Marina del Rey boat rentals range from a $30 tandem kayak to a 21-foot powerboat you can take into Santa Monica Bay, and most of them launch from Fisherman's Village on Fiji Way. Marina del Rey Boat Rentals is the main self-drive operator, renting Duffy electric boats, small Boston Whalers, a Grady-White, jet skis, sailboats, kayaks and paddleboards. For calm-water paddling, Pro SUP Shop rents from Mother's Beach, and UCLA's Marina Aquatic Center rents kayaks, paddleboards and small sailboats to the public. This guide covers what each option costs, who can rent, where you are allowed to go, and the harbor rules to know before you leave the dock.
Marina del Rey boat rentals at a glance
Prices below are from Marina del Rey Boat Rentals' website at the time of writing and include fuel where noted. They change, so confirm before booking.
| Rental | Capacity | Where you can go | 1-hour price | Minimum age to operate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-person kayak | 2 people, 450 lb | Harbor only | $30 | 18 to rent without a parent |
| 13 ft Boston Whaler (40 hp) | 3 people, 500 lb | Harbor only | $90 | 18 |
| Jet ski (WaveRunner) | 2 riders, 350 lb | Up to the Santa Monica Pier | $130 | 18 |
| Duffy electric boat | 12 people | Harbor only | $160 | 18 |
| 21 ft Grady-White (150 hp) | 8 people, 1,150 lb | Santa Monica Pier; all of the bay on 3+ hour rentals | $200 | 25 |
Marina del Rey Boat Rentals (Fisherman's Village)
Marina del Rey Boat Rentals operates from the dock behind the El Torito restaurant at 13717 Fiji Way, next to the Fisherman's Village parking lot. It rents power boats, sailboats, Duffy electric boats, jet skis, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and also offers a captained harbor cruise and links to a parasailing operator. Book boats by phone at 310-306-4444, in person, or through its online booking link. The company says it does not take reservations by email.
Duffy electric boats
The Duffy is the easiest option for a group that wants to cruise and look at the boats. It holds up to 12 people, including children and infants, tops out at about 6 mph, and must stay inside the harbor. No boating license is required, but the renter and driver must be at least 18. Rates run from $160 for one hour to $480 for four hours. A $500 damage deposit is taken on a Visa or Mastercard credit card on the day of the rental; cash, debit cards and American Express are not accepted for the deposit.
- Minimums: two hours on weekends and holidays year-round and on Friday afternoons from May through October; 1.5 hours otherwise.
- Cancellation: 24 hours' notice for rentals under three hours; seven days for rentals of three hours or more and for holidays.
- Good to know: the company says the Duffy is the only boat in its fleet it allows pregnant passengers on, and children 12 and under must wear life jackets.
Power boats
The 13-foot Boston Whaler (40 hp) is the company's smallest boat and is meant for first-time drivers. It must stay in the harbor. It holds three people or 500 pounds, passengers must be at least 5, and the damage deposit is $300. Prices start at $90 for an hour.
The 21-foot Grady-White (150 hp) is the step up for groups that want open water. It carries up to eight people. Rentals under three hours may go as far north as the Santa Monica Pier, and rentals of three hours or more can explore all of Santa Monica Bay. Operators must be at least 25, and the damage deposit is $1,000. Prices run from $200 for one hour to $600 for four. A 17-foot Boston Whaler sits between the two in size, and a larger 27-foot boat is available only to renters on the company's approved operator list.
All powerboats must be back before sunset, and fuel is included in the price.
Jet skis
WaveRunners hold two riders with a combined weight of up to 350 pounds. Drivers must be 18 and passengers at least 8. You may ride as far north as the Santa Monica Pier. One hour costs $130, and from May through October a 1.5-hour minimum ($195) applies Friday through Sunday. Jet skis must be booked by phone or in person, with a 50 percent non-refundable deposit at booking and a $750 damage deposit on the day.
Kayaks and paddleboards at Fisherman's Village
Kayaks here cannot be reserved; they are rented first come, first served at the company's kiosk. A two-person kayak costs $30 for an hour, $51 for two hours and $78 for four. A government-issued ID is held as the deposit. Rules worth knowing:
- Kayaks are for the harbor only, with no ocean use.
- Both paddlers must be able to swim, even with life jackets on.
- Children must be at least 4. Kids under 12 ride with a parent, and you must be 18 to rent without a parent or guardian.
- No dogs, and kayaks must be back before sunset.
- From May 1 to October 31, Friday through Sunday rentals have a 1.5-hour minimum.
Kayaking in Marina del Rey: other places to rent
Pro SUP Shop at Mother's Beach
Pro SUP Shop rents stand-up paddleboards and single and tandem kayaks directly on Mother's Beach at the end of D Basin, at 4175 Admiralty Way. The shop points out that this corner of the harbor is sheltered from ocean swell with no shore break, which makes it a good place for beginners. Every rental includes a paddle and a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, and dogs are welcome, with dog life vests available. It also offers lessons, guided tours and a Wednesday sunset paddle.
- Booking: reserve online through the shop's website.
- Parking: the nearest public parking is Marina Lot 10, next to Mother's Beach.
- Hours: the shop lists fall hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Hours may change with weather, so check before you go.
UCLA Marina Aquatic Center
UCLA's Marina Aquatic Center at 14001 Fiji Way is open to the general public, not just students. For fall 2026 (September 14 through October 31), its rental hours are Tuesday through Thursday 6–9 a.m., Friday 6 a.m.–6:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.–6 p.m.; it is closed Mondays. Hours can change, so check the live rental calendar or call 310-823-0048. Sit-on-top kayaks and stand-up paddleboards need no class, but first-time renters must watch the relevant orientation video. Sailboats, rowing shells and sea kayaks require an introductory course or skills-evaluation orientation. All renters must be able to swim 100 yards and tread water for five minutes; sit-on-top kayaks and paddleboards must stay inside the harbor.
Where to go once you are on the water
Marina del Rey's harbor has eight basins, lettered A through H, with jetties on both sides of the ocean entrance. Inside the harbor, renters can cruise past the docks and the boats in each basin and paddle over to Mother's Beach. Only certain rentals may leave the harbor: the Grady-White and jet skis may head north toward the Santa Monica Pier, and only longer Grady-White rentals may explore the rest of Santa Monica Bay. Kayaks, paddleboards, Duffy boats and the smallest Whaler stay inside.
Harbor rules every renter should know
- Speed: the entire harbor is a no-wake zone with a maximum speed of 5 nautical miles per hour, according to LA County Beaches and Harbors.
- No anchoring: anchoring is not permitted in the harbor, and there are no mooring buoys.
- Entrance shoaling: sand can build up at the north and south jetties. Shoal buoys mark these areas, and boats should not pass inside them.
- No discharge: Marina del Rey is a no-discharge harbor, so nothing, including fuel or oily bilge water, goes into the water.
- Boater card: California requires a California Boater Card to operate most motorized boats, but state law exempts people operating a rental vessel. Rental companies set their own age and experience rules.
- Charter safety: if you hire a captained boat instead of renting, the Marina del Rey tourism board advises confirming that the vessel is inspected and certificated by the U.S. Coast Guard for commercial use and that the operator holds a county business license and charter insurance.
Tips for renting a boat in Marina del Rey
- Book ahead for weekends and holidays. Minimum rental times go up on busy days, and the companies may raise them further when they are short-staffed.
- Bring the right card. Marina del Rey Boat Rentals takes damage deposits only on a physical Visa or Mastercard credit card.
- Plan your parking. The Fisherman's Village lot uses pay stations and can fill on weekend afternoons. City Cruises lists rates of $2 for up to two hours, $4 for two to four hours, and $8 for longer stays.
- Return before sunset. Most rentals, from kayaks to powerboats, must be back by sundown.
- Check the weather. Conditions can cut a trip short; UCLA's center, for example, may cancel rentals for wind, fog, lightning or rain.
Living in Marina del Rey
For people weighing a move, Marina del Rey is an unincorporated community of Los Angeles County, surrounded on all sides by the City of Los Angeles. The county owns the harbor and the land around it, and the Department of Beaches and Harbors manages it through long-term ground leases, which means most residential buildings sit on leased county land. The community had 11,373 residents at the 2020 census. Public school students attend Los Angeles Unified schools outside the community, since none are located within it. The harbor, formally dedicated on April 10, 1965, is often described as North America's largest man-made small-craft harbor, with slips for about 5,000 boats.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a boating license to rent a boat in Marina del Rey?
No. California exempts people operating a rental vessel from the California Boater Card requirement, and Marina del Rey Boat Rentals says no license is needed. Rental companies still set minimum ages, such as 18 for the Duffy and 25 for the Grady-White.
Can I take a rental boat into the ocean?
Only some. Jet skis and the Grady-White may go north toward the Santa Monica Pier, and Grady-White rentals of three hours or more may explore Santa Monica Bay. Kayaks, paddleboards, Duffy boats and the 13-foot Whaler must stay in the harbor.
What is the cheapest way to get on the water?
A kayak or paddleboard. A two-person kayak at Fisherman's Village starts at $30 an hour, and UCLA's Marina Aquatic Center and Pro SUP Shop also rent kayaks and paddleboards.
Rates and rules in this guide come from Marina del Rey Boat Rentals, LA County's Marina del Rey navigation rules, and UCLA's Marina Aquatic Center. Confirm current prices and hours directly before you go.
