Staff Answer
Jun 30, 2026 - 07:36 PM
Yes, first time boat drivers can rent pontoons in Destin, as long as the rental company approves the driver and gives a full dock briefing before departure. Most pontoon rentals are set up for calm bay and Crab Island trips, not open Gulf boating, so the route typically stays around Destin Harbor, Choctawhatchee Bay, and the Destin Bridge area. Florida requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 to have boating safety education proof to operate a vessel with 10hp or more, and pontoons fall into that category.
