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Author Topic:   Central Florida Boat Rentals

devildog posted 10-24-2005 05:34 PM ET (US)
We're taking the kids to see Mickey first week of December. I thought it would be nice to rent a boat and explore the Kissimmee River or some other Central Florida Inland waters. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've found some web rescources but some local knowledge always helps. Thanks.
Jeff
cmarques posted 10-24-2005 05:55 PM ET (US)
I don't know much about the Kissimmee River but there are a number of boat rentals on the St. John's river easily within an hour drive of Disney. Most are pontoon type or small outboard rentals.There is also a place on US192 about 10 minutes from WDW that rents canoes and maybe some small boats on Shingle Creek. Just don't rent the little airboats (oh so fun). Eastlake fish camp in St. cloud also has small motorboat rentals.
How big of a boat do you need and for how many people?
Downtown Disney also has boat rentals including a few Boston Whalers ($$$) but you can only cruise around on resort property.
I'll check around for you and post any other findings.
Chris
onefineday posted 10-25-2005 11:34 AM ET (US)
Did you know that Disney has a fleet of rental Whalers? They are 170 Montauks with 9hp engines!
onefineday posted 10-25-2005 11:34 AM ET (US)
Did you know that Disney has a fleet of rental Whalers? They are 170 Montauks with 9hp engines!
onefineday posted 10-25-2005 11:35 AM ET (US)
Did you know that Disney has a fleet of rental Whalers? They are 170 Montauks with 9hp engines!
devildog posted 10-25-2005 04:25 PM ET (US)
Chris,
A 17' would be good if I could find one. Why no air boats? I've seen the Disney Whaler fleet but don't want to be so limited in range. Thanks for the reply.
Jeff
cmarques posted 10-25-2005 05:56 PM ET (US)
I went with some friends who came down from Jersey years ago and we rented one of those airboats- they are little things that didn't move too well and had to aim between the canoes. Of course that was years ago so maybe they got better. We had more fun on the go karts down the street.
Chris
minitauk85 posted 10-25-2005 07:39 PM ET (US)
devildog-skip renting at the tragic kingdom and head west about two hours up the Florida turnpike. in Ocala get off on highway 484 or 200 and head to Dunnellon Florida. In town you can rent small boats to take up the Rainbow River or the Withlacoochee River, which ever you choose (don't knowif any whalers are available). If your kids haven't experienced a real Florida river these are two examples of such. The Rainbow River is a crystal clear spring fed river which runs for about 3.5 miles- it stays a constant 72 degrees year around and is absolutely beautiful. It converges with the Withlacoochee River in the town of Dunnellon, bring snorkeling gear and ask the locals about regulations and restrictions. The Withlacoochee runs for miles both upriver and downriver to the gulf of Mexico. It is a beautiful cypress stained wild Florida river- lots of gators and other wildlife on both rivers.
Cmarques- I lived about 100 yards from Shingle Creek about 20 years ago- behind Seaworld before the Central Florida Parkway cut over from OBT. I recently drove by the house when I was in town-used to watch bald eagles over the cypress stands there. I didn't realize the creek was navigable in anything larger than a canoe. -k
cmarques posted 10-26-2005 07:05 PM ET (US)
Minitauk85- the southern end down near 192 heads all the way down to Lake Toho and can navigate pretty well, I don't know how far up you can go north though- Florida Sportsman mag had an article a few months ago- it starts as a trickle of water somehwere in the Pine Hills area and heads all the way to the Everglades. When we moved here from New Jersey in 1988, (to Hunter's Creek about 3 miles from where you lived) John Young Parkway was still dirt as was Central Fl Parkway. I remember riding my bike that way and having to carry it over the bridge that now crosses Shingle Creek! The wildlife in that area is all but gone now- I once came within 2 feet of hitting a deer while out bike riding (believe it or not).
Chris
devildog posted 10-27-2005 03:52 PM ET (US)
Move from NJ to Fla? I hadn't thought of that :)
where2 posted 10-31-2005 10:13 PM ET (US)
Bring LOTS of $$$ if you move from NJ to FL. All the recent imports that I know ask me how I can afford to live here? Being a native Floridian, I make a living helping real estate moguls carve up swamp and sell it to unsuspecting northerners.
Rainbow Springs is a beautiful area. Orlando is a parking lot clustered around a mouse house.
Thanks for the reminder about Rainbow Springs Chris, I'll have to drag my Rage over there some weekend this winter, after hurricane season is over...
minitauk85 posted 11-01-2005 06:20 PM ET (US)
Another thread on the CW site reminded me of a spring north of Orlando, I believe it's called Wekiva Springs- If I remember correctly you can rent canoes and paddle up river- it is a beautiful little spring fed river which should be all yours in December. Nothing more beautiful than a Florida spring on a cold winter morning. If your kids have never seen a Florida Spring take them to one, you won't regret it, and they won't forget it!-k
cmarques posted 11-01-2005 07:00 PM ET (US)
Wekiva is a very nice run- they have canoe rentals and on the lower part there is Wekiva river Haven that rents small boats with 8hp outboards. I think there is a 40hp limit on most of the river except down near where it meets the St. Johns. I went with a friend about 3 years ago just before Xmas in my john boat- 2 gallons of gas and a 12pack :) and over about 3 hours caught and released over 85 shellcrackers, small bass and whatever else was swimming!
When you get close to coming down let me know and maybe get in touch here.
Chris
tucker posted 11-10-2005 01:12 PM ET (US)
used to canoe up and down the kissimmee in the early 70's. Would put in at Avon Park Bombing Range and camp overnight in the canoe. Even went thru some of the locks in a canoe. Heard a gator eat a wild pig for breakfast early one morn. Made it very difficult to sleep in that canoe the next few nights.
Hope you find the real Fla. Thirty years ago it was in Central Fla.

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Author	Topic: Central Florida Boat Rentals
devildog	posted 10-24-2005 05:34 PM ET (US) We're taking the kids to see Mickey first week of December. I thought it would be nice to rent a boat and explore the Kissimmee River or some other Central Florida Inland waters. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've found some web rescources but some local knowledge always helps. Thanks. Jeff
cmarques	posted 10-24-2005 05:55 PM ET (US) I don't know much about the Kissimmee River but there are a number of boat rentals on the St. John's river easily within an hour drive of Disney. Most are pontoon type or small outboard rentals.There is also a place on US192 about 10 minutes from WDW that rents canoes and maybe some small boats on Shingle Creek. Just don't rent the little airboats (oh so fun). Eastlake fish camp in St. cloud also has small motorboat rentals. How big of a boat do you need and for how many people? Downtown Disney also has boat rentals including a few Boston Whalers ($$$) but you can only cruise around on resort property. I'll check around for you and post any other findings. Chris
onefineday	posted 10-25-2005 11:34 AM ET (US) Did you know that Disney has a fleet of rental Whalers? They are 170 Montauks with 9hp engines!
onefineday	posted 10-25-2005 11:34 AM ET (US) Did you know that Disney has a fleet of rental Whalers? They are 170 Montauks with 9hp engines!
onefineday	posted 10-25-2005 11:35 AM ET (US) Did you know that Disney has a fleet of rental Whalers? They are 170 Montauks with 9hp engines!
devildog	posted 10-25-2005 04:25 PM ET (US) Chris, A 17' would be good if I could find one. Why no air boats? I've seen the Disney Whaler fleet but don't want to be so limited in range. Thanks for the reply. Jeff
cmarques	posted 10-25-2005 05:56 PM ET (US) I went with some friends who came down from Jersey years ago and we rented one of those airboats- they are little things that didn't move too well and had to aim between the canoes. Of course that was years ago so maybe they got better. We had more fun on the go karts down the street. Chris
minitauk85	posted 10-25-2005 07:39 PM ET (US) devildog-skip renting at the tragic kingdom and head west about two hours up the Florida turnpike. in Ocala get off on highway 484 or 200 and head to Dunnellon Florida. In town you can rent small boats to take up the Rainbow River or the Withlacoochee River, which ever you choose (don't knowif any whalers are available). If your kids haven't experienced a real Florida river these are two examples of such. The Rainbow River is a crystal clear spring fed river which runs for about 3.5 miles- it stays a constant 72 degrees year around and is absolutely beautiful. It converges with the Withlacoochee River in the town of Dunnellon, bring snorkeling gear and ask the locals about regulations and restrictions. The Withlacoochee runs for miles both upriver and downriver to the gulf of Mexico. It is a beautiful cypress stained wild Florida river- lots of gators and other wildlife on both rivers. Cmarques- I lived about 100 yards from Shingle Creek about 20 years ago- behind Seaworld before the Central Florida Parkway cut over from OBT. I recently drove by the house when I was in town-used to watch bald eagles over the cypress stands there. I didn't realize the creek was navigable in anything larger than a canoe. -k
cmarques	posted 10-26-2005 07:05 PM ET (US) Minitauk85- the southern end down near 192 heads all the way down to Lake Toho and can navigate pretty well, I don't know how far up you can go north though- Florida Sportsman mag had an article a few months ago- it starts as a trickle of water somehwere in the Pine Hills area and heads all the way to the Everglades. When we moved here from New Jersey in 1988, (to Hunter's Creek about 3 miles from where you lived) John Young Parkway was still dirt as was Central Fl Parkway. I remember riding my bike that way and having to carry it over the bridge that now crosses Shingle Creek! The wildlife in that area is all but gone now- I once came within 2 feet of hitting a deer while out bike riding (believe it or not). Chris
devildog	posted 10-27-2005 03:52 PM ET (US) Move from NJ to Fla? I hadn't thought of that :)
where2	posted 10-31-2005 10:13 PM ET (US) Bring LOTS of $$$ if you move from NJ to FL. All the recent imports that I know ask me how I can afford to live here? Being a native Floridian, I make a living helping real estate moguls carve up swamp and sell it to unsuspecting northerners. Rainbow Springs is a beautiful area. Orlando is a parking lot clustered around a mouse house. Thanks for the reminder about Rainbow Springs Chris, I'll have to drag my Rage over there some weekend this winter, after hurricane season is over...
minitauk85	posted 11-01-2005 06:20 PM ET (US) Another thread on the CW site reminded me of a spring north of Orlando, I believe it's called Wekiva Springs- If I remember correctly you can rent canoes and paddle up river- it is a beautiful little spring fed river which should be all yours in December. Nothing more beautiful than a Florida spring on a cold winter morning. If your kids have never seen a Florida Spring take them to one, you won't regret it, and they won't forget it!-k
cmarques	posted 11-01-2005 07:00 PM ET (US) Wekiva is a very nice run- they have canoe rentals and on the lower part there is Wekiva river Haven that rents small boats with 8hp outboards. I think there is a 40hp limit on most of the river except down near where it meets the St. Johns. I went with a friend about 3 years ago just before Xmas in my john boat- 2 gallons of gas and a 12pack :) and over about 3 hours caught and released over 85 shellcrackers, small bass and whatever else was swimming! When you get close to coming down let me know and maybe get in touch here. Chris
tucker	posted 11-10-2005 01:12 PM ET (US) used to canoe up and down the kissimmee in the early 70's. Would put in at Avon Park Bombing Range and camp overnight in the canoe. Even went thru some of the locks in a canoe. Heard a gator eat a wild pig for breakfast early one morn. Made it very difficult to sleep in that canoe the next few nights. Hope you find the real Fla. Thirty years ago it was in Central Fla.