Boat Rentals in Gulfport, FL

Rental fleets in Gulfport include Jet skis, Pontoon boats and Ski boats. What is available on the day depends on the company and the season, so it is worth checking a few listings.

April and November are the best all-around months for boating from Gulfport on Boca Ciega Bay. Nearby NOAA St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay averages place the water in the mid 70s during those months, compared with the mid to upper 60s in winter and the upper 80s in midsummer, so boating remains practical throughout the year.

Summer has the warmest water, but the Tampa Bay rainy-season thunderstorm pattern runs approximately May 15 through October 15. During that period, let the daily marine forecast and sea-breeze thunderstorm regime determine whether conditions suit your trip.

Source: City of Gulfport (mygulfport.us)

Launch at Gulfport Municipal Marina’s public ramp, then follow the marina channel into Boca Ciega Bay, the city’s immediate cruising water. Clam Bayou, beside the channel, is the local small craft option, with a kayak launch near its estuary.

For a longer run, the Intracoastal Waterway continues through Boca Ciega Bay. Pass-a-Grille Channel links it with North Channel and open Gulf waters. Shell Key Preserve makes a natural beach stop accessible only by boat, with mangrove islands and broad seagrass beds; visitors must use the preserve’s designated public areas.

Source: City of Gulfport (mygulfport.us)

From Gulfport on Boca Ciega Bay, boaters can head to Shell Key Preserve, Egmont Key State Park or John’s Pass Village. Shell Key offers boat access to public beaches on an undeveloped barrier island, plus birdwatching. Egmont Key draws visitors for secluded beaches, swimming, shelling and wildlife viewing at the mouth of Tampa Bay. John’s Pass provides a livelier stop, with a historic fishing village, waterfront boardwalk, restaurants and shops. The mix works for either quiet island time or a meal by the water.

Source: Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources (pinellas.gov)

Florida does not issue a boating license, but operators born on or after January 1, 1988, must carry photo ID and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating education card when running a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft. There is no general minimum age for boats; personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, and no one under 18 may rent any vessel other than a human powered one. Exemptions include Coast Guard licensed masters, private lake or pond operators, operators accompanied aboard by someone 18 or older who holds the card or is exempt and is responsible for the vessel, and nonresidents with proof of a NASBLA-approved out of state course. Any non exempt operator may instead pass an FWC approved temporary certificate exam and carry that certificate with photo ID for 90 days.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules require boaters to carry life jackets, stay sober, use properly registered vessels, follow personal watercraft limits, and obey posted no wake and manatee zones. Every vessel must carry an accessible U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person; children under 6 must wear one while underway on vessels under 26 feet. Operating while impaired is illegal; a .08 blood or breath alcohol level creates a presumption of impairment. Most vessels must be registered and carry the certificate aboard. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, wear a noninflatable PFD, and not operate from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Florida law requires you to be at least 18 to rent a livery vessel other than a human-powered vessel. Florida sets no general minimum age to operate a boat, but a personal watercraft operator must be at least 14.

Under section 327.395, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, operating a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must carry the required boating safety credentials. An exemption applies when accompanied by a credentialed or exempt person age 18 or older who is attendant to the operation and responsible for safe operation and violations. The rental operator sets its own booking minimum subject to state law, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Alongside the boat rentals on this page, Gulfport has 1 boat club and 3 marinas.