• Never assume last year’s route is still safe—shoaling changes constantly.
• Always follow current aids to navigation and your rental briefing. If chart information appears to conflict with posted markers, slow down and contact the marina if you are unsure.
• Use updated electronic charts (Navionics, Aqua Map, Garmin, etc.); see “RECOMMENDED MOBILE APPLICATIONS”
• In Southwest Florida, leaving a marked channel often means only 1–3 feet of water (or less).

• “Red Right Returning” generally applies when returning from sea.
• Along portions of the Intracoastal Waterway and connected waterways, yellow symbols on markers indicate the ICW route and may change how you follow the aids to navigation.
• When in doubt, always stay between red and green channel markers.

• Dark blue/green = deeper water
• Light green = moderate depth
• Tan/light brown = shallow flats
• Exposed sand = very shallow

• Running on plane saves very little time if you’re unsure of the area.

• Right-of-way reminders — power gives way to sail; overtaken vessels hold course.
• Shallow water awareness: monitor tide charts and remain alert to changing water depths throughout the permitted rental area.
• Channel etiquette — stay to the starboard side and pass port-to-port.
• Read your charts before departure and cross-reference with your GPS.

• Approach at idle — no faster than you’re willing to hit the dock.
• Read the wind and current before committing to a slip.
• Deploy fenders on the approach side before you arrive.
• Have dock lines cleated and ready — bow, stern, and springs.
• Brief your passengers; hands and feet stay inside the boat.

• Choose the right anchor for the bottom — sand, grass, or mud.
• Use a 7:1 scope in most conditions, 5:1 in calm anchorages.
• Set the anchor by backing down slowly and taking a bearing.
• Respect seagrass beds — anchor in sand patches whenever possible.
• Leave courtesy spacing so all boats can swing without contact.

• Observe posted Idle Speed and Slow Speed / Minimum Wake zones.
• Respect private docks — your wake is your responsibility.
• Slow to displacement speed near anchored or moored vessels.
• Pass with safe distance — a full boat-length minimum where possible.
• Courtesy boating: a wave and a smile go a long way in Captiva.

The boundaries for rental boats include north through the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway) to Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, North Captiva Island, Cayo Costa Island, and Cabbage Key. Rental boats are not allowed east through the Caloosahatchee River, north to Matlacha, in the Gulf of Mexico, or south to Fort Myers Beach / Lovers Key.

All powerboat operators must be at least 21 years of age with a valid driver’s license. If the operator was born in 1988 or after, they will additionally need a valid Florida boater’s license.

The essentials are water and sunscreen! You’ll probably also want to pack beach towels, a cooler with snacks and beverages, sunglasses, and bug spray. If you forget any of the essentials, you can pick them up at our Ship Store.

Passengers may consume alcohol on board; however, the boat operator may not operate the vessel while under the influence.

Anyone fishing from a boat, pier, or beach is required to have a valid Florida fishing license. You can purchase a fishing license at https://gooutdoorsflorida.comor by calling 1-888-347-4356.

At Port Sanibel Marina, we take pride in our fleet and perform regular maintenance to ensure our boats are in top condition for our customers to have the best possible experience on the water. However, if the boat breaks down, please contact us at  (239) 437-1660 as soon as possible to report the problem and your location. We will make arrangements to have another boat, if available, delivered to you or have the vessel towed back to the marina.

Adults are not required to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs). Children 12 years and younger are required to wear PFDs while the boat is underway. By law, there must be one (1) PFD for every person and one (1) throw cushion per vessel.

The price of the boat rental does not include tax or fuel. Every boat leaves the marina with a full gas tank and will be topped off upon return to account for the fuel used.

We keep a close eye on the radar and do not take any chances in bad weather. However, storms can develop unexpectedly. If a storm approaches, return to the marina as soon as it is safe to do so. If conditions prevent you from safely returning, move away from the storm when possible and seek a protected area. If it is no longer safe to continue operating the boat, anchor in a safe location and wait for conditions to improve. Contact Port Sanibel Marina at (239) 437-1660 if you need assistance.

Full-day rentals are from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. All rentals must be returned to the marina by 4:00 PM. A $75 late fee will be charged for each 30-minute interval beyond the scheduled return time.

Half-day rentals are four hours, with departure times at 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. All rentals must be returned to the marina by the reservation’s scheduled end time. A $75 late fee will be charged for each 30-minute interval beyond the scheduled return time.