Which boat should you rent?

• Pontoon or tritoon: roomy, steady and easy to drive. The best pick for families and for beaching on a sandbar.
• Deck boat: a bit faster, with seating up front, and still easy for beginners.
• Center console: for experienced drivers heading out into the Gulf.

Popular trips from a Naples rental: Keewaydin Island, the Naples Bay mansions in Port Royal, and lunch at a waterfront restaurant. From Marco Island and Isles of Capri you're close to the Ten Thousand Islands.

Before you book

• Winter and spring (January to April) is peak season. Book a few days ahead, and a week or more for holidays and spring break.
• Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms. Morning trips are the safest bet from June to September.
• Prices change by date and boat. The Book button shows the real price for your date.
• Most boat rentals need a driver who is 21 or older. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 needs a Florida boater education card (or a temporary certificate, which most rental shops can sell you).