Florida Keys Boat Rentals: Exploring the Beautiful Backwaters on Your Own

Not everyone has their own boat (we don’t) so finding ways to get out on the water can sometimes be a challenge. When you’re visiting Islamorada and the Middle Keys there is actually a great option for renting your own boat for exploring the sandbars and small islands around the area. Driving a boat through beautiful turquoise waters, watching for dolphins and rays or maybe fishing is a blast, and it’s pretty easy to add to your trip.

Have you rented a boat before or been out in the backwaters of the Florida Keys? If not, don’t worry, because we’ve got all the info you need to determine if renting a boat is a good idea for your trip plan. There are several things to consider as you think about doing a boat rental, so if you have any questions we don’t answer, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you make a great plan for a Florida Keys vacation.

Highlights of Renting a Boat in Islamorada

What I love about doing a Florida Keys boat rental is that the destination and stops are 100% up to us as the renter/captain. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love when we get to have a day doing a sandbar charter or when we’re out on a snorkeling trip, but the freedom of being on our own is great. And it’s kind of fun. Driving a boat through the turquoise waters surrounding Islamorada, you can just decide that it’s time to jump in, so you turn off the engine and go for a swim. If you’re driving along and you want to stop and take photos of birds, great, you can.

While not everyone is going to feel comfortable doing Florida Keys boat rentals, either because they don’t have boating experience or they aren’t familiar with the waters, if it’s something you can add to your trip, I think it’s worth it. We rented an 18 foot skiff from Florida Keys Boat Rentals out of Robbie’s of Islamorada and had four hours of freedom on the water.

Even though I hadn’t driven a boat in this specific area before, the boating dude who did our safety talk and completed our rental process was very helpful showing us some good spots to head off to. When you’re boating out of Robbie’s you’ve got lots of options for where you can go, whether it’s a sandbar you want to hang out on or just beautiful stretches of water to explore. It was good to have personal recommendations for our Florida Keys boat rental day instead of just wandering the backwaters aimlessly.

Tips for a Great Florida Keys Boat Rental Experience

I know that renting a boat seems like a fun, easy sort of thing to do when you’re in the Florida Keys, and it kind of is, but there are some things to know before you go. First off, you don’t just get to pay for your rental and take off, but you need to fully understand where you’re allowed to drive and what sort of areas you cannot cross into. The Florida Keys have very shallow water all around them and much of that is covered with protected seagrass beds. YOU CANNOT CROSS THESE. If you’re doing a Florida Keys boat rental, the vendor has the ability to track the boat with GPS and knows if you carry on into the seagrass beds, which comes with a heavy fine.

You have to pay attention to the navigation system as you go, keeping to designated channels and open water so the seagrass areas can stay healthy. If you scar the seagrass or get caught out there, you’ll be in big trouble, both with the vendor AND Florida State F&W. The best way to stay within acceptable boating areas is to keep your eyes on the GPS and follow the channel markers to where you want to go. There is plenty of room to have fun, but be smart about it.

Where to Visit with a Keys Boat Rental

Doing Florida Keys Boat Rentals from Islamorada more takes you into great swimming and sandbar waters than snorkeling waters. I do enjoy snorkeling near sandbars and around the edges of the grasses, as there are some cool fish and rays that hang out here, but what you’ll see isn’t nearly as good as if you’re snorkeling at one of the reefs off Key Largo (I love Horizon Divers for this) or if you go out to Sombrero Reef or Looe Key Reef.

Instead of planning on snorkeling, bring your reef-safe sunblock and beach towel and enjoy the boundless water for swimming or ever changing sandbar areas. If you’re stopping at a sandbar, use your sand-spike/anchor to keep from drifting when you turn off the motor. Plan your time so you can spend as much of the day as you want either playing in the water or cruising around. Don’t forget to bring lots of water and your polarized sunglasses too.

Note: you can do boat rentals in Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West and other small marinas. Wherever you choose to do it, be sure to talk to the rental desk and get SOLID RECOMMENDATIONS for routes and sights.

Need to Know for Renting a Boat in the Keys

There are a few Florida Keys boat rentals, but the easiest for both activities and navigation is, I think, going from Robbie’s of Islamorada. The actual business is indeed called Florida Keys Boat Rentals and they have quite a few options for the size and type of boat to rent. I like doing a skiff because it’s small, easy to maneuver and doesn’t encourage you to get wild on the water.

With a small skiff you’ve got enough power to hit your plane and move, but it’s also not a muscle boat. If you need something more powerful, that’s an option too. Keep in mind that boats are rented for the number of people you have with your and your intentions on the water. If you have five people with you, a tiny skiff won’t cut it so you’ll be set up with a bigger boat, and the price will match that. When you’re reserving your Florida Keys boat rental be sure that you’re planning properly.