The Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle is justly renowned as one of the great destinations for coastal recreation and R&R in the country, and Destin’s right in the heart of it all. Strategically positioned on Destin Harbor, Luther’s Pontoon, Waverunners, and Kayak Rentals have been helping folks enjoy these sparkling waters since 1988.
This family-run outfit offers a well-maintained fleet of boat and watersports rentals, among them 20-foot, 24-foot, and 28-foot pontoon boats equipped with built-in Bluetooth and AM/FM radios. The 20-foot boats accommodate up to seven passengers, while the 24-foot and 28-foot ones welcome as many as a dozen.
Or consider one of Luther’s four-stroke Yamaha Waverunners, which can accommodate up to two adults or one adult and two children for jet-ski adventures.
For non-motorized cruising, meanwhile, Luther’s rents both single and tandem kayaks for use in Destin Harbor, as well as stand-up paddleboards. And for the ultimate in on-the-water leisure, you might add a six-by-18-foot Floating Mat to your rental arsenal!
The Luther’s dock is a mere five minutes away from one of the Destin area’s signature attractions: Crab Island, the submerged sandbar that lies just to the north of the Destin Bridge at the entrance to Choctawhatchee Bay. Particularly in the summer months, Crab Island is a veritable offshore party zone with dozens—sometimes a couple of hundred—of anchored boats and a whole lot of swimming, floating, lounging, and festivities going down.
While the sandbar sits between a mere couple of feet to about 10 feet below the surface, greater depths and stiffish currents surround it, meaning Crab Island is only accessible by boat. With its clean, decked-out pontoon boats for rent, Luther’s is among the go-to choices for those looking to sample the pleasures of Crab Island on an Emerald Coast getaway.
Other popular uses of Luther’s watercraft include saltwater fishing—Destin is, after all, “the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” with redfish, Spanish mackerel, cobia, tarpon, and other gamefish available within the inshore zone you’re allowed to take the rentals—and looking for bottlenose dolphins on Choctawhatchee Bay. Oh, and then there’s snorkeling and chilling on the beach at Norriego Point. Renting your own watercraft for some quality time in the harbor and out on the bay gives you plenty of leeway for your own kind of on- and along-the-water experience, needless to say.
And Luther’s convenient dockside parking and helpful staff make everything pretty darn simple, with employees helping shuttle your gear to and from your vehicle and your vessel.
When it comes to a pleasant day out on the Destin area’s waterways—joining the throngs at Crab Island, prowling the bayous for gamefish, or taking a sunrise paddle—it’s hard to beat Luther’s!
-Keep in mind that Luther’s has restrictions on where you can take its vessels and equipment. For example, you’ve got to stay within Okaloosa County, where you’re allowed in Choctawhatchee Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, and their fringing inshore waterways. East Pass and the Gulf of Mexico are off-limits. Luther’s kayaks are restricted to Destin Harbor, as are paddleboards—unless that is, you’re renting a board along with a pontoon boat.
Insider Tips:
-Luther’s is quite accommodating of rescheduling due to bad weather.
-Luther’s rentals are pet-friendly, so you can get out on the water with your best four-legged bud!