Renting a jet ski in Cleawater Beach Florida is as simple as going to the internet and searching for Jet Ski Rentals Clearwater or contacting White Knuckle Water Sports.

Prospective jet ski renters must also consider to following:

• The Age and Maintenance of the rental Jet Skis because not every company upgrades and maintains their fleet.  You want to take a good look at the equipment, logos and the equipment used by the jet ski crew.  If their jet ski is newer than the ones they are renting, it will make you wonder.
• The price of the rental per hour.  Do they allow you to use a credit card?  This helps protect the renter.
• The process of renting a jet ski.  The rental company should have a professional rental contract that is clean and neat.  You do not want to just pay and have them hand you the keys, this is unsafe and unprofessional.
• Finally, the jet ski rental company should inquire about your ability to pilot a jet ski safely.  In Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, FWC, requires a boaters and jet ski renters to obtain a Temporary Florida Boating Education ID Card.  A professional company will provide instruction and the state approved test onsite.

What other requirements are there to rent a jet ski in Clearwater?

Florida law requires that you be 18 years old to rent a jet ski. However, even if you are 18, if you were born after Jan 1, 1988, you are also required to pass a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) course and have in your possession a boating education ID card and a photo ID (such as a driver’s license). Identification cards for people who complete the course are good for life. You can get a free Florida Boater’s Safety card from Boat USFoundation. If you are in Cleawater on vacation, you can get a temporary certificate through our company.

If you are younger than 18, but have someone onboard the jet ski with you that either was born before Jan 1, 1988 or has the required Boater’s education card, you may ride on the jet ski with them, but they must be responsible for the operation of the jet ski.

Safety Requirements for Jet Ski Rentals

A rental operation is not allowed to rent a jet ski  that does not have proper safety equipment on board, exceeds the recommended engine horsepower or load capacity (as stated on the capacity plate), or is not seaworthy. The facility must provide pre-rental instructions on the safe operation of the jet ski. All renters that are required by law to have a boater education ID card (see above), must have the card or its equivalent in their possession and display it before the facility may rent to them. Jet ski rental operators must provide an on-the-water demonstration and a check ride to evaluate the proficiency of renters. All rental companies must display boating safety information in a place visible to the renting public. The information must include: propulsion, steering and stopping characteristics of jet pump vessels, the location and content of warning labels, and how to properly re-board a jet ski. This instruction also must include the applicable Navigational Rules to jet ski operation, problems with visibility and being seen by other boaters, reckless operation, noise, nuisance, and environmental concerns while operating the jet ski on Florida waters.

Life vests and lanyards

Each person operating, riding on, or being towed behind a jet ski must wear an approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD). Inflatable PFDs are not allowed for personal watercraft use. Your rental company will provide these for you.

The operator of a jet ski must attach the engine cutoff switch lanyard to his/her person, clothing or PFD. This stops the engine should you fall off while riding the jet ski.

Operation times

Jet skis may not be operated from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, even if navigation lights are used, due to decreased visibility.

Reckless and Careless Operation

The majority of jet ski accidents occur through reckless operation of a jet ski (which is why the rules for renting a jet ski are so strict). We want you to be as safe as possible, so keep in mind that maneuvering a personal watercraft by weaving through congested boat traffic, jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably close or when visibility around the vessel is obstructed, or swerving at the last possible moment to avoid hitting another vessel is classified as reckless operation of a vessel (a first-degree misdemeanor).