If you are on vacation looking to rent a jet ski, you probably want to know how long you should rent a jet ski for. From my experience, most jet ski rental places will rent a jet ski for either 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours.
How long should you rent a jet ski for?
I would suggest renting a jet ski for anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour. This will usually give you your best bang for your buck.
Below I will break out each rental time period and explain how I feel about it.
15 minute jet ski rentals
This really is just not enough time to enjoy a jet ski. Places usually offer 15 minute rentals when it is in a very expensive place, so the 15 minute rental might be the only affordable option. The thing is, it will likely take you around 5 minutes to get used to the jet ski and to get out of the no wake zone.
This will only leave you with about 5 minutes to actually enjoy the jet ski before you have to make your way back.
The only reason I’d recommend doing a 15 minute rental is if it is the only option you can afford. On the bright side, you should still be able to get a couple good minutes of photos or videos of you on the jet ski, so if that is what is what you’re looking for, then 15 minutes could be your go to.
30 minute jet ski rentals
Depending on your location, 30 minutes might be enough time for you to have a good experience. If you are in a place that doesn’t have a huge ride zone, you will probably be able to get everything you need in 30 minutes.
30 minute rentals are also a good option if you are in a rush and don’t have time to go for longer. However, keep in mind what I said earlier about how it might take 5 or so minutes for you to get used to the jet ski and get out of the no wake zone.
1 hour jet ski rentals
If you don’t have a money or time limitation, then a 1 hour jet ski rental is usually the best option. It will give you more than enough time to ride around, and you can also take a couple of minutes in between to rest or sight see.
At a lot of rental places, you usually get your best bang for you buck with an hour rental. For example, a 15 minute rental might cost $20, a 30 minute rental cost $30, and then an hour rental only $40.
2 hour jet ski rentals
It is not uncommon for a rental place to offer 2 hour jet ski rentals. A lot of places might even give you a discounted rate for renting a jet ski for so long. If you have a lot of experience riding jet skis and have a true need for speed, then 2 hours may certainly be the best option for you. However, if you are a beginner at jet skiing, there are a couple things you should keep in mind.
Two hours is a pretty long time, no matter what you are doing. Therefore, there is a chance you might get bored an hour or so in.
Additionally, many people underestimate the physical implications of riding a jet ski for two hours. If your body isn’t used to the seat shape or material on the seat, there is a chance you might develop rashes from rubbing up against it for so long.
You should also keep in mind that two hours on the water can cause some serious sunburn. Since UV rays reflect off of the water, you may get sunburned even if you applied sunscreen.
I don’t want these warnings to scare you off from renting a jet ski for two hours, it’s just important to keep these considerations in mind.
Now that you have an overview of how long you should rent a jet ski for, lets go over a couple other jet ski rental basics.
License requirements
Before you reserve a jet ski rental, it’s important that you ask what the license requirements are for a rental. Depending on the location, they might require the driver to have a driver’s license. Some places even require you to take an online safety course to obtain a boating license before you rent the jet ski.
Life jackets
If you don’t have your own life jackets, make sure to confirm with the rental place that they provide life jackets. Before you go out on the water, make sure that the life jacket they provided fits well on you.
Sunscreen
As I mentioned earlier, it is very easy to get sunburned when you rent a jet ski. A lot of times it can go unnoticed because you are getting sprayed with water, so you don’t realize your skin is getting hot. Make sure to apply an ample amount of sunscreen to help protect your skin.
Proper clothing
Make sure you have a comfortable bathing suit that can get wet and won’t cause a rash. You can see some good options in my guide on the best clothes for jet skiing.
Discounts
Since jet ski rentals can get pretty expensive, I recommend that you always ask for available discounts. For example, they might offer cheaper rates for students or residents of the location. If you are going with a large group, you should also ask to see if they offer any group rates.