A pontoon on this lake is the difference between seeing a cove and seeing a parking lot. It is also the first thing to sell out for a Saturday in July.
West shore (Mayfield)
Reets Boatworks & Bayside Marina on Lakeside Drive does Princecraft pontoons and is often by appointment — do not assume a walk-up. Pluchino’s (the old Thompson’s / Northampton Marine) is the northwest full-service shop: fuel, slips, rentals, a ship’s store, and the usual staging point for the July 4 boat parade.
The rest of Lakeside Drive and School Street is dockage and service more than tourist rental desks. If someone tells you “just go to the marina,” ask which one. There are a dozen.
East and north shores
If you are staying in Edinburg or Hadley, do not trailer to Mayfield out of habit. Edinburg Marina & Powersports is on North Shore Road. Majestic Mountain Marina in Hadley rents pontoons, kayaks, and pedal boats — owner-operated, so the website calendar is not always the last word. Call.
What to have in your pocket
New York wants a boater safety certificate as of 2025. Rental desks may brief you anyway. Life jackets for everyone. No-wake within 100 feet of shore, and at the Northville and Batchellerville bridges. Jet skis stay home after sunset.
When an owner sends a walk-around video of the rental fleet, paste the YouTube or Vimeo link on the listing. It will show here too.