BEST PRACTICES FOR BOAT RENTERS

If you just rented a boat from Aquarius, considering renting one, or tagging along on a friend's boat, we have some good news for you: on top of being the best fun you will ever have, research has proven that boating is good for your health and mind. But just like any new experience, someone who’s not an experienced boater may have a bit of anxiety over casting off the lines for the first time. Never fear, dear new-to-boating boater—Aquarius is here to help!

Here are some tips that will help ensure your first time out on a boat is a fun, safe, and memorable experience.

First and foremost, we can't repeat this enough: play it safe! Although boating is an incredibly low-risk activity, like anything, the fun stops right away if someone gets hurt. Watch some videos or visit our Boating Safety Page to know all the equipment you will have included with your boat rental and how to use them. Don't do any crazy drinking or stunts while the boat is underway and everything will be fine. Also, if you are a non-swimmer, we strongly recommend that you inform your captain so he can point out the areas where it is safe for you to be in the water. The sandbars for instance have a very strong current and are not recommended if you don't know how to swim. Instead, we will bring you to a cove or an island.

With the safety stuff out of the way, prepare yourself to have some serious fun. Find out which sorts of activities are likely to be loved by the entire family or your friends. Aquarius offers tubing, boating lessons, island hopping, or dock-and-dine at restaurants.

The weather plays also a big role in your experience. Check out our Weather Policy and Rain Guarantee pages for more info.

Plan some extra time both before and after the trip. Finding parking can take time and you want to start your experience fully relaxed.

When you’ve checked your itinerary and figured out how to find us, make a list of any boating supplies you may need to be fully prepared for all the grin-generating wave-hops, laughter-inducing tube-towing, and/or smile-causing fish-catching that’s about to come.

By the way, did we mention that it's best to overpack on a boat?

This may sound a bit simplistic, but the truth of the matter is that after hosting over 5000 clients, we have noticed that most new boaters tend to "under-pack". They don't bring enough water, food or/and drinks on the boat. Remember that when you are on the boat, it's harder to go and get these things. Although we can bring you to convenience stores on the water, it's much more enjoyable for you if you have purchased everything you need at hand.

Don't forget sunscreen, towels, and bathing suits if you plan to go in the water. Always barefoot onboard! Don't forget to remove your shoes before boarding. Shoes rip the seats and the boat is a clean area, the shoes bring dirt from outside.

Most important tip before you go! Have fun, and don’t forget to wave as you pass your fellow lovers of boats. Whether you know it or not, you’ve just joined a new family—the family of boaters. We all share one thing in common, and that’s our passion for boats and boating. So when we see another boat out on the water—any boat —we wave to each other. It’s part of boating etiquette, part of the lifestyle, and part of why we all have such a great time out on the water. Get ready to enjoy it, for yourself!