Boating

Boating at Tahoe

Just one look at the legendary blue water of Lake Tahoe is enough to bring out the nautical impulses in many visitors. Tahoe is a great place for first-time boaters to put on a captain’s hat, rent some skis, and enjoy Lake Tahoe by powerboat. Experienced boaters and water sport enthusiasts revisit Lake Tahoe to find quiet coves and beaches unnoticed by most visitors.

Lake Tahoe Statistics

  • Maximum Depth: 1645 feet
  • Average depth: 989 ft (301 m)
  • Major Islands: Fannette Island
  • Maximum Length: 22 miles
  • Maximum Width: 12 miles
  • Surface Area: 191 sq mi
  • Water visibility: often exceeds 60 feet
  • Total water volume: 39 trillion gallons (122,160,280 acre feet)
  • Shoreline/Circumference of lake: 71 miles
  • Daily evaporation: 335,000,000 gallons
  • Classification: Alpine Lake
  • Location: California, Nevada (USA)
  • Mountain range: within the Sierra Nevada Range
  • Surface elevation: 6,229 ft (1,899 m)
  • Major Settlements: 3—South Lake Tahoe CA, Stateline NV, Tahoe City, CA
  • Primary outflows: Truckee River
  • Lake type: geologic block faulting
  • Coordinates: 39°1′N 120°1′W
  • Water type: Freshwater. Known for its clarity and purity.

Need a Refresher on nautical terms?

For reasons known best by sailors at sea, captains don’t use “landlubber” terms like front and back, or north, south, east and west.

  • Aft—Towards the stern, or rear, of the boat.
  • Fore—The front of the boat, or towards the front.
  • Windward—The side of the boat facing the wind or prevailing winds. Opposite to leeward.
  • Leeward—The side of the boat opposite windward. Leeward is sheltered from the wind.
  • Fathom—Six feet deep.
  • Nautical mile—One sixtieth of a degree of latitude, or about 6076 feet. A nautical mile is about 1/8 longer than a regular mile of 5280 feet.
  • Knot—One nautical mile per hour.

For more handy nautical terms, check out BBC Sport’s online sailing jargon guide.

Lake Tahoe Boat Marinas

Camp Richardson Marina

  • Address: Hwy. 89, South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 542-6570
  • Gasoline: Yes
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Rentals: Yes
  • Boat Storage: No
  • Slips: No
  • Waterski school
  • Launch ramp: Yes
  • Deli and store, sunset cruises, live music
  • Restaurant: Beacon lakeside restaurant
  • View the Camp Richardson website

Homewood Marina

  • 5190 West Lake Blvd.
  • Homewood, CA 96145
  • (530) 525-5966
  • Fuel: Yes
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Slips: No
  • Boat Storage: Yes
  • Forklift launch
  • Small market store nearby

Lakeside Marina

  • 4041 Lakeshore Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 541-6626
  • Fuel: No
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Rentals: Yes
  • Slips: Yes
  • Boat Storage: No
  • Restaurant & live music
  • Adjacent to Harvey’s casino
  • Rent a boat at the lakeside Marina

Meeks Bay Marina

  • Meeks’ Bay Resort, 7941 Emerald Bay Road, Meek’s Bay, CA
  • (530) 525-5588
  • Fuel: No
  • Pumpout Facilities: Yes
  • Moorings: No
  • Slips: Yes
  • Boat launch: Yes
  • Boat Storage: No
  • Campground, general store
  • Visit the Meeks Bay Resort website

North Tahoe Marina

  • 7360 North Lake Blvd., 1 mile west of Hwy. 267, Tahoe Vista, CA
  • (530) 546-8248
  • Fuel: Yes
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Rentals: Yes
  • Slips: Yes
  • Boat Storage: Yes
  • Visit the North Tahoe Marina website

Obexer’s Boat Company

  • 5355 West Lake Blvd.
  • Homewood, CA
  • (530) 525-7962
  • Fuel: Yes
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Slips: Yes
  • Ramp: Yes
  • Main full-service marina on the west shore of Lake Tahoe
  • Repair shop, forklift launch
  • Boat Storage: Yes
  • Visit Obexer’s website

Round Hill Pines Marina

  • Round Hill, NV, 2 miles north of Stateline
  • (775) 588-3055
  • Fuel: No
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Slips: No
  • Boat Storage: No
  • Rentals: Yes (kayaks, boats, jet skis, etc.)
  • Boat Launch: No
  • Fishing charters, heated swimming pool, tennis court, boat tours
  • Bar, restaurant, and live music
  • View the Round Hill Pines Marina Website

Sierra Boat Co.

  • 5146 North Lake Blvd., P.O. Box 69, Carnelian Bay, CA 96140
  • (530) 546-2551
  • Fuel: Yes
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Slips: Yes
  • Forklift launch, engine repair, classic wooden boat sales
  • Restaurant: Garwood’s
  • Boat Storage: Yes
  • View the sierra Boat Co. Website

Ski Run Marina

  • 900 Ski Run Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 544-9500
  • Fuel: No
  • Moorings: No
  • Slips: No
  • Boat Storage: No
  • Shopping, boating, cruises, dining (Riva Grill)
  • Tahoe Queen paddle wheeler
  • View the Ski Run Marina Website

Sunnyside Marina & Storage

  • 1850 West Lake Blvd., 2 miles south of Tahoe City
  • Tahoe City, CA
  • (530) 583-7201
  • Fuel: Yes
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Slips: Yes
  • Water-ski school
  • Market store nearby
  • Boat Storage: Yes
  • Restaurants: Mountain Grill, Sunnyside Steakhouse
  • Lodge accommodations at Sunnyside, conferences, retreats
  • View the Sunnyside Marina website

Tahoe City Marina

  • 700 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA
  • (530) 583-1039
  • Fuel: Yes
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Slips: Yes
  • Boat Storage: Yes
  • Full service marina; fishing charters, forklift and travelift launch, marine supply store
  • Tahoe Yacht Club
  • Restaurants: Jakes-on-the-Lake, Sierra Vista Restaurant
  • View the Tahoe City Marina website

Tahoe Keys Marina

  • Tahoe Keys Blvd. at Venice Dr., South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 541-2155
  • Fuel: Yes (both Gasoline & Diesel)
  • Moorings: No
  • Slips: Yes
  • Boat Storage: Yes
  • Rentals: Yes
  • Launch ramp: Yes
  • Water ski school
  • Full-service marina
  • Restaurant: Fresh Ketch Restaurant
  • View the Tahoe Keys Marina Website

Timber Cove Marina

  • 3411 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
  • South Lake Tahoe, CA 96156
  • (530) 544-2942
  • Fuel: Yes
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Rentals: Yes
  • Parasailing, sail boat cruises
  • Slips: No
  • Boat Storage: No
  • Restaurant: Blue Water Bistro on the pier, Mama’s Red Tomato
  • Hotel accommodations & Spa at Best Western Timber Lodge
  • Shuttle service from Best Western to Heavenly Gondola
  • View the Timber Cove Marina Website

Zephyr Cove Marina

  • Hwy. 50, 4 miles north of casinos at Zephyr Cove Resort
  • Zephyr Cove, NV
  • (775) 589-4908
  • Fuel: Yes (Gasoline & Diesel)
  • Moorings: Yes
  • Rentals: Yes
  • Slips: No
  • Boat Storage: No
  • Paddleboat tours, live music, volleyball
  • Beachside bar and restaurant
  • View the Zephyr Cove Marina website

Water Sport Schools (Waterski, wakeboard, sailing, etc.)

High Sierra Water Ski School

  • Location: North Lake Tahoe Area
  • Tahoe City
  • (530) 583-7417
  • Rentals as well water ski and sailing schools.

Lakeview Sports

  • (530) 544-0183
  • Location: South Lake Tahoe
  • Dozens of rentals, as well as water ski school

Don Borges Water Ski School