Aquarius' best rules to respectful boating – make the right kind of waves

Respect the dock. Good boating etiquette starts before you enter the water - at the dock. Prepare your equipment before boarding, remove your shoes, and comply with the captain's orders.
Own your wake. The captain is in charge of the vessel and respects the manatee zones and other slow-speed areas. Oftentimes, guests ask to go faster in areas we are not allowed to. The fastest way to make the wrong kinds of waves is to literally throw a big, obtrusive wave at another boat, swimmer, angler or shoreline owner. This is much more than being a nuisance or disrupting others’ experience on the water. It’s dangerous to those unable to tolerate a large wake. Stay at least 200 feet from the shoreline and other boaters.
Keep the tunes in check. Sound is amplified over the water, so keep the music at a decent level. Not only is it a disturbance to others and to the people living around the water, but the operator may not hear the spotter.
Pack in. Pack out. Seems like common sense, right? Yet shorelines are still lined with trash being thrown overboard. Take care of the body of water you love and dispose of any trash you have. Do not throw it overboard and respect our wildlife and beautiful scenery!
Rules of the road. Become familiar with waterway markers and navigation rules, which dictate how the captain operates your vessel in order to prevent collision.
Anchoring and mooring. Enter an anchorage or mooring area at a slow speed. Don’t create a wake that will disrupt other anchored boats. The first boat sets the tone. Mimic how they tie off, how much line you use and how much distance you allow between you and other boats. The busier the boat, the more space you should give yourself.
Be polite – give a wave. When passing another boat, give a little wave hello. Boating is all about having fun and being part of the boating community. Embrace it, enjoy it, and share it for generations to come.

Boating tips summarized

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.

Overpack for your boat ride

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.

Inform the captain if you don't know how to swim

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.