Chartering a boat in Destin is refreshingly low-effort — the captain handles the hard part. But there are a handful of things that make the difference between a good day and a slightly uncomfortable one, and a few things you genuinely do not need to pack because they are already aboard.

What is already on the boat

On our larger yachts you will find air conditioning, WiFi, flat-screen TVs, two full bathrooms, and a stash of water toys. Every charter runs with a U.S. Coast Guard certified captain, and a mate aboard the bigger boats. You are not expected to bring safety gear, navigation knowledge or anything to do with running the vessel.

Smaller boats and pontoons are simpler by design — open air, fewer fittings, less to think about. If bathrooms or air conditioning matter for your group, check the fleet page before you choose.

What to bring

Drinks and snacks

Our charters are BYOB, so bring whatever you would like to drink and eat. A cooler and ice is the one thing people forget most often — let us know ahead of time and we can have ice ready before you board. On several of our boats glass bottles are fine; ask when you book if that matters to you.

Sun protection, and then some more

There is no shade over open water, and the glare off the Gulf roughly doubles what you are used to on a beach. Bring more sunscreen than feels reasonable, a hat that will not blow off, sunglasses, and a cover-up for the back half of the day.

Towels and something to swim in

If there is any chance of getting in the water — and at Crab Island there is — pack a towel and wear your swimsuit under your clothes rather than planning to change.

A dry bag or waterproof case

Phones and open water do not mix, and most of the photos you will want happen while someone is half in the water. A cheap waterproof pouch solves it.

Soft shoes, or none

Boat decks scuff easily and dark soles leave marks. Soft-soled shoes, flip-flops or bare feet are all fine.

What you can leave at home

• Coolers of ice if you have asked us to sort it in advance.
• Snorkelling gear and floats on the boats that already carry them — check the boat details first.
• Speakers, on the yachts with a sound system on board. Bring your playlist, not the hardware.

Thinking about extras

If you want the day to go beyond BYOB and a cooler, we can arrange catering, bar service, a DJ and other add-ons ahead of time. Have a look at food, drinks and add-ons and tell us what you are after when you book.

The short version

Drinks, snacks, sunscreen, a towel and a dry bag. Everything to do with running the boat is already handled. Check availability and we will take it from there.

Crab Island is the single most popular thing to do on the water in Destin, and it is also the one that catches visitors out every summer. You cannot drive to it. You cannot walk to it. There is nowhere to park. Here is what it actually is, and how you genuinely get there.

Crab Island is not an island

Despite the name, Crab Island is not land at all. It is a shallow, submerged sandbar sitting in the Choctawhatchee Bay, just north of the Marler Bridge — the big US-98 span you cross coming into Destin. The water over it is clear, emerald green, and in most spots shallow enough to stand up in.

Because it sits underwater, there are no roads out to it, no docks, and no shortcuts. If you want to spend the day there, you have to be on a boat. That is the whole answer, and it is worth knowing before you plan your trip around it.

How people actually get out there

A private charter with a captain

The most straightforward option. You book a boat, meet your captain at the harbour, and they handle the navigation and the anchoring — which matters more than people expect, because the sandbar gets busy and anchoring badly in a crowd is how days go wrong. Our Crab Island charters run this way, with a U.S. Coast Guard certified captain aboard every trip.

Bringing your own boat

Perfectly possible if you have one and you know the bay. You are then responsible for reading the conditions, finding a spot, and setting anchor safely in shallow water with a lot of other traffic around.

What the day looks like once you are there

You anchor up, and that is largely it — the day is yours. The water is shallow enough to stand around in, food and drink boats come by through the afternoon, and there is a steady, easygoing crowd that builds and thins out with the tide and the weather.

On our larger yachts you also have air conditioning to duck into, two full bathrooms, and a stash of water toys to float around on. Smaller boats and pontoons keep it simpler and breezier.

Worth knowing before you go

• It is BYOB. Bring your own drinks and snacks, plus a cooler and ice. Tell us in advance if you would like ice sorted before you board.
• Sun is the thing people underestimate. There is no shade over open water. Bring more sunscreen than you think, plus hats and something to cover up with.
• Group size shapes the boat. Our larger yachts take up to 13 guests; smaller boats and pontoons take 10 or 12. Have a look at the fleet before you pick.
• Weather moves the plan. Your captain will tell you honestly if conditions are better somewhere else in the bay that day.

The short version

By boat, and only by boat. If you would rather not think about navigation, anchoring or where to go when the sandbar is packed, a captained charter takes all of that off your plate. Check availability for your dates, or call us and we will talk it through.