Bay Side Boat Rental is a pontoon and center-console rental operation on Canal Road in Orange Beach, on the back-bay side of town where the canals feed out toward Perdido Pass. They also run boats out of Southwind Marina on the Perdido Key side and Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, so if you are staying on the Florida side you may not need to cross the state line to pick one up. The product is the classic Orange Beach vacation day: a boat full of people, a cooler, and a sandbar.
What you get
Pontoons are the main event, kitted out with large Bimini shade tops, Bluetooth sound, USB charging ports, and enough seating for a real group; center consoles are on the menu for people who want to move faster, and floating mats rent separately. Half-day rentals run four hours, with full-day and weekly options, and safety equipment comes with every boat. Boats carry up to 12 people.
Where to go
Robinson Island and the sandbars near the Pass are the obvious first stop, and the canals are a slow-speed cruise on their own. The company points renters at the waterfront restaurants with docks — Cobalt, Pirates Cove, Tacky Jacks, Sunset Grille, Ole River Grill — which is the right way to do lunch by boat around here. Tides and boat traffic in the Pass itself demand attention; stay in the bay if you are new to this.
Before you book
Renters must be 21 or older; drivers 18 or older with a valid driver’s license. No smoking on any boat, and fishing is generally not allowed except on specific designated pontoons you request in advance, so do not plan a fishing trip on a standard rental. Check their site for current rates. For more marina options, see Perdido Pass marinas and on the water.
