Jeremy Rhodes

Review of Paradise Boat Rentals

We rented a small coast guard approved for 11 peop...

We rented a small coast guard approved for 11 people boat from Paradise Boat Rentals for the week. We were going to take the boat, 8 people, our luggage, and groceries for the week on an hour and half boat trip to North Captiva Island, Florida. The people at Paradise Boat Rentals assured us all that it would be safe and was an easy trip for even non-experienced boaters. We told them we were arriving at 5:00 pm and were they sure it would be enough time. Again, they assured us we would have plenty of time. We were worried about being trapped in bad weather again they assured us that the forecast was good at it was usually nice weather this time of day. All these statements were very misleading. The trip was a disaster. We did not leave the dock until almost 6 pm. Two the boat was almost empty so we had to stop and get gas on our way out. Three my brother-n-law and wife grew up on a boat but this was not any easy place to get around. There are channel markers everywhere and if you go on either side of them you will hit bottom. There are numbered flags all along the channels directing you through the shallow water. We got lost. Three it poured down rain and stormed after the first 30 minutes we were on the water. The upsetting thing is it rained the same time EVERY night we were there and several locals told us this is always the case. So why did the people at Paradise Boat Rentals not know this simple fact? Why did they not have the boat filled with gas? Why would they send a group of 8 people with 4 young children on this trip? We had to have the coast guard direct us in the middle of the storm to a hotel to stay that first night because we did not even come close to North Captiva. Luckily north Captivia was beautiful and was a great vacation despite Paradise Boat Rentals trying to ruin our vacation. Do NOT rent from these people. They care about one thing and it is not your safety!