Sunset Watersports Key West Boat Rentals — Attraction in Stock Island

Please read everything-Ok, so I read a lot of reviews for the charter service, I then called and spoke with Chris who was very nice and did answered all my questions to my satisfaction my main questions were was there depth finder, GPS and a blue tooth radio. When Chris confirmed that all three of my requests were available we booked two separate full days but unfortunately weather forced us to cancel one day. Now we are to the rental...... now I was told that we would be getting a center console boat which was what is pictured in the email we received , I wanted this style because it has a little lower drift than a ski boat (which is what we had) now Ms. Kris and Jimmy checked us in and we’re very up front about the weather ( winds 13-17 per hour 3ft seas) and very nice. Now mind you we had been told by Chris that Snipps key was a place we would be able to go to, that wasn’t true which I guess is fine but an expectation was set and not delivered. We were asked to download a free 14 day trial of a GPS for our phone to work in tandem with the boats GPS but the GPS on the boat don’t work nor was there a depth finder (which was promised) as I knew the Keys have very very shallow water. GPS on my phone was programmed with a sandbar to swim at and shipwreck to snorkel, we found the sand bar very easily but it was extremely challenging to drive a boat and look at my phone at the same time. Now let’s talk about the shipwreck fortunately we didn’t drive the boat directly over the shipwreck pin drop because we would have wrecked the boat as the wreck is only 1-2 fr blow surface. The sandbar was amazing and beautiful that’s honestly where we had the most fun that day. The boat was in ok shape, seats were a little tore as was the over hang but still pretty functional minus the GPS and depth finder we were told the boat would have . I followed all channel markers everywhere we went besides the sandbar we were given GPS to but still some how we managed to damage the prop, the prop already had some minor damage but at the end of the day we made it worse and unusable even with me trimming the engine non stop to account for the shallow water. Charging $150 to replace and change a prop is fair in my experience, but this place is not for beginners I myself have been driving boats since I was 15 and I found just getting out and especially back into dock a bit of a challenge. All in all it was nice experience but we did spend $700, but that’s what it costs to rent a boat and buy a prop...

DISASTER "Brand New Equipment - Lowest Prices!" is the first line of your website ! What a joke !!!

Father of a family of 6 travelling from Paris to key west for 2 days i Planned a day trip on a Patton 26 a few weeks ago. The evening before i went to see the boat with my daughter in order to prepare for the following day.

When i got there - an employee celebrating the end of day with a few (...) beers... informed me "Oh... sorry the boat is broken ... these thing happen" " Come back tomorrow - maybe it won't be fixed at 9h... but later on ... come at 10h30"

It is true ... these thing happen unfortunately, but usually boat rentals have a bit of respect to inform you - and you don't discover it yourself at the last minute in order to build a B plan.

The next morning when we arrived at 10h30 with my family - the boat was confirmed irreparable. The owner stepped out - and told me he had a smaller boat instead (Patton 22) completely beaten up, rusted, torned cushions, no N position on motor, .... He threatened me not to rent it to me if i did not pay the full price (9am - 5pm) without complaining for a rebate when i came back...whatever happened!

What choice did i have...NONE ! There were no boats left in Key West !

So we headed for a nice sunny day. All was as expected - rusted, no clean cushions, hard to drive because of the broken gear.

And guess what Another surprise... they had forgotten to take away the dead fishes in the trunk ...that were probably there for a few days. The smell was a disaster.

We nevertheless had a nice day thanks to the fantastic sun and beach of Key west ! And a safe family ride !

But never again

Please respect the next travellers. Change your web site "Brand New Equipment - Lowest Prices! "

Thanks

ps - I am not asking for a rebate

ps2 - I understand you will probably deny my "story"...but I think your score bellow all other boat rentals speaks by itself...

EXCESSIVELY HOSTILE STAFF & -0- TWISTED INCONSISTENT CLIENT SERVICE

Upon arrival at Sunset’s Stock Island “hut,” we were greeted by an extremely overbearing, and hostile Christy (“onsite manager”) who confirmed that many things told to us by phone, (that sold the rental) were indeed completely wrong.

This overbearing, mean individual completely reversed course from the one set forth by phone treating us as if we couldn’t dial a phone. Prepared for a safe & skilled trip, Christy was so overbearing she didn’t take the time to understand the customer questions or concerns. After gearing up for a beautiful day, and after going thru some of Christy’s odd “anti-customer service maneuvers,” she THEN sought to discover the route I had charted (a place I’ve Captained by watercraft 38 years. She then “submerged” my destination.

When I calmly attempted to explain the several differences in their telephone sales vs. their on-site statements (including just the mention of how to use the $50 off coupon (illustrated by Alyssa by phone), a very angry, nearly assaultive “Brian” popped forward with so much aggression, Christy had to order him to stand down.

Never in my 38 years of visiting this island have I seen a more inconsistent, hostile group. I was told however something to the effect that the number of renter or water “rescues” had dropped considerably due to their new navigation system (as they had no interest in maintaining their fleet’s on-board GPS systems (too much trouble).

No one can be this nasty to paying clients & be in business very long. These people need to have a serious regroup, client service, and basic information and/or essential communication lesson(s). Made us feel very worthless & substantially...