Eight tips for renting a boat in Florida

If you are on vacation in Florida and have the budget for it, you should definitely rent a boat and experience Florida from the water from the water. On the water you will find incredibly beautiful beaches that are often still unspoilt and secluded, you can relax while fishing and catch a few fish or enjoy the dolphins, turtles and many birds swimming by. We have put together a few tips below to ensure that renting a boat doesn’t bring any nasty surprises.

Boat rental capacity is limited, especially in Southwest Florida: There are not enough marinas, boat rental companies and rental boats to meet the increased demand. It is therefore advisable to reserve a boat in good time. If you only book on the spot, you can expect not to get the boat you want at a possibly overpriced price. Therefore:

A number of owners and agents of vacation homes offer their own boat at a supposed bargain price together with the vacation home. As a rule, these boats do not have a commercial rental license or rental insurance.

They are also often poorly maintained. If the boat breaks down or there are problems, there is usually no replacement boat available and the vacation is ruined. Finding an alternative boat from a local provider at short notice can be difficult, especially during the vacation and seasonal periods, and can sometimes result in exorbitantly high costs.

On-site support is also often problematic, as the owner is usually not on site and there is no 24-hour emergency service to help in the event of problems.

Pay attention to the insurance, have commercial rental insurance confirmed in writing before signing the contract and inquire about the insurance number and exclusions!

Most boat rental companies require boats to be returned by 4 p.m., for example. However, it is most beautiful on the water in the evening. Rental companies that don’t expect their boats back until sunset are undoubtedly the better choice here. Because the sunsets in Florida are often phenomenal.

If you want to rent a boat for more than one day, you should ask your landlord before booking whether your local conditions comply with his rules or whether he even allows the boat to be moored overnight at the accommodation.

There are landlords who want to see their boats back in the marina every evening, even if they have rented them for several days. Some vacation homes also only have a boat dock without a lift, as do hotels. In this case, the boat remains in the water, for which you should also obtain permission.

Many rental boat providers restrict the navigation area of their boats to inland waterways and bays. These boats are then not allowed to sail on the Gulf of Mexico, making it impossible to visit the beautiful islands and beaches. There are also restrictions on the permitted area of entry.

The Anglican legal system applies in the USA. This means that in the event of damage, the injured party can hold not only the boat owner but also the driver liable. This can lead to exorbitant compensation claims if the rental boat is not equipped with commercial rental insurance. For insurance reasons, private boat owners are usually not in a position to provide their boat with such insurance.

In addition, many insurance policies do not include theft cover . Therefore, always ask private providers to show you the insurance policy before signing a rental contract. A 24-hour service with a replacement boat should be provided when renting a boat.

Because rental insurance with a low deductible is very expensive, many providers offer rates with deductibles ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Make sure your boat rental company has coverage with the lowest available deductible of $500.

The amount of the excess often differs from the amount of the security deposit. A deposit of 1000 USD does not protect you if the excess is 5000 USD. The rental company will always demand the difference in the event of damage. A damaged propeller or even an entire boat drive can quickly become an incalculable risk in the shallow waters of SW Florida.

Most towing insurance policies cannot be used commercially and deny all coverage for rental boats. Many commercial towing insurance policies (Sea Tow) only offer limited cover for rental boats with a deductible of up to USD 150 per towing hour, which can lead to additional costs in the event of a claim. Reputable providers offer towing insurance without a deductible or tow the boat themselves in the event of a claim.

The majority of providers do not allow water sports activities such as water skiing or wake boarding on their rental boats. The reason for this is usually the additional – very expensive – water sports insurance required. Have the inclusion of this water sports insurance confirmed before signing the contract. Otherwise, the insurance company will refuse to accept any liability in the event of damage, even towards third parties involved.

Different providers offer different additional equipment for their rental boats. Water skis, wake boards, knee boards, tubes (tires to pull behind), beach chairs and umbrellas as well as fishing equipment increase the fun factor when boating. These items are either not available from many providers or have to be paid for separately.