ounded back in the early 2000s with just four Jet Skis, Young Harris Water Sports has grown into Georgia’s largest boat rental company, with three locations offering everything from kayaks to luxury surf boats. They operate on Lake Chatuge and Lake Oconee, and also deliver boats to surrounding lakes all across Georgia, into South Carolina, North Carolina, and even Tennessee. Kent Chamberlain started with YH as a location manager in 2020 and is now VP of the company. He talks about how BookingCentral helps Young Harris stand out from competitors, and what he loves the most about his job.
Q: You joined the team in 2020. What were you doing before that?
Kent: My background was in marine construction — I built marinas, docks, seawalls, that kind of thing. Funny enough, I built the marina for Lance Markham, the owner of Young Harris, and he approached me about working with him. That opened the door, and since then it’s been a pretty amazing ride.
Q: How different is your day-to-day now compared to your construction days?
Kent:. Here, there’s something new happening all the time. Boats break down, customers have questions, we’re delivering rentals across different states. Every day has its own challenges. It’s kept me on my toes, but it’s also given me a chance to grow as a professional and as a leader. And personally, I’ve always been into boating and water sports, so it’s fun being in an industry I’ve loved since I was a kid.
Q: What role does BookingCentral play in helping you manage such a big fleet?
Kent: Honestly, it’s been a total game-changer for us. Before we started using the Fleet Management feature, everything was handled through spreadsheets. And the more spreadsheets you have, the more opportunities for mistakes. One gets deleted, one gets updated wrong, and suddenly you’ve got a scheduling mess on your hands. With BookingCentral, all of our boats and resources are tracked in the system. It reminds us when service is due, helps my team log issues, and makes sure we’re not overbooking. It’s saved us a ton of stress, and it’s made the whole operation run more smoothly.
Q: What does your staff say about the system?
Kent: BookingCentral is probably the easiest thing new hires learn in training. That’s important for us, because we bring on a lot of seasonal employees in the summer, including high school kids and college kids. The fact that they don’t struggle with the system means they can focus on the customer and the actual boating part.
"BookingCentral reminds us when service is due, helps my team log issues, and makes sure we’re not overbooking. It’s saved us a ton of stress."
Q: Are there other features you especially love?
Kent: The Calendar for sure. The Resource View is one we use all the time. If someone walks up asking for a boat at three o’clock, we don’t have to dig around— we can glance at the calendar and immediately see what’s available. And the reporting is another big one. I can look at any given day and see which locations are busiest, how many turnovers are happening, and get a really clear snapshot of what’s going on.
Q: What sets Young Harris apart from other rental companies?
Kent: I think it’s a mix of things. First, booking with us is really simple, and customers appreciate that. Second, we’ve invested in a wide variety of boats. Most rental companies will have a few pontoons and maybe a ski boat. We’ve got everything from kayaks and paddleboards to surf boats worth $150,000. Not a lot of places are willing to put that kind of investment into their fleet, but it makes a big difference. And then, honestly, I think it’s the way our team takes care of people. From the moment you pull into the lot, we’re helping to bring life jackets, coolers, food — whatever you’ve got — down to the dock. When you come back, we’re helping unload and wrapping things up. It’s a full-service experience, and people remember that.
Q: What advice would you give someone just starting out in boat rentals?
Kent: Don’t skimp on your equipment. It’s tempting to buy used stuff or run things into the ground before replacing them. But in the rental business, boats take a beating. We’ve found it pays off to buy new, run it for a couple of seasons, and then sell while it still has value. That way you reduce downtime, you’re not constantly repairing things, and you can actually keep your boats out making money instead of sitting in a shop costing you money. It’s an upfront investment, but it does save you in the long run.
Q: What’s a lesson you learned the hard way as you got up to speed in the boat rental business?
Kent: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is around making sure new products are insurable. At one point, I spent about $60,000 on electric surfboards, thinking they’d be a great addition to our fleet. But I couldn’t get anyone to underwrite them, so I wasn’t able to rent them out. They’re just sitting in storage now. That experience taught me to always talk with our insurance company first before bringing on any new product.
Q: Looking back, what’s been the best part of this career shift for you?
Kent: For me, it’s being in a business that’s tied to something I’ve loved my whole life. I started water skiing when I was about four years old. I had boats before I even had my first truck. So to be able to turn that passion into a career — it’s been really rewarding. And it’s not just about the boats. It’s about being part of people’s vacations, their weekends, those memories they’re making with family and friends.
Speak to one of our experts today tolearn how BookingCentral can help you run your business more smoothly and increaseyour revenue while you’re at it.
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