Destin 12-Passenger Pontoon Boat Rental

Captain your own pontoon for a day of swimming, dolphin watching, and relaxing at Crab Island

4.8 stars• 341 reviews

From$500

Duration

4 or 8 hrs

Ideal For

Up to 12 people

Includes

Life vests, anchor, instruction

Highlights

Take the helm of a 23-ft, 90-HP pontoon and cruise Destin’s emerald waterways with up to 12 friends or family. Choose a half- or full-day rental to snorkel, swim, or unwind at Crab Island.

Navigate to Crab Island for swimming and sandbar fun
Spot dolphins while cruising the calm bay
Enjoy a smooth, comfortable ride under a bimini top
Bring coolers aboard for snacks and drinks
Receive USCG-approved life vests and safety briefing

What's Included

Life vests
Anchor
Instruction
Dry storage box

Drivers must be at least 18 and present a valid ID and credit card. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must hold a Florida Boater Safety Certificate. Boats may not enter the Gulf of Mexico and are available March through October.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. No-shows are charged the full price.

Review summary

4.8

Excellent

341 reviewsGoogle Maps

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.

What people are saying

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