Boat Rental FAQ
Have questions about our Boat Rentals? Visit our FAQ page before calling to see if your questions have already been answered.
Yes and No! The State of Hawaii requires that all boaters undergo a boater’s safety course specific to Hawaii. However, even-though our orientation and safety briefing satisfies the requirements by the state, you MUST have adequate boating experience to be allowed to operate the vessel. If you do not have that experience, you will not be allowed to rent the boat and you could still be held responsible for your reservation if you reserved a space without having experience. Adequate experience would be boat ownership in another location (20′ boat or larger for more than 1 year) or 100 hours of total water time with 10 hours being in command of the vessel, preferably on the ocean.
That’s a great question! Most of our customers are avid boaters. People that own boats in other parts of the world. Boat owners understand what it takes to maintain a boat as well as what it takes to use a boat in various conditions. More than half of our customers are local residents (part time or full time) who have found that renting a boat is much more cost effective than maintaining their own. We are a small island and as such we are a close community. We simply ask that visitors tread lightly as if they were in their own home town and when at sea, always act with respect for the community members.
You are the captain of your own vessel. The person in charge of the boat must maintain control of the vessel at all times. But, this is the best part, you get to go where you want, when you want. We DO NOT and CAN NOT offer you a captain for your rental.
Although the boat has a higher passenger carrying capacity, state regulations restrict the total passenger count to 6 people on board. This included all ages of children and adults. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule.
Since we are the only boat rental company on Maui, we recommend making reservations as early as possible. This is especially important during Whale season, December-May and during fishing seasons between July and October.
No. On Maui there are a limited number of slips and moorings, so there is no place to park the boat at night. There are no exceptions to this rule!
We can meet you at the Kihei Boat Ramp as early as 7 am (limitations apply) and get you on the water shortly after our orientation. Because of the Trade Winds in Hawaii, we suggest you get out on the water as early as you can. The trades usually start up sometime between 11am and 1pm. Some days they can blow up to 30 mph. Other days they don’t blow at all, but it’s best to plan on them and get an early start to any ocean activities that you have planned.
Just call us on your cell phone 30 minutes before you plan to be back. We will meet you at the dock and take the boat out of the water for you.
NO… But you don’t have to refuel it yourself. We will do the hard work and fill it up for you for the same price as at the gas pump. You will see the final billing charged to your card on file with us.
YES! Molokini has been rated as one of the best places to snorkel in the WORLD! There are 2 floated surface moorings that are designed for recreational boats to use. These are available to the rental boats also and makes it very easy for you to connect up the boat and enjoy the views both above and below the water.
You are NOT allowed to deploy or use an anchor inside or around MOLOKINI CRATER. In truth, you will not want to use an anchor anywhere unless in the case of an emergency situation. There is a lot of legally protected coral out there and if you are caught damaging it, the fines and consequences are substantial. You CAN, however, use the designated moorings that are described in the orientation video.
NO INSURANCE PROVIDED OR AVAILABLE! Due to the nature of boating in the Hawaiian islands, we have found that a customer that visiting is much more cautious and courteous when they are personally responsible for their actions. You are never required to use the boat, it is ultimately your choice, as the captain, to make the correct decision under any circumstance while at sea. We do not offer any form of liability protection to protect the captain of the vessel. This includes circumstances arising from unseen hazards such as ghost nets, lines, and marine life as well as all mechanical and equipment malfunctions. Again, you are not required to rent a boat and we encourage you NOT to rent a boat if you feel like you can’t handle the responsibility.
From the moment of booking, you have 24 hours to cancel the reservation for a full refund if you determine that you cannot safely operate the boat or are not comfortable assuming the FULL RESPONSIBILITY of your choices on your rental. Otherwise, the $250 NON-REFUNDABLE Deposit is what is required to hold your reservation. This deposit is fully transferable for the period of 1 year from your scheduled booking date and can used by any person that the original booking party chooses to transfer it to. If your reservation is less than 48 hours away from the cancelation or change request, we reserve the right to charge the FULL AMOUNT if we cannot find a replacement renter. If you need to cancel, please contact us via email by replying to your confirmation email. Please include the reason for your cancelation and alternate date for your booking (if any).
NO! We do not allow any towables behind the vessels. This is due to the unique weather and seas of Hawaii and the configuration of the boats. It is never a smart idea to tow a person behind a boat with 2 exposed propellers and in an environment that is very dynamic.
Every year we get many universities and other various scientific agencies that need a boat for some form of research. We are happy to discuss your needs. If you are looking to rent a boat for your next whale research grant or other study, give us a call and we can determine if what we have is right for your trip.
Of course!! you are allowed to rent the boat beyond the 5 or 6 hour rental period (based on package chosen) if you choose for the ala carte rate of $149 per hour on the 5 hour and $99 per hour on the 6 hour package. I’m sorry, but we do not offer extensions to the 2.5 hour rental that starts at 7am (seasonally offered).