Island Boat Rentals offers a safe, affordable way to see the San Juan Islands from the water, based at Roche Harbor Resort’s B Dock on San Juan Island, just 10 miles north of Friday Harbor. Owned and operated by Scott and Barb Leeming since 2014, with support from their son Will, the business gives visitors a well-equipped, self-drive rental option for exploring the islands.
The fleet includes 21-foot welded aluminum Thunder Jet boats with canvas enclosures, touchscreen navigation, and seating for up to 6 passengers, powered by 90 HP Yamaha 4-stroke engines, along with a 16-foot RiverHawk open skiff seating up to 4 passengers with a 50 HP Yamaha 4-stroke engine and side console. Both boats are equipped with GPS navigation and all Coast Guard-required safety equipment, and are well suited to fishing, crabbing, island exploring, and wildlife viewing.
Peak season (May through September) rates for the 21′ ThunderJet run $435 for a 4-hour rental (4-hour minimum) or $655 for 8 hours, plus tax and fuel; the 16′ RiverHawk runs $95 an hour for 2-3 hours, $305 for 4 hours, or $445 for 8 hours, plus tax and fuel. Off-season (October through April) rates on the ThunderJet drop to $348 for 4 hours or $524 for 8 hours, with 48 hours’ notice required and the RiverHawk available only for multi-day rentals, weather permitting. Multi-day discounts are available on request. A $1,000 credit card damage deposit is required for all rentals, fully refunded when the boat is returned undamaged and refueled.
For anglers, crab pots are available at $15/day for one or $25/day for two (bait and license not included), along with manual Scotty downriggers for the ThunderJets at $25/day for a pair; rods, reels, and tackle are not provided. All fishing requires a valid Washington State fishing or shellfish license.
For visitors to San Juan Island looking to rent a boat for fishing, crabbing, or exploring Roche Harbor and the surrounding islands, Island Boat Rentals offers a well-established, family-run rental operation with two boat sizes to choose from.
