jet ski rentals in the area?

**BeachbumAggie** · 05-30-2009, 11:06 PM

A good friend and his family will be down week after next and they'd like to rent jet ski's for a half day (dad, mom, and 12 year old daughter). Is there anywhere in this area where they could rent them and ride in the bay? Is there any type of guided excursion on jet ski's in the area?

Thanks ahead!

**SWGB** · 05-31-2009, 01:25 AM

Not sure about Destin, but PCB has tons of wave runner rentals and guided tours. IIRC wave runner's are illegal in the Gulf in Walton county.

Aquatic Adventures
(850) 235-8051
Aquatic Adventures - Panama City Beach

**robertsondavies** · 05-31-2009, 06:57 AM

What is Defuniak's authority in feet, into the gulf? I know the State of Florida has a certain amount of constitutional authority for some miles into the water, on some limited subject matter.

Is it 100 feet, zero feet? High water line, or wet sand line?

Does this basically mean, you can't drive your jet ski/waverunner onto the beach in Walton County - so effectively it's a ban?

**Will B** · 05-31-2009, 08:04 AM

300 feet pops to mind, but I can't remember for sure. I don't know of any rental places, though, that let you take the craft. You might be able to find somebody in Destin harbor that rents them. You can head into the bay from there...

**DuneLaker** · 05-31-2009, 08:34 AM

I believe Sandestin, which also has a harbor and docks on the bay in Walton County, has jet ski rentals. Haven't checked lately. Know people who've rented there in the past. Within Sandestin, Baytowne Wharf might also provide you with some Walton County jet ski opportunities. I've also seen some jet ski rental just north of the 331 bridge in the past. You might want to check and be sure which county you are in. Counties have a great deal of authority in Florida. Each county collects its own taxes and makes a number of their own rules and laws.

**robertsondavies** · 05-31-2009, 10:00 AM

yes, counties have some authorites when expressly granted by the legislature (revokable by the way), HOWEVER, my curiosity is how much authority it has past the wet sand mark into the gulf? Is the Snapper season or catch limit different in Bay, Walton, Okaloosa - I think that's set by an agency of the Florida legislature as are many regulators dealing with coastal Florida waters.

I don't doubt its illegal to beach a jet ski in Walton county. I'm doubting whether Walton county regs have jurisdiction over me cruising next to Walton out in the Gulf, somewhere just beyond the 2nd sand bar on a jet ski launched from an adjacent county's beach, or from Walton County's own bayside jetski rentals in Sandestin. ...

By the way, I am in support of not landing jet ski's on our beaches at all, so I'm just wondering how long we can keep our beaches free of jetskis

... and our shores free of condo high rises.

Would anyone be in favor of a special local option sales tax (1 cent for 6 months, maybe less) to condemn, and compensate very fairly, if not overly fairly current unit owners of the two grandfathered eyesore towers in Seagrove Beach. They're not eyesores in and of themselves, but they stand out as a relative eyesore. Could we use some of the Federal Make work money towards such a condemnation? May not need sales tax dollars at all -

I think it would make a great constitutional case that may rise to the Supreme Court - it is a taking, however compensated, and yet on the one hand whats being taken, since its not raw land, is not as unique as courts have regarded real estate in general (you're taking a concrete condo unit, and an indivisible TIC interest in the land along with that), but the public need for aesthetics (if that's our only argument) is likewise not as great as some environmental argument we may forward.

Maybe this deserves a new thread, since it is a bit off topic from jet skis.

**Miss Critter** · 05-31-2009, 10:20 AM

Sandestin Marina jet ski rental info here:
Destin Water Sports: Destin Scuba Diving, Kayaking & More at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

**SWGB** · 05-31-2009, 11:19 AM

IIRC Smiling Joe posted the county ordinance restricting jet ski use to 500 feet. Also the lack of launching areas could be part of the issue. In Bay County you cannot operate a jet skit at more than an idle until you are 500 feet out and most of the rental companies provide floats to mark the 500 foot line.

**Lady D** · 06-01-2009, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by BeachbumAggie

A good friend and his family will be down week after next and they'd like to rent jet ski's for a half day (dad, mom, and 12 year old daughter). Is there anywhere in this area where they could rent them and ride in the bay? Is there any type of guided excursion on jet ski's in the area?

Thanks ahead!

BeachbumAggie, here is the link to the waverunner tour we take in PC Beach. There are discount coupons on the website for some things.

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