Anna Maria Island Boat Rental Questions, Answered

You need a valid driver's license, and if you were born on or after January 1, 1988 you also need a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card to operate a boat with 10 horsepower or more. If you were born before that date, the card is not required and your photo ID is enough. The card is not a boating license the way a driver's license is, it is proof you completed an approved safety course, and you can finish that course online in an afternoon through a state-approved provider (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission).

The person renting the boat has to be 18 or older, and whoever is driving it has to be 21 or older. Both rules apply on every boat and every rental length, with no exceptions.

Yes. These are bareboat rentals, so you are the captain and real time behind the wheel matters. We walk you through the boat, the controls and the local water before you leave, and John stays on his phone while you are out. None of that replaces having handled a boat before. If you are unsure, call and describe what you have driven. Far better conversation to have now than at the ramp.

Every boat goes out with the full set of Coast Guard required safety equipment already aboard, so you are never responsible for sourcing life jackets, flares, or anything else. Reading the general on-water safety basics before a first trip is still worth the few minutes (United States Coast Guard boating safety).

Every bit of it loaded and at no extra charge:

• Cooler, floats, and snorkel gear
• Bluetooth stereo, GPS, and depth finder
• Bimini top for shade and all Coast Guard safety gear

Fishing is allowed and your dog is welcome on every boat.

There are two optional add ons. The fuel fill service is $25 plus the cost of the fuel you use, so you can hand the boat back without hunting for a fuel dock, and most guests take it. The prop and skeg protection is $75, which is in house coverage so damage to the propeller or the fin under the engine does not come out of your pocket. Everything else on the boat is included, with nothing hidden.

Not much. Just:

• Sunscreen, a hat, and a towel
• Your photo ID
• Your boating safety card, if you need one

Tritoon, deck boat and catamaran boats, most seating 10 to 12 passengers, each equipped with a GPS, a bimini top, and an onboard cooler. You can see each boat, its engine, and its exact capacity on the boat rentals page.

Capacity runs from 10 to 12 passengers depending on the boat, and the rate is per boat rather than per person, so the cost is the same whether two of you go out or ten do.

Yes, fishing is allowed on all of our boats. Bring your own gear and check the current Florida saltwater fishing license requirements before you go (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission saltwater fishing).

No. We do not allow tubing, wakeboarding, or any towing behind the boat, for safety reasons. It is one of the few hard limits we keep.

Pickup is at Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach. For delivery coverage and dock requirements, see our boat delivery guide.

Delivery may be arranged after we confirm the address, dock suitability, dates, and boat. See our vacation rental boat delivery guide for the details to discuss with us.

Yes. Check your boat and dates for multi day or weekly availability. If you want the boat delivered, review our delivery arrangements and dock requirements before booking.

Reservations take a 50% deposit or payment in full. Cancelling more than 48 hours ahead is free, and inside 48 hours there is a $200 cancellation fee.

Safety comes first, so if conditions are unsafe we reschedule rather than send you out, and you are not charged for a weather cancellation. We watch the forecast and call you, so you are not left guessing on the morning of your trip.

Summer weekends and holiday weeks go first, so book those as early as you can. Weekdays outside the peak season often have same-week availability.

Reservations take a 50% deposit or payment in full at the time of booking, and the balance is settled before you leave the dock. Rates are per boat rather than per person, so the price does not change with the size of your group.

Yes. Boats go out full and come back full, or you take the fuel fill service and we handle it for $25 plus the fuel you used. Most guests choose the fill service, because hunting for a fuel dock at the end of a long day is nobody's idea of a good finish.

Cancel more than 48 hours ahead and your deposit is returned. Inside 48 hours there is a $200 cancellation fee. If we cancel for unsafe weather, you are not charged at all and we reschedule you.

It comes down to group size, trip length, and your boating experience. Smaller tritoons are the most forgiving to handle, which makes them the usual pick for first time renters and families with young children, while the larger boats give a full group more room to spread out on a long day. If you want to cover more water, the faster boat with the wider range suits experienced boaters. You can compare every boat side by side on the boat rentals page, or call and describe your group and we will point you to the right one.

Four hours is enough to reach a sandbar, swim, eat on the water, and get back before everyone is tired, and it is the trip most guests take. Eight hours changes what is reachable and lets you visit more than one anchorage without watching the clock. If you are staying on the island for a week, keeping a boat for several days works out better per day and lets you go out when the weather cooperates.

Mornings are usually calmest, and the wind tends to build through the afternoon. If you have a choice and someone in your group is prone to seasickness, take the morning slot. If you want the best light and a quieter sandbar, late afternoon into evening is hard to beat.

Yes. The cooler is already on the boat, so bring whatever you want in it. Glass is a bad idea on any boat, and we ask that you take your rubbish back off with you.

Explore our islands and sandbars guide and dock-and-dine restaurants guide for ideas. Confirm current access and docking arrangements, then discuss a route that fits the conditions and your rental time with us.

Very likely along the Intracoastal side, and manatees move into the warmer shallows in the cooler months. We will not promise either one, since wildlife does not take bookings, but on a normal day the odds are good.

Yes, every boat is pet friendly for both hourly and weekly bookings, at no extra charge and with no separate pet boat to book.

Open seven days a week, Monday through Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.