Experience the Exhilaration of Jet Skiing
across Sarasota's Waters

Feel the power on the open water!

Jet skiing is for you if you want to feel the splash of the waves against your face, the power of the engine in your hand throttle and the wind in your hair as you jump the waves and the wakes on the open water.

If you like the rush and the exhilaration of buzzing through the water and leaving a ‘rooster tail’ behind you, then this kind of water sport may be just the thing for you.

And if you've done it before elsewhere, all I can say on your behalf is, "Sarasota, look out, here you come!!"

This water sport is everywhere on the gulf waters around Sarasota and her keys; up and down the shores, the bays and intracoastal waterway.

There are numerous places where you can rent a personal watercraft and numerous places from where you can launch your own at marinas and boat ramps up and down the sun coast and intra-coastal waterway.

You’ll see water sports enthusiasts zipping along on the intra-coastal waterway, as well as Sarasota Bay and off Venice Island, Nokomis Beach, in and out of the Venice Jetty, Siesta Key, and off the shores of Lido Beach, Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island’s beaches.

All you have to do to start your adventure is find a marina.

Many of them house independent waver runner rental operations even if they’re not owned by the marina themselves.

Just look around. They are not hard to find. There’s even a rental operation near the south Siesta Key bridge, on the intra coastal just south of the bridge on the east side of the ICW.

I’ve not been on one in a long time so it would be hard for me to make a personal recommendation, in this case, as to what water sports company you should go with for your personal watercraft adventure.

But I will try to help with some tips.

If you’ve been on a Jet Ski before you know what to expect. If not, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Depending on the size of the water craft you might be able to ride up to three passengers.


• Make sure that your rental fee includes gas, life jackets and wet suits all in one price.


• Bring a photo id and a credit card for the deposit on the rental.


• In Florida you are able to rent one for yourself at 16 years of age with the caveat that if you are 17 or younger you need to have a parent along with you when registering for the Jet Ski rental.


• Florida requires anyone less than 22 years of age, who is renting or driving the Jet Ski, without someone 22 years old or older on board, to take a safe boater test. The test may be waived if you have a safe boater card from your own home state.

So, hopefully the above few tips will prepare you, so you can get out on the water faster, shooting those "rooster tails" and "ridin' the waves!"

Have fun. Be careful. Be alert. Be Safe.

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