Boating and summertime go together like few things in the world, because as the temperatures rise it is human nature to spend time around bodies of water both to cool off and for recreational purposes.
Fortunately, for residents of the First Coast there are many bodies of water to choose from whether it is of the saltwater variety with the Atlantic Ocean or the freshwater of the St. Johns River and all the rivers that feed from it.
This summer there is a new boat rental option in town with St. Johns Premier Boat Rental for those who seek the thrill of the water without wanting to dive into boat ownership.
The boat rental business was started by the husband-and-wife duo of Peter and Heather Sutton, and they started the operation roughly three months ago.
“The idea was born out of our desire to rent a boat ourselves, but we wanted to find an option outside of St. Augustine or Orange Park,” Heather Sutton said.
They are located in the Fruit Cove area of St. Johns and seek to offer options for boating along the St. Johns River.
According to Heather Sutton, because they were just a family looking for boat rental options prior to owning the business, they feel that customers appreciate the viewpoints they bring with their approach to boat rentals.
“We wanted to cruise the waters in our own backyard, and we felt others were looking for the same thing,” Heather Sutton said. “It’s really taken off so far and it shows the interest in boating that’s out there.”
One of the ways they approach their business is by making sure they are not just renting a boat but that they are adding to the experience as a whole.
“It’s all about an additional lifestyle offering,” Peter Sutton said.
Some of the features on their boats to add to the experience include televisions, tubes, paddle boards, and a container of fuel on board so that they will likely not have to stop and purchase more.
They hope to add jet skis to rent in the future as well.
“We think of what we would appreciate as a family out on the water,” Heather Sutton said. “If it’s not something we would use ourselves we don’t consider it. Our boaters get excited knowing that we share the same sentiment they do.”
Another way that sentiment as a business is with their pricing, as they do not have memberships fees and strive to have price points that can fit varying budgets.
Boaters can choose a half or full day rental and the cost of a boat is as low as $150.
“This was a gap we really wanted to address when it came to boat rentals,” Peter Sutton said. “We are so lucky to have the St. Johns River here for us to enjoy and no one should be left out.”
As a new business, St. Johns Premier Boat Rentals currently has a fleet of four 24-foot pontoon boats, but they are looking to expand and grow their options in the future.
Their fleet of pontoons offer a certain flexibility that they believed other boats do not, as they are large enough to fit 10 people comfortably, but the pontoon is also not too much manage for a couple just looking to go out on the water for the day.
“Our boats are a little larger than a lot of others out there, but the price is per boat and not per person,” Heather Sutton said. “We feel you can never have too much space when on a boat.”
