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Captiva Marina Amenities for Your Florida Vacation

Choose a Captiva marina with amenities that matter like rental boats, fuel, a ship store and more. Come rent a boat at Jensen’s Marina today!

By Brand Ambassador | February 12, 2021

When you are planning a Florida vacation, it’s all about making time to be out on the water and experience the sunsets, the fishing and the peaceful serenity of the aquamarine Gulf of Mexico waters. It’s important to choose a Captiva marina amenities that have everything you need for a true Florida experience.  

When you are seeking to rent a boat for your Florida vacation, you need to look for Captiva marina amenities that fit your needs. These include rental boats, fuel, wet slips, a store for ice and clothes, a barbecue area and more. 

We have the tips you need to help you plan your trip and find the amenities for a marina that work for you on Captiva Island. 

What is the Meaning of Marina? 

First things, first, what is the meaning of marina and what should it have? FOr novices of Florida coastline activities, a marina is a dock with spaces to dock your boats, sailboats, yachts and other vessels. “Pertaining to the sea” is the definition of marine, which led to the definition of marina. 

What Do You Do at a Marina? 

There are so many things to do at a Florida marina, which involves renting a boat and planning your watersports activities. But for beginners, you should know the ins and outs of everything a Captiva marina has to offer, including: 

  • Refueling for boats
  • Washing and repair facilities
  • A marina store

What is Boat Parking Called?

Boat parking is not a term you should use at the marina. Instead, talk about docking a boat at a boat slip to impress the locals.

Marina Shopping Amenities

When selecting a marina, look for those that have access to a small gift shop or ship store. These shops don’t have to be full of supplies but they should have the basics for Captiva Island vacations. Look for shops that have: 

  • Snacks
  • T-shirts and hats for those in need of souvenirs and sun protection
  • Sunglasses in case you forgot
  • Ice
  • Bait and tackle
  • Boat ramps
  • Access to Cabbage Key, Sanibel Island and Captiva Island 

Marina Personal Touches

Picking a marina that has personal touches and local history is important. A marina that is quaint and loaded with history also comes along with services such as fishing charters with local boat captains that have lived and fished the area for years and know how to show you a good time out on the water for cruising and local fishing spots. Personal touches for marinas include the following: 

  • Museums that give you a glimpse into Captiva Island’s past
  • A barbecue grill area so you can come back and clean your fish and stay awhile
  • Access to cottages near the marina so you can extend your fishing trip even longer
  • A marina that has a good local vibe and offers access to live music
  • Providing you with a map where you can go and a marine forecast

Boat Docking Tips

boat docking tips

When you are heading to Florida for a vacation and planning on renting a boat at a Captiva Marina, utilize the following tips to look like a pro when docking and undocking a boat:

  • Watch the wind 
  • Watch the currents
  • See which directions the flags are flying to help you maneuver your boat properly in windy conditions
  • Watch the ripples on the water
  • Monitor pilings and buoys at all times
  • Tie-up your boat a quarter of the way back from the bow, also tying it up in the middle of the boat and one in the front. 
  • Keep dock lines ready and handy
  • Make sure the boat is secure before walking away
  • Make sure there is enough space
  • Approach boat slips at 30-degree angles
  • Use intermittent power to slow down
  • Turn your wheel away from the dock to position for parallel dock parking
  • Spin the boat the opposite direction at the end of your parallel parking maneuver
  • Never approach a dock too fast
  • Don’t be afraid to practice
  • All boats are different when it comes to docking
  • Ask boat passengers to sit down and be still while you are docking
  • Never put any part of your body in between the boat and the dock while docking and tying up a boat

What is Nicer, Captiva or Sanibel? 

When you are searching for a marina, whether it be a Sanibel marina or a Captiva marina, the goal is to find an area of Southwest Florida that you enjoy that happens to have a beautiful marina too!

Both Captiva Island and Sanibel Island are beautiful islands with shorelines of beautiful beaches for shelling and quaint and quiet spots to soak in the Florida sun. You really can’t go wrong with either but you will find that Captiva marinas are a great spot to experience Old Florida at its finest. 

What is There to Do on Captiva Island? 

what is there to do on captiva island

There are so many things to do in Captiva Island. For starters you can:

  • Rent a boat at a Captiva marina
  • Go to the beach
  • Plan a fishing trip
  • Go biking
  • Rent a canoe
  • Enjoy the nearby J.N. DIng Darling Nature Preserve
  • Go parasailing

Does Captiva Island Have Clear Water? 

The waters off Captiva Island are some of the clearest, most crystal clear aquamarine water in the world. You can find great shells just by snorkeling not that far off the coast because of the clear waters.  Like any body of water, the clarity of the Gulf of Mexico is contingent on the waves, wind, rain and other conditions. The coastline of Southwest Florida is a beautiful spot to see some fish, shells and more. 

Can You Snorkel on Captiva Island?

can you snorkel on captiva island

Yes! Snorkeling and scuba diving is most certainly allowed on Captiva Island. There are more than 12 artificial reefs all within a 15-mile circumference of the barrier islands in and around Captiva Island. 

The Florida barrier islands are a great place for both snorkeling and scuba diving. One of the best places to check out is the Edison Reef, located less than 15 miles from the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in more than 40 feet of water. This reef was created from what’s left of a former mainland bridge. You can also check out the scuba diving conditions at the Belton Johnson Reef, which is approximately 5 nautical miles from Bowman’s Beach. 

How Do You Get Around Captiva Island?

The main portion of Captiva Island is accessible by car. However, a majority of the island, and specifically North Captiva Island, is accessible by boat. In particular, North Captiva Island is only accessible by boat. It’s fun to plan a trip that can involve a picnic, shelling, and exploration of the quaintest part of the island, which is North Captiva Island. 

Captiva Island residents and visitors also enjoy driving around the island in golf carts that can traverse the area on sandy trails. 

Is Captiva Island Crowded? 

Like we just mentioned, the experience of Old Florida comes along with certain requirements. These include peace and quiet, no crowds, fresh seafood and relaxation. Captiva Island checks all these boxes, making it an ideal spot for a Florida marina. 

Jensen’s Marina™ Captiva Services

jensens marina captiva services

At Jensen’s Twin Palm Cottages and Marina™ on Captiva Island, we offer the services you need to have a great time on the water with your family and friends. We offer: 

  • Boat rentals
  • Kayak rentals
  • Boat rides
  • 35 wet slips
  • North Captiva water taxi trips
  • Bait
  • Tackle
  • Ice
  • Gas
  • Coolers
  • T-Shirts, hats and more at the Ship Store 
  • Free WiFi
  • Fishing off our private dock
  • Impromptu live music events in the evenings
  • A quaint museum that shows you the history of fishing on Captiva Island
  • Close to nearby restaurants, galleries and shops

What are the Best Captiva Marina Boat Rentals?

Now it’s time to rent a boat on Captiva Island. What kind of boat experience do you want? We recommend the following Florida boat rental options:

Pontoon Fishing Boats

Pontoon boats are perfect for families and friends cruising the Gulf of Mexico or Intracoastal Waterway. 

They are a great choice for relaxing fishing trips, sunset cruising, lunch picnics and wildlife watching. We recommend a 24-foot pontoon boat with a 115-horsepower motor that can accommodate up to 12 people. 

Center Console Boats

Center console boats are perfect for smaller fishing and boating excursions. Utilize an 18-foot center console boat that holds up to five people and has plenty of room for smaller groups and all of your fishing gear. 

Boston Whalers

Need a little more room for a deep sea fishing trip? Try an 18” Boston Whaler with a 150-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke motor that holds up to six people and has a 1,000-pound weight capacity for your fishing crew and your gear. 

Rent a Boat at Jensen’s Marina™ Today!

rent a boat at jensens marina today

All that’s left for you to do is get out on the water and have some fun enjoying the Jensen's Marina™ Captiva Island experience. Make your Florida boat rental experience an easy one by selecting Jensen’s Marina™ and Cottages for all of your Captiva marina amenities!

Jensen’s Marina™ is the best place to rent a boat on Captiva Island near perfect fishing spots and ideal sunset cruising locations.  Come rent a boat, schedule a sunset charter and sightseeing boat tour and plan a fishing trip at Jensen’s Twin Palm Marina and Cottages™ on Captiva Island today!

Jensen’s Twin Palm
Marina and Cottages™

15107 Captiva Drive
Captiva, FL 33924

(833) 668-7768
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