We’re proud to announce that Beach Charters By The Bay has been named the 2026 Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best GOLD Winner for Boat Rental/Boat Club!
This recognition means even more because it comes from the Tampa Bay community and recognizes Beach Charters By The Bay among the area’s top options for getting out and enjoying everything our local waterways have to offer.
For anyone searching for the best boat rental in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Gulfport, or the surrounding Tampa Bay area, we’re honored that local voters have put Beach Charters By The Bay at the top of the list.
2026 Best of the Best Gold Winner for Boat Rental/Boat Club
The Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best recognizes businesses throughout the Tampa Bay region across numerous industries and categories.
For 2026, Beach Charters By The Bay earned Gold in the Boat Rental/Boat Club category, placing us at the top of the category.
The official 2026 results were:
🥇 Gold — Beach Charters By The Bay
🥈 Silver — Freedom Boat Club – Tampa: Harbour Island
🥉 Bronze — Marker 26 Boat Rentals – Island Harbor Marina
Being selected as the Gold winner for Boat Rental/Boat Club in Tampa Bay is an incredible honor, and we want to thank everyone who voted, booked a trip with us, recommended us to friends and family, left a review, followed our adventures online, or simply supported our locally owned business.
What Makes Beach Charters By The Bay Different?
There are plenty of ways to get on the water in Tampa Bay, but our goal has always been to offer something more personal than simply renting a boat.
Beach Charters By The Bay specializes in private boat charters and customized boating experiences throughout the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg area.
Depending on your trip, your day on the water can include cruising the Intracoastal Waterway, exploring Tampa Bay, searching for dolphins and other marine wildlife, snorkeling, visiting local sandbars and islands, enjoying a sunset cruise, or simply relaxing on the water with friends and family.
Our trips can take guests through some of the most beautiful boating areas around St. Petersburg, Gulfport, St. Pete Beach, Boca Ciega Bay, Shell Key, Bunces Pass, Egmont Key, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and the surrounding Gulf Coast waterways.
Every trip is different because every group is different.
Private Boat Charters in St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay
If you’re visiting Florida and searching for things to do in St. Petersburg or Tampa Bay, getting out on the water should be near the top of your list.
Tampa Bay offers a completely different experience when viewed from a boat.
Instead of following a fixed sightseeing route with a large group, a private charter gives you the opportunity to experience the water at your own pace.
Our private Tampa Bay boat charters are popular for:
- Dolphin and wildlife watching
- Sandbar trips
- Island hopping
- Snorkeling adventures
- Shell Key excursions
- Egmont Key trips
- Sunset cruises
- Sightseeing around Tampa Bay
- Family boating trips
- Birthday celebrations
- Anniversary outings
- Small group excursions
- Customized private charters
Whether you’re a Florida local looking for a day on the water or visiting the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, or Gulfport area on vacation, we can help create a boating experience around what you want to see and do.
Looking for the Best Boat Rental in Tampa Bay?
Searches for the best boat rental in Tampa Bay can bring up everything from traditional boat rentals and pontoons to boat clubs and private charter companies.
The right choice depends on the experience you’re looking for.
With Beach Charters By The Bay, you can enjoy the Tampa Bay boating lifestyle without worrying about navigating unfamiliar waterways, finding the best local destinations, or figuring out where to go once you’re on the water.
You’ll be exploring the area with a professional captain who knows these waterways and spends countless hours on Tampa Bay.
That local knowledge can make a major difference when you’re trying to turn a few hours on a boat into an unforgettable Florida experience.
Discover St. Petersburg From the Water
Some of Tampa Bay’s best destinations aren’t found along the highway — they’re found by boat.
Our location provides access to an incredible variety of waterways and destinations throughout southern Pinellas County and Tampa Bay.
You might spot bottlenose dolphins cruising Boca Ciega Bay, explore the waters around Shell Key Preserve, head toward Egmont Key, cruise beneath the iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge, stop at a local sandbar, or watch the Florida sun disappear over the Gulf.
It’s one of the reasons boating remains one of the best outdoor activities for visitors looking for unique things to do near St. Pete Beach and St. Petersburg, Florida.
A Locally Owned Tampa Bay Boating Business
Beach Charters By The Bay isn’t a national chain or a large corporate boat club.
We’re a locally owned Tampa Bay boating business built around sharing the waterways we know and love with our guests.
From first-time visitors to Tampa Bay residents who simply want a relaxing day on the water, our goal is to provide a professional, safe, comfortable, and memorable experience from the moment you book until you’re back at the dock.
Receiving the 2026 Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best Gold Award for Boat Rental/Boat Club reinforces what we’ve worked toward from the beginning: creating one of the best boating experiences in Tampa Bay.
Thank You, Tampa Bay!
This award belongs just as much to our guests and supporters as it does to us.
Every booking, review, referral, social media share, and vote has helped Beach Charters By The Bay continue to grow.
Being named the 2026 Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best Gold Winner for Boat Rental/Boat Club is something we’re extremely proud of, but we’re even more excited about what comes next.
If you’ve been searching for an award-winning boat rental or private boat charter in Tampa Bay, we’d love to show you why Beach Charters By The Bay was voted Gold.
Ready to Get Out on the Water?
Come experience Tampa Bay from the best seat in Florida — on the water.
Whether you’re looking for a private boat charter in St. Petersburg, a St. Pete Beach boat trip, dolphin watching, snorkeling, a Shell Key adventure, an Egmont Key excursion, a Tampa Bay sunset cruise, or simply an unforgettable day boating with friends and family, Beach Charters By The Bay is ready to welcome you aboard.
Book your Tampa Bay boating adventure with Beach Charters By The Bay — the 2026 Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best Gold Winner for Boat Rental/Boat Club.