Created by retired Air Force pilot Bruce Belser, Dockside Watersports blends military precision with laid-back Gulf Coast charm. Bruce and his friendly four-legged “customer service reps,” Duke and Bella, greet every guest at the ...
Created by retired Air Force pilot Bruce Belser, Dockside Watersports blends military precision with laid-back Gulf Coast charm. Bruce and his friendly four-legged “customer service reps,” Duke and Bella, greet every guest at the ...
Loyal customers keep coming back year after year, and it's easy to see why. The staff gets consistent praise for being friendly, helpful, and genuinely accommodating. Mike and his crew make the whole process remarkably stress-free, from straightforward online booking to getting you safely in and out of the dock. First-time boat renters especially appreciate how approachable everything feels, with dock hands who clearly know their stuff and make even hesitant newcomers feel comfortable. The pricing stands out as particularly competitive for the Destin area, offering solid value compared to other rental options. Boats with double-decker designs and water slides are a huge hit with families, and the location puts you within minutes of Crab Island and great snorkeling spots. A few reviewers mentioned the boats could use minor maintenance updates, though this doesn't seem to impact the overall experience. The flexibility also deserves mention, with the team willing to make last-minute adjustments when life throws curveballs.
I had always wanted to rent a boat, but for some reason it always seemed stressful and complicated. Not at dockside watersports! I shopped around all the other pontoon options, there was another cheaper option for $200 for 2 hours, but docksides cheapest option is $250 for 4 hours. That's twice the time for $50 more. There fees also weren't as high as other places. You need a temporary Florida boating license to rent a boat, but they send you to a link that costs $100 and only takes about 15 minutes to compete the boater safety course on the phone. You can get the boaters license cheaper if you do it in advance before you come and take the full course. Anyways, the people were super friendly, I was running a little late and they were super understanding. They have a ramp where you take you're car down and can unload right into the boats. The dock hands were also super friendly and helpful. The whole process was super easy and we had a great time
Justin Archer
August 28, 2025
I had always wanted to rent a boat, but for some reason it always seemed stressful and complicated. Not at dockside watersports! I shopped around all the other pontoon options, there was another cheaper option for $200 for 2 hours, but docksides cheapest option is $250 for 4 hours. That's twice the time for $50 more. There fees also weren't as high as other places. You need a temporary Florida boating license to rent a boat, but they send you to a link that costs $100 and only takes about 15 minutes to compete the boater safety course on the phone. You can get the boaters license cheaper if you do it in advance before you come and take the full course. Anyways, the people were super friendly, I was running a little late and they were super understanding. They have a ramp where you take you're car down and can unload right into the boats. The dock hands were also super friendly and helpful. The whole process was super easy and we had a great time
Justin Archer
August 28, 2025
