Flathead Boat Company COVID -19 Action Plan

Here at Flathead Boat Company, we have a long history of over 25 years of experience operating at the highest standards for safety, hygiene, and cleanliness. We are currently enhancing our best practices in these areas to address the COVID-19 procedures and phases that are rolling out in Montana. We have enhanced our protocols to include everything from hand-washing hygiene and cleaning product specifications to increased sanitation methods for our office, vehicles, and rental equipment. The purpose of this plan is to develop and implement a strategy to operate boat rentals while preventing the spread and outbreak of COVID-19. We are closely monitoring government policy changes, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, mandates from federal, state, and local government and health departments. We will continue to make changes, as necessary or appropriate, to our protocols and procedures.


Prior to Rental Check Out - Office Patio

• Primary Renter only to the window (person who is responsible for the rental with CC)
• ​Driver’s only to the patio window if different than the primary renter.  (Limit of 2 Drivers) 
• Drivers watch the instructional video
• Dock hands will meet the drivers at the boat after the office procedures are complete.
• Drivers can enter the boat while the dock hands maintain social distance from the dock and provide any extra instruction or answer the driver’s additional questions.

Dock Hands - Procedures Prior to Rental and Send-Off

• One checkout at a time.
• The boat must be deep cleaned and sanitized prior to any rental.
• Life Jackets bundled/cleaned and placed in the boat prior to customers arrival.
• Any water-sport equipment placed in the boat prior to renters arrival.
• The dock hands will maintain social distancing while instructing the drivers and answering any additional questions from the drivers.
• The dock hands will not handle any of the renter’s equipment. Renters must load and offload any materials onto the boat themselves.
• The rest of the renter’s party can board the boat or PWC.
• When the renters are ready to leave the dock. The dock hands will untether ropes and kick the boat away while maintaining social distance.

Dock Hands - Check In

• Help the renter’s land their boat and tie the rope down to the cleats. Help keep the boat steady and let the customer offload and head up to the parking lot. Remind drivers only to the office window for Check-in.
• If more than one vessel returns at the same time, the boat closest to shore that lands first, must offload and clear the dock before the next boat of renters can offload.
• The boat will then be sanitized and sit in the sun until wet sanitized surfaces are dried.
• After the boat surfaces have dried. The boat can be taken to the fill station and topped off with fuel and put away for the day.

Office - Check In

• The office will check-in: one customer at a time pending more boats return at the same time.
• Check-in will happen in the main office with one party at a time. This will allow time for customers to select apparel before they are cashed out after their rental.
• The renter will pay the balance of the rental plus fuel and 4% rental tax
• Clean and sanitize counter surfaces, Credit Card machine, and tablet before the next customers are able to enter the office
• Bathrooms will most likely be Porta-Potty outside with a key lock. Only rental customers are allowed to use it.​