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I'm on a boat: What to know and how to go about renting a boat in the age of COVID-19

TARPON SPRING, Fla. – With the sun warming our skin, the wind blowing through our hair and the sea spraying onto our faces, it could not have been a better day out on the water on a recent Friday morning in Florida. We spotted dolphins feeding and frolicking, birds playing in the updrafts and settling onto their sanctuary roosts and other boaters seeking a sense of normalcy in an otherwise abnormal world.

After months of staying in during the pandemic, a day on the water could have been just what the doctor ordered. The bestselling book "Blue Mind," by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, cites scientific evidence that being in close proximity to the water can result in being happier.

What if you don’t have a boat or a friend with a boat? In addition to boat rentals at marinas, there are several Airbnb-type boat rental companies that match renters with owners in the USA and even internationally. For our day out on the water, my friends and I rented with Boatsetter, which had plenty of boats near us from which to choose.

If you’re ready to get out on the water, here are tips from my experience that may help if you rent a boat.

Boat safety

For inexperienced boaters such as myself, it’s a good idea to take a safety course to learn the basics before setting out on the water. A lot of states require would-be boaters to pass one before operating a boat. Check state guidelines. In Florida, that requirement stands only for those born after 1987, but I thought it would be a good idea to take the course for my own benefit.

The boaters enjoy a break on the water.
The boaters enjoy a break on the water.

For those of us who may occasionally take the helm but don’t plan to become full-fledged boaters, the BoatU.S. Foundation offers free online boating safety courses that are developed for each state; the courses are recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard and approved by state boat licensing agencies.

Six lessons were presented, which can take four to eight hours to complete at your own pace. The final exam has 75 random questions. Topics covered in the courses include the marine environment, boating equipment, trip preparation, safe operation, emergency preparation and boating activities.

Be aware and prepare

As the USA reopens in phases, you should be aware of boating restrictions where you’re considering renting a boat. Regardless of where you rent, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing and personal safety should be followed.

Discover Boating, an organization dedicated to helping people get started in boating, advises limiting the people aboard to family members, not tying up with other boats or beaching a boat next to another and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others at fuel docks.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's state-by-state closures guide and Discover Boating’s public water access guide are good resources.

Even if your locale is open for boating, there may be COVID-19-related guidelines to which you will need to adhere. For example, in Miami, boat capacities are set at a maximum of eight (four adults) on boats 25 feet or less and a maximum of 10 (six adults) on boats of 26 to 36 feet; in Chicago, capacities are a maximum of six (four adults) on boats 25 feet or less and a maximum of eight (six adults) on boats 26 to 36 feet.

Find the right boat for your outing

On Florida’s west coast, we’re practically surrounded by water, so there are plenty of options to rent a boat for the day, ranging in size from small fishing boats and party-size pontoons to water skiing and wakeboarding boats and even sailboats and luxury yachts.

When we looked at what was available in our area, we kept two thoughts in mind: which type and size of boat to rent and where we wanted to go as we have lots of bays, canals and open waterways here. My two friends and I decided on a 20-foot deck boat that seats up to six; it was in an area where we could venture out to a state park’s barrier islands for a bit of exploration.

Rentals are typically available by the hour, half day or full day. Ours was a full-day rental (eight hours, though we weren’t out that long) and included gas and insurance. It cost $510.82 with tax.

Consider who will be captain

Though I had gone through Florida’s boating safety course, I am a complete novice, as was my friend Tinna. Fortunately our third, Maureen, has her boating license for recreational use.

Even if Maureen hadn’t had experience and her boating license, we wouldn’t have been stranded at the dock. Captains are available for hire through the boat rental companies, and their expertise on the water and best places to go can make for a fantastic outing. Opting for a captain can be more relaxing for the entire group, so no one in the rental party has to “work” while on the water.

The author takes the wheel.
The author takes the wheel.

Learn all you can about the boat

When we arrived at the dock, Leslie, the owner of the boat, was waiting. She took her time walking us through the boat, pointing out the anchors, life jackets, ladders and ropes for docking. She showed us the battery housing “just in case,” then focused on the boat’s depth finder, which was crucial for our outing as the waters Maureen would be navigating might (and did) change from 15 feet to 2 feet in the blink of an eye.

The boaters prepare to leave the dock.
The boaters prepare to leave the dock.

Leslie provided maps of the waterways, so we could navigate to the barrier islands, and she shared her favorite spots.

Once Maureen was fully confident she knew how to operate the boat, we set out.

Watch the skies

Before we left the dock, Leslie let us know that the day’s forecast called for a storm to roll into the area in the late afternoon. Even though we had blue skies overhead for most of our day, we started checking radar apps on our phones around noon.

Sure enough, darker clouds started building by midafternoon, typical of Florida’s summer storms. Fortunately, the clouds dissipated as quickly as they built, and we were in the clear. We continued to watch the skies and check the radar for the rest of the day, but our luck held out – the skies waited to open until we were safely in our cars and headed to our homes.

Don't forget food, drink and other essentials

The night before our outing, Maureen and I coordinated food and drinks for our day on the water. We made sure to bring along plenty of sunscreen, towels, hats and even snorkeling gear in case there was a spot to jump in and take a peek underwater. Leslie mentioned that one of the barrier islands had a cafe if we wanted to dock and grab a bite, which we did and ate back on the boat.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boat rentals provide social distancing amid COVID-19. How to do it