Boat rental checklist
Check the hull, the motor, and everything else before you leave the dock.
Tap any zone on the boat to report damage. Zones with damage are highlighted red.
Verify each safety item. Missing items will be flagged in the report.
Pour a small amount of water in and verify it works before you launch. A failed bilge pump is dangerous.
Life jackets, fire extinguisher, flares, throwable devices - you're liable for anything missing.
Let it idle for a few minutes. Check for unusual sounds, smoke, or overheating before heading out.
Walk the whole boat from the dock and photograph the bow, both sides at the waterline, the rub rail, the transom corners and the swim platform. Shoot scratches and spider cracks close up with something for scale, then step back for a wider shot that shows where they are. On a pontoon, check each tube for dents and the deck edges and rails for scrapes. On a jet ski, look at the hull bottom and the intake grate if you can see them.
Ask the dock staff to tilt the motor up, or check it when the boat is on the trailer. Photograph both sides of every prop blade for dings, bends and missing chunks, plus the skeg and lower unit for scrapes or oil. Hitting bottom or a submerged object damages props, and without a before photo you can't show what was already there.
Before launching, confirm the drain plug is in. Look in the bilge for standing water or an oily sheen and run the bilge pump. Start the engine and let it idle, watching for smoke, odd noises or a weak cooling water stream on an outboard. Photograph the fuel gauge and ask how fuel is charged at return.
Raise and lower the bimini top and check the snaps and stitching. Look for tears, stains and sun damage on vinyl seats. Check the windshield for cracks, and test the horn, navigation lights, depth finder, stereo and any GPS.
Check the trailer tires, lights, coupler, safety chains, winch strap and tie-downs, and the bunks or rollers the hull sits on. Use the trailer zone on the diagram so trailer damage isn't mixed in with hull damage.
Since April 1, 2021, federal law has required the operator of a recreational boat under 26 feet with 3 or more horsepower to use the engine cut-off switch link when running on plane or above displacement speed. Clip the lanyard to yourself (or wear the wireless fob if the boat has one) before you throttle up, and mark it missing on the checklist if there isn't one. Coast Guard required equipment includes life jackets for everyone aboard, a throwable device on most boats 16 feet and longer, fire extinguishers on most motorboats, visual distress signals on coastal waters, a sound-producing device, and navigation lights for night or low visibility.
Many states also require boater education. In Florida, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 needs an FWC boating safety ID to run a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more, and visiting renters can instead carry a temporary certificate, valid up to 90 days, from an FWC-approved online exam. Driving to a Florida marina? The Florida rental car guide covers the road side of the trip.
Card rental car benefits are written for cars, so don't count on them for a boat. Ask what the deposit covers and what the damage deductible is before you sign. Platforms move fast after a trip: damage claims can be filed soon after the booking ends, and they lean on time-stamped before and after photos or videos from check-in and check-out. Do your own return check with the same zones, the engine hours, the fuel gauge and a safety gear count. If a charge shows up anyway, DisputeItRight helps you write the dispute. Renting an RV for the same trip? Use CheckItRight RV.
Log the engine hours and fuel level, photograph the hull, rub rail, transom, swim platform and windshield, check the prop and lower unit, confirm the drain plug is in, run the bilge pump, idle the engine, and count the safety gear. Export the report before you leave.
It depends on the state. Many states require a boater education card rather than a license. In Florida, for example, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 needs an FWC boating safety ID for a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more, and visiting renters can use a temporary certificate from an FWC-approved exam, valid up to 90 days.
On most small rentals, yes. Federal law requires the operator of a recreational boat under 26 feet with 3 or more horsepower to use the engine cut-off switch link when on plane or above displacement speed. If the boat has no lanyard or fob, note it on the checklist and ask the rental for one.
The hour meter shows how long the engine has run. A photo of it at pickup and return documents how much you used the boat, which helps if there's a question about the rental time, fuel or how the engine was treated.
Photograph both sides of each blade, mark it in the propeller and outdrive zone with a note, and show the dock staff before you leave. Ask them to note it on your paperwork too. Prop damage is hard to argue about later without a dated before photo.
Most boat rentals don't include these, and dock shops tend to charge more. Bring them from home.
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