (one is right outside the North Harbor Club and the other is clearly marked right outside the Crown Harbor Marina that you’ll be leaving from), so pay attention to the signs.
By taking a constant survey of passing boats, water depth, oncoming traffic, and potential wakes, you can safely steer your rental boat to some fun areas for the day. And now for the fun part: what should you do with your time if you’re renting a boat for the day?
There are a lot of easy-to-access restaurants and bars located all around Lake Norman. A few of the closest options with easy dock access include:
Coves & Sandbars
When it’s time to get away and just relax on the water a little, you’re going to want to find the perfect cove or sandbar. You can even enjoy some tubing in and out of the various coves all over the lake!
There are a lot of fun, popular sandbars within a fifteen-minute ride from the Crown Harbor Marina. Cocktail Cove, one of the best places to check out during your day on the lake, is in the Davidson Creek area, next to the Trump Golf Club off of Marker D7. There’s also a great sandbar to anchor off of right at Marker D4, outside the entrance of the cove by Hello Sailor.
Visiting the South End of the Lake
If you’re headed towards the southern parts of the lake, there are a variety of sights to see and places to settle down and enjoy. Ramsey Creek Park is a 46-acre waterfront park that has a swimming area, docks, nature trails, fishing pier, and more!
You’ll also see Governor’s Island near Marker 4, with some of the best luxury homes found on the lake. There’s shallow water in some areas, making this a fun area to anchor the boat and relax around.
As you travel the south end of the lake, there are a lot of famous celebrity homes in the area. Some of these include famed basketball player and Hornets owner Michael Jordan, and NASCAR celebrities like Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhart Jr., Tony Stewart, and Kyle Busch who have all either currently or formerly owned homes in the Lake Norman area.
Visiting the North End of the Lake
If you head north on the lake, you’ll eventually reach Lake Norman State Park, which has plenty of coves to anchor around the sprawling 1,942 acres of the park. Along the way, you’ll also pass under several bridges which can also be a lot of sightseeing fun for the whole family!
Choosing Morningstar’s Crown Harbor Marina Location
As the premier marina on Lake Norman, Morningstar’s Crown Harbor Marina is the closest marina to I-77, making it super accessible by car, a rare situation for rental boat opportunities! It’s also the closest marina to all of the things you want to do on the lake with your rental boat: it only takes about 15 minutes or so to get to some of the most talked-about destinations on Lake Norman.
Plus, the Morningstar team makes it as easy as possible for you to get out and on the water: we’ve got all the necessities you need right here in the marina!
Morningstar Marina’s rental boats also include all of the safety equipment you’ll need for your trip, including a fire extinguisher and life jackets for all passengers on board. The boats also include GPS chart monitors and GPS tracking units for your safety and to be able help with navigating your vessel back to the marina safely at the end of the day.
Morningstar’s team is always here to help and we want to make sure you’re comfortable operating the boat and navigating the lake so you can have the best experience possible.
At Morningstar Marinas, we pride ourselves on the community of boaters we’ve created across the Southeast’s top boating destinations. Our facilities and services paired with our friendly and knowledgeable team members will help you quickly and efficiently get out there on the water, so you can start having fun! Morningstar Marinas is more than just a place to store your boat — we’re here to offer you an unforgettable boating experience, every time.