Private boat rental at St. Pete Beach

A boat rental at St. Pete Beach starts with a simple idea: the barrier island looks best from the water, and a private yacht lets you take it slowly. Your group has the whole boat, with a licensed captain, crew and fuel included, so nobody is squeezed onto a shared deck and nobody is watching the clock for you.

A boat rental at St. Pete Beach: where the boat meets you

Our yachts do not sit at the beach itself. Most of the fleet meets guests at Maximo Marina in St. Petersburg, and the 42' Aquila meets guests at MarineMax on Gulfport Blvd. The office confirms whether St. Pete Beach fits your day and which boat suits it, and your captain gives you the exact meeting point when you book.

Pass-a-Grille and the Don CeSar

At the southern end of the island, Pass-a-Grille is the quieter, older neighborhood, with its small-town streets and its channel. A little to the north stands the Don CeSar, the pink hotel open since 1928. Seen from the water, the two give you the island's different characters at once. Many guests stay at hotels along the beach, the Don CeSar among them. Those hotels are not partners of ours; we name them only because guests ask about the view.

Shell Key Preserve and Bunces Pass

Just south of Pass-a-Grille lies Shell Key Preserve, a protected, undeveloped island known for its shells and its birdlife. It makes a lovely place to anchor off and swim. We anchor off. Whether anyone goes ashore is the captain's call on the day under the preserve's rules, and we never promise a landing. Bunces Pass, the channel between Shell Key and Fort De Soto, is where strong currents meet the Gulf, so your captain will want to read it before choosing a spot. Our Tierra Verde boat rental page covers the water on the far side of the pass.

Gulf sunsets from a private yacht

Because the beach faces west, an evening on the water here ends with the sun going into the Gulf. Many groups plan the whole charter around it. Our private sunset cruise page explains how an evening works. If you would rather see the open Gulf and the old fort across the water, ask about the Egmont Key boat trip.

Food, drinks and the pace of the day

Bring your own drinks if you like. For a meal aboard, the office arranges a chef and catering and quotes them separately. Your rental is private, so the pace is yours: swim, eat, talk, or just watch the coastline.

Next door

Heading north, Madeira Beach has a very different character, with John's Pass Village and a livelier waterfront.

Ask us about your date

Tell us your date and your group, and we suggest a yacht and a quote. Send an enquiry when you are ready.