Frequently Asked Boat Rental Questions
Each boat comes with an experienced captain, gas, a premium Bluetooth sound system, a large floating mat, floaties, safety devices, a large cooler filled with ice (for $20 Addl.) , and more!
We are a commercially insured charter business. Therefore we only have a few options to pick up your party as there are many rules and regulations on the lakes. For Lake Travis the pick up location is Mansfield Dam Park, and for Lake Austin the pick up location is Loop 360 Boat Ramp. Please bring $5 cash for each person to enter the parks to access the boat docks. If you’re staying on an Airbnb on the lake, own a house on the lake, or have a private dock that we are allowed to access we can possibly pick up your group there as long as you make an arrangement with us.
When booking online, a 6% processing fee is applied to cover additional platform and transaction costs. To avoid this charge, you can save by booking directly with us over the phone. Call us at (512) 680-9102 to make your reservation.
We recommend your group plans ahead and takes a rideshare! Big Tex is an affiliate for Fetii and we have a promo code to get 25% off on your next trip! Fetii utilizes a network of 15 passenger transit vans that eliminates the need for groups on the move to split into multiple vehicles. You can use our promo code whenever you would like, not just to the lake, but around Austin as well! Use the code “BIGTEX25” for 25% off!
Ice, towels, sunscreen, cups, sunglasses, food, drinks (expect to share), $5 cash per person, and please bring water to stay hydrated.
Please refrain from bringing any glass, Styrofoam, glitter, messy food, or bad attitudes! Everyone on the lake is here to have a good time and enjoy themselves.
Yes, absolutely bring your own drinks. Just please refrain from bringing red wine as it can stain the seats and carpet if spilt. Glass beer bottles are not allowed on the Lake, please try to bring cans and plastic if possible.
We’ve got two pick-up locations to make your trip a breeze! Our main spot is at Paradise Cove Marina (17141 Rocky Ridge rd., Austin, TX 78734). They have plenty of parking and charge a fee of $5 per person to enter the marina, plus $20 per vehicle for parking (your awesome crew included!).
Our other option is Mansfield Dam. This is a cash-only location with a $5 per person entrance fee to the park itself. Keep in mind that we only have one boat picking up from Mansfield Dam at this time, so be sure to confirm your pick-up spot when you book your unforgettable Big Tex experience!
The average tip is 20%, but it’s up to you to decide based on your experience. For watersports or groups larger than 10, a 20% gratuity is required and will be paid directly to the captain at the end of your reservation via Venmo, cash, or Zelle.
No you can not drive the boat. For your safety and for insurance purposes, only Big Tex captains are allowed to drive and operate the vessel. All of Big Tex’s captains have their Texas boating license, Party Boat licenses, are trained, and have many hours of experience. Each of the captains are very familiar with the lakes and the boats they are captaining.
Yes, you can bring your well behaved furry friend with you. Just contact us before the trip so we can accommodate your dog or service animal. Make sure it has a life jacket as well.
Absolutely! We want your time on the water to be as celebratory as possible. Balloons and other decorations are a-ok, so go ahead and deck out the boat to match your lakeside fun.
Just a heads-up: While we love a little sparkle, glitter can be messy and stick around long after the party’s over. So, we kindly ask that you leave the glitter at home for the sake of keeping our boats looking their best!
Gas is included in the hourly rate. Unless, we are traveling over 20 miles by boat or bringing the boats to a different lake for you. If we are bringing the boat to a different lake other than Lake Austin or Lake Travis there will be a small fee.
If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you can contact us before 7 days of your scheduled trip to receive a full refund. Cancellations within 7 days of the scheduled trip will result in a 50% charge upon the agreed total. Cancellations within 48 hours of your scheduled trip are not permitted and will result in 100% charge of the agreed upon total.
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