Rent a boat in Key Largo, FL

Just 90 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Miami, Key Largo is a top destination for scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and generally kicking around on boats. This island is the largest in the Keys at over 33 miles long, yet its population is around only 11,000 full-time residents. Most of the people here are visitors, and most of them have boating and watersports in mind. So, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of dive shops, hotels, restaurants, and all types of boats for rent in Key Largo.
With so much close at hand, it’s hard to know what to do first, but when planning your visit here, remember that Key Largo is known as the “Diving Capital of the World” for good reason. Six miles east of land you’ll find the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, which is home to the nation’s first undersea preserve. Established all the way back in 1960, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses around 90 square nautical miles. Plus, since there are six Sanctuary Preservation Areas where all forms of fishing are prohibited, Key Largo is known as a top destination for underwater wildlife photographers looking to rent a boat and dive Florida’s top reef and shipwrecks.

What to Know

There’s no shortage of boats around here, and whatever type best fits your plans should be easy to find. Some top types to consider looking for include:
Bowrider Boats, which are perfect for a family day spent snorkeling, visiting the sandbar, or just kicking around and exploring.
Fishing Boats are clearly going to be the top pick for anglers. Most of those you see will be center consoles, but other varieties may be available as well.
Sail Boats are quite popular in these waters, too, and you’ll notice that there are more sailboats for rent in Key Largo than you’ll see in most other areas.

Safety Requirements

Boater Education: Anyone born after January 1988 must pass a safety education course and carry a Boating Safety Education Identification Card to operate a boat with 10 horsepower or more in Florida waters.
Nonresident visitors to the state of Florida are exempt from this requirement if they carry proof of completion of a NASBLA-approved boater safety course or the equivalency examination from another state.
Additional Regulations: All USCG safety gear requirements must be met and all children under six must wear an approved life jacket on boats under 26’ when underway. Additionally, boaters should be aware that it’s illegal to anchor on or otherwise damage coral reefs. Instead, pick up one of the free public mooring buoys which are white with a blue stripe. See the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Buoy Map for their exact locations.
For more information on safety requirements visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating regulations webpage.

Where to dock your boat or meet your rental:

- Blue Fin Rock Harbor Marina
- Blue Waters Marina
- Card Sound Boat Ramp
- Cross Key Marina
- Curtis Marine
- Garden Cove Marina
- Key Largo Harbor Marina
- Little Blackwater Sound Boat Ramp
- Mangrove Marina
- Molasses Reef Marina
- Pelican Cay Harbor Marina
- Sunset Point Park Boat Ramp

Weather Conditions

Key Largo is in the Keys, so this is officially a part of paradise. It may get warm but thanks to the sea breeze it isn’t often sweltering, and even during the middle of winter doesn’t get very cold.
- Average High Temperature: 85 degrees at the height of summer.
- Average Low Temperature: 68 degrees in the depth of winter.
- Average Water Temperatures in and around Key Largo:
-- 76 degrees in the spring (March, April, May)
-- 85 degrees in the summer (June, July, August)
-- 82 degrees in the fall (September, October, November)
-- 72 degrees in the winter (December, January, February)

Search Boats