Clearwater & St. Petersburg, Florida
What to Bring on a Boat Tour in Florida
Shorter than you think, because we bring most of it. Here is what actually matters — and the one thing people forget every time.
The essentials: reef-safe sunscreen, polarised sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, a towel, and quick-dry clothing. Water shoes if your charter includes a sandbar or island stop.
The one people forget: a light jacket. The breeze on the water feels considerably cooler than the air on shore, especially at speed and on morning departures in spring and autumn.
We provide the cooler, ice, bottled water, snorkel gear, floats, a shell bag, an enclosed restroom, and a freshwater rinse wand — so the list is shorter than most people expect.
Sun protection — the category that matters most
Reef-safe sunscreen
The single most important item on the list. UV exposure on the water is significantly stronger than on land, because sunlight reflects off the surface — you burn from both directions at once. Apply before you board and reapply every 90 minutes. SPF 50 or higher.
Lotion rather than spray. Spray drifts onto the deck and makes it slippery, and most of it misses you anyway.
Polarised sunglasses
Polarised lenses cut glare off the surface dramatically and make it far easier to spot dolphins, rays, and whatever else is moving below the water. If you wear prescription glasses, bring a strap or retainer — losing glasses overboard is more common than people expect.
A wide-brimmed hat
A full brim protects your face, ears, and neck. Baseball caps work but leave the sides and back of your neck exposed. On a four-hour summer charter the difference is noticeable. One that will not blow off is better than one that will.
Rash guards and UPF clothing
Long-sleeve rash guards and UPF-rated shirts give consistent protection without reapplying sunscreen to covered areas. Especially worth it for children and anyone prone to burning, and they make longer time in the water more comfortable.
The light jacket — more important than most people expect
This one surprises guests constantly. Even on a warm Florida day, the breeze on the water feels significantly cooler than the air temperature on shore, particularly under way.
Morning departures in spring and autumn can start genuinely cool even when the afternoon warms up nicely. In winter a proper jacket is essential. In summer a light packable layer is still worth having for an early departure or an evening charter, when the Gulf breeze picks up after sunset.
A light zip-up or windbreaker that packs small is ideal. You may not need it, and you will be glad it is there if you do.
Footwear
Water shoes for sandbar walks
If your charter includes a sandbar stop — and most do — water shoes make a real difference. Sandbars here are natural and can have shells and uneven ground underfoot. Barefoot is doable but water shoes are considerably more comfortable, especially on longer stops and for children.
Flip-flops or sandals for the boat
Easy on and off is ideal for moving between the deck and the water. Avoid heavy sneakers or boots that are difficult to remove.
Nothing with a heel
Worth saying plainly, because it is the thing celebration groups most often get wrong. Heels and platforms on a moving deck are a genuine safety problem, not a style preference. Flat sandals, boat shoes, or bare feet.
Clothing
Quick-dry fabrics are far more comfortable on a boat than cotton, which stays wet and gets heavy. Board shorts, swimwear, and athletic fabrics all work well.
Bring a swimsuit even if you are not planning to swim — conditions and plans change on the water, and the sandbar tends to change minds. A light cover-up or shorts over your swimsuit is comfortable for the cruising portions.
- A towel each — we have a freshwater rinse wand for washing the salt off, but towels are on you
- A dry change of clothes for the car — small thing, appreciated on the drive home
- A plastic bag for wet swimwear and towels afterward
Food and drinks
We provide a cooler, ice, and bottled water. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own food and drinks on top of that.
- Plenty of water — more than you think you need. Heat, sun, and salt air dehydrate quickly
- Easy snacks that do not need refrigeration — granola bars, fruit, crackers, sandwiches
- Alcohol is welcome for adult guests, in non-glass containers
- Reusable insulated bottles keep drinks cold far better than cans in a cooler
Two exceptions on alcohol. It is prohibited throughout Shell Key Preserve, including the water around it, and it is not permitted on Three Rooker Island. If either is part of your day, leave the drinks at home — we will still bring the cooler, ice, and water, and we are happy to plan a route that goes elsewhere.
Prefer somebody else did the cooking? Dock and dine charters tie up at a waterfront restaurant on the 4-hour trip.
Photos and memories
- A waterproof phone case — Gulf water and spray damage phones quickly
- A GoPro or waterproof camera if you have one, especially for sandbar and snorkelling stops
- A dry bag for electronics, wallets, and anything you want to stay completely dry
- Binoculars — unnecessary on most charters, but earn their place on the northern run to the Three Rooker bird colony
Worth knowing: we photograph every charter and send you the pictures afterward, at no charge. So nobody in your group has to be the designated photographer and end up in none of the shots.
What we provide
You do not need to bring everything. Most of it is already aboard.
- Cooler, ice, and bottled water
- Snorkel gear — masks, snorkels, and fins, kids’ through adult sizes, disinfected before every trip
- Sunchill float, chair floaties, and bean bags — and the bean bags come ashore with you
- Enclosed restroom onboard — a real one
- Freshwater rinse wand and deck sink — wash the salt off before the drive home
- Shell collection bag
- Shade — somewhere to get out of the sun
- Bluetooth stereo — your playlist, your volume
- Photos of your day — sent afterward, no charge
- Life vests — including USCG Type I vests for children
What to leave at home
- Heavy bags and suitcases — storage on a 23-foot boat is limited
- Valuables you cannot afford to lose or get wet
- Glass bottles — cans, plastic, and reusable bottles are all fine. A broken bottle on a deck or in water where people are barefoot is a bad outcome
- Cotton as your only clothing — it stays wet and gets heavy
- Heels and platform shoes — genuinely unsafe on a moving deck
- Shiny jewellery — fish in these waters are drawn to anything that flashes like a baitfish. Leave the sparkle on shore
- Pets — we do not carry them, and several of our destinations prohibit them anyway
- Loose balloons or anything that can blow overboard — a plastic bag on the water looks exactly like a jellyfish to a sea turtle
A note on seasickness
The Gulf near Clearwater is generally calm — far calmer than open ocean — and our 23-foot WorldCat is a catamaran hull, which rides noticeably more smoothly than a monohull. Most guests have no issues at all.
If you or anyone in your group is prone to motion sickness, take preventative medication before boarding rather than waiting for symptoms. Dramamine or Sea-Bands used in advance are far more effective than anything taken once symptoms begin. Tell Captain Keith as well, so he can plan calmer water.
A few practical notes
- Minimum age is 5 — a U.S. Coast Guard requirement, since children must fit properly into a Type I life vest
- Arrive 15 minutes before departure — enough time to gather your things without rushing
- Bring any medication you need, in a dry bag
- Cash for gratuity if you would like to — appreciated, never expected
- Bug spray on northern runs — Three Rooker and Anclote Key are known for no-see-ums, particularly in warmer months
What to expect on your first charter
How the day actually runs, from arriving at the ramp to the photos landing.
Read what to expect →Weather & cancellations
What happens if conditions turn, and how rescheduling works.
Read the policy →When to visit
Month by month — water temperature, crowds, weather, and wildlife.
See the seasonal guide →Family charters
What works with kids aboard, and why a restroom onboard matters more than you think.
See family charters →Ready to pack a small bag?
Private charters from Clearwater and St. Petersburg, up to 6 guests. We bring the cooler, the ice, the floats, the gear, and the camera. You bring sunscreen and a jacket.
Gulf Escape
$395
2.5 hours · up to 6
Half-Day Island Escape
$575
4 hours · up to 6
Sunset Escape
$425
2.5 hours · champagne included