FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • No experience is required. We will give you a chart indicating where you can and cannot go, life jackets and a demonstration of how to operate the boat.

  • Life jackets and kill cords are compulsory for all persons on board. Breaching these rules may mean losing your security deposit.

  • Of course! As long as life jackets are fit for purpose, and are worn at all times aboard the boats, we don’t mind if they are not ours. We will have to check the life jacket before you get on the boat.

  • We have 16 boats available for hire, the largest hire fleet in South Devon. Booking in advance is recommended, especially for busy periods such as school holidays. A non-refundable deposit is required to secure a booking and bookings can be made a year in advance.

  • We take a 50% non-refundable deposit. If we cancel because we deem it too dangerous to send you out then we will give you a full refund. If it is wet and you choose not to go, then you will forfeit your deposit. We will also give you a full refund if we are able to re-sell the boooking.

  • We will do a “Pre-Authorisation” on your debit or credit card. This temporarily holds £500 on your card, reserving it for us to charge in case of a breach of our terms and conditions. This must be done using chip and pin, so please bring your credit or debit card and ensure you have sufficient funds. We cannot rent a boat out without this security deposit.

  • Sadly, no. Our boats are not allowed on the open sea. We will show you on the chart where you can and cannot go, but no hire boats are allowed beyond Blackstone Rocks, opposite South Sands.

  • Yes. Due to safety reasons, the Harbour does not permit hire boats to land or anchor off Sunny Cove or North Sands. You are welcome to land or anchor off Fishermans, Smalls Cove, Mill Bay and South Sands.

  • Yes of course. Our boats can be rented hourly, although if renting more than 2 hours, then the 4 hourly rate is the most cost effective.

  • Absolutely. We do not offer a weekly rate, but you can have a boat on multiple days. You can either return it to us at the end of each day or keep it on your own mooring. There is a £10 per night fee for keeping it on your own mooring. Boats can only be used during shop hours.

  • No towing of any kind is permitted. The speed limit in the estuary is 6 knots and you are not allowed to leave the estuary. For water sports, we would recommend speaking to www.sea-n-shore.com

  • Anyone under the age of 18 years old may drive the boat, but only with direct supervision of someone over 18. No one under 18 may operate the boat alone.​

  • We are situated in Whitestrand pay and display car park. The maximum stay here is one hour, so we would recommend using the Park & Ride or Creek Car Park signposted as “Coach & Boat Park”. In July & August allow plenty of time to park it is very busy.

  • Absolutely. Any person, no matter how small must be wearing a lifejacket and we recently fitted one on a 3 month old – so we go pretty small! Babies do count as one of the group and our boats are licensed for 6 or 8 passengers.

  • Yes you can, although we do not have floatation devices for them.

  • The boat can only be used during the shop opening hours.

  • Indeed! At high tide you can go up Southpool creek where there is the popular Millbrook Inn, in Kingsbridge there is the Crabshell Inn and up the Frogmore channel is the Globe Inn. You can also visit Bo’s Beach Cafe and the South Sands Hotel. Check out our “Things To Do” page for details.

  • Some of our boats can be used to visit a beach. There is a knack to beaching a boat, and we will show you this before you take the boat out.

  • No. The beaches in Salcombe are mostly private and they do not permit BBQ’s.

  • It depends on the weather of course, but typically it is cooler on the water than on land. If you feel the cold, bring an extra layer! Any footwear is fine apart from high heels.

  • We do not have any ribs for rent.

  • Yes you can, although there are limits on what you can catch. Please check with the harbour office for details. Please make sure the engine is not running before you throw a line! Props eat wire… We rent fishing rods for £15/ day.