Why do we have to do so much to rent a jet ski?
Unfortunately there have been many sketchy jet ski rental businesses that operate with no insurance or certificates that put innocent people at risk. It is because of this that the industry has received a bad name, and honestly it’s all the law abiding good businesses and the customers that end up suffering. We now have to give redundant training, and a lot more paperwork than we did before, leading to a process that takes much longer than it once did to get on the water, but don’t let this dissuade you at all, we got your back.
What are we required to do before our jet ski rental?
The first thing you will probably need to do, and we recommend doing this before getting to the location, is get your rental license. This license will last 90 days and it costs $10. Not everyone needs to get it though, and there are some exceptions to the rule. The general rule is that anyone born after Jan, 1st 1988 will need the license, but the FWC has defined some exceptions to this rule HERE, and I will list them below.
- A person licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard to serve as master of a vessel.
- A person operating on a private lake or pond.
- An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is at least 18 years old and possesses the required Boating Safety Education Identification Card, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
- An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is exempt from the educational requirements, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
- A nonresident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a NASBLA-approved boater safety course or equivalency examination from another state.
- A person is operating a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel and has available for inspection aboard that vessel a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.
- A person operating a vessel within 90 days after completing an approved boating safety course, as required in Chapter 327.395(1), and has a photographic I.D. and a boater education course completion certificate showing proof of having completed the required boating safety education course. The course completion certificate must provide the student’s first and last name, date of birth, and the date the course was successfully completed.
In addition to the rental license, with the new passing of SB606, we also have other training we have to give you in person. This training and other info can be found HERE, and listed below.
These instructions must, amongst other things, cover:
- Operational characteristics of the rented vessel
- Safe vessel operation and vessel right-of-way
- Boat operator’s responsibility for the safe and proper operation of the vessel
- Waterway characteristics such as navigational hazards, boating-restricted areas, and water depths
- Emergency procedures.
The renter receiving the instruction must provide the livery with a statement attesting to each component of the instruction. Further, the FWC is required to establish by rule the content of the statement form.
What are the age limits to rent a jet ski?
Before renting a jet ski definitely pay attention to the age limits. While a person 14 or older can legally drive a jet ski, someone 18 or older needs to be the main renter. As well, while the legal age limits may be stated on the FWC livery page, insurance limits may change from business to business. The FWC does not have any age limit for passengers, but insurance may define a passenger age limit depending on the carrier the business uses. It is because of this you may see passenger age limits vary.
You rented with a previous company that didn’t require anything?
So you rented with a company down in south Florida that just put you on a jet ski, with no requirements, paperwork etc. and you’re wondering why some companies are different and it’s frustrating. We get it, it sucks, but these are the exact companies the new laws are trying to get rid of. These companies aren’t following any of the laws, and they are putting your health at risk. If you weren’t required to do any of the above, they more than likely do not have a livery permit and probably also do not carry liability insurance. Jet skis can be risky, and you want to know you and your children are protected.
Anything else?
Manufacturers recommend wearing wet suit bottoms, because of this most places will have renters sign a refusal to wear wet suit bottoms. We recommend using them for the best protection when renting a jet ski, but make sure you are given that form if wearing a wet suit bottom seems a little over board (trust us we agree it’s a little over the top). Other than that just make sure you bring your drivers license to prove your age, comfy clothes you can get wet, and a case that can keep your phone dry and protected (as you will be required to keep a phone with you in case of emergency), and you’re good to go.
We know all of that seems a little daunting, it can be a lot, but the experience is well worth it. There’s nothing like being out on the water on a sunny day blasting through the water at 50+ MPH. All of this is done to give people the safest experience they can have, while also keeping the other boaters equally safe.
If you guys ever have any questions about any of this please reach out to us at our contact page.
Citations-
Boating safety act of 2022. Boatsetter. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.boatsetter.com/sb-606-florida-boating-rental-license?sem_account_id=8093455181&sem_campaign_id=19102065960&sem_ad_group_id=144581679832&sem_device_type=c&sem_keyword=sb606&sem_matchtype=b&sem_ad_id=638545817676&sem_network=g&sem_target_id=kwd-482196804365&sem_feed_item_id=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=sb606&sem_location_id=9011544&sem_placement=&sem_placement_category=&utm_campaign=SB606&sem_location_interest_id=&ctype=bw&sem_extension_id=&gclid=CjwKCAjwov6hBhBsEiwAvrvN6CWMvBWY2Px2ypvhoRAyZiQT7L1hnUNJO2TH_N3DVhpkrow0fEqKGxoCA-MQAvD_BwE
FAQs for Liveries. Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://myfwc.com/boating/regulations/faqs-for-liveries/
