Jet Ski Rentals, Fort Pierce & Hutchinson Island: Your Top Questions Answered

Google surfaces some great questions about jet skiing in Fort Pierce and Hutchinson Island. Here are the honest answers — plus why Salty's Water Sports is the best place to experience all of it.

Are Stand-Up Jet Skis Still a Thing?

Stand-up jet skis — the kind you see in old action movies where the rider is fully upright with no seat — still exist, but they've become a niche product. The vast majority of jet ski rentals today use sit-down personal watercraft (PWC), which are far more stable, comfortable, and capable of carrying a passenger or small child.

At Salty's Water Sports, we rent the Sea-Doo GTX — a premium sit-down watercraft that's part of BRP's flagship lineup. It's powerful, smooth, and designed for riders of all experience levels. Stand-up models require significant balance and practice; the Sea-Doo GTX lets you focus on the experience — the dolphins, the lagoon, the open water — rather than just staying upright.

If you've ever seen a stand-up jet ski and wondered if that's what you'd be riding, the answer at Salty's is: something much better.

What Is Fort Pierce, Florida Known For?

Fort Pierce is known for several things that make it one of Florida's most underrated destinations:

• The Fort Pierce Inlet: Where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian River Lagoon, creating some of the clearest, most beautiful water on Florida's East Coast. The tidal exchange keeps the water fresh, clean, and teeming with marine life.
• The Indian River Lagoon: One of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America. Dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, bald eagles, and hundreds of fish species call it home. Fort Pierce sits at one of the lagoon's most active sections.
• The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum: Fort Pierce is the birthplace of the U.S. Navy SEALs. The museum on North Hutchinson Island is one of the most visited military museums in Florida.
• Water sports: Fort Pierce is home to Salty's Water Sports — Florida's largest jet ski rental, boat rental, and tour provider on Mainland Florida, and the only official BRP Sea-Doo partner on Florida's East Coast. Guests travel from Orlando, Miami, and across the Southeast specifically to experience Salty's on the lagoon.
• Laid-back authenticity: Unlike heavily developed beach towns, Fort Pierce has kept its character. South Causeway Beach, the downtown arts district, and the working waterfront give it a genuinely Florida feel that's increasingly rare.

Fort Pierce is also perfectly positioned — 15–20 minutes from Port Saint Lucie and Vero Beach, and about 2 hours from Orlando — making it an easy day trip from almost anywhere in Central or South Florida.

Is It Better to Rent or Buy a Jet Ski?

For most people, renting is the smarter choice — and here's the math that makes it clear:

A new Sea-Doo GTX costs $15,000–$20,000. Add storage ($150–$300/month), insurance ($500–$1,500/year), maintenance ($500–$1,000/year), a trailer ($2,000–$4,000), and registration fees. You're looking at $4,000–$6,000 per year in ownership costs before you even touch the water — plus the depreciation on the unit itself.

At Salty's, a 2-hour jet ski rental starts at $70. Even if you ride 20 times a year, that's $1,400 — a fraction of ownership costs, with zero maintenance, zero storage, and always a brand-new machine.

Buying makes sense if you live on the water, ride 50+ times a year, and have a place to store the unit. For everyone else — including people who visit the Treasure Coast seasonally or on vacation — renting at Salty's gives you the full experience without the commitment.

There's also a practical advantage: when you rent from Salty's, you're riding on the Indian River Lagoon at the Fort Pierce Inlet — one of the most spectacular waterways in Florida. You don't need to own a jet ski to access it. You just need to show up.

Where Can I Rent Jet Skis Near Hutchinson Island?

The closest and highest-rated option to Hutchinson Island is Salty's Water Sports, located at 601 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34949 — just minutes from the Hutchinson Island bridge.

Salty's is Florida's largest jet ski rental provider on Mainland Florida and the only official BRP Sea-Doo partner on Florida's East Coast. With 1,300+ five-star reviews, it's consistently rated the top water sports experience on the Treasure Coast.

Guests staying at the Hutchinson Shores Resort, the Marriott Hutchinson Island, or anywhere along the island regularly make the short drive to Salty's for jet ski rentals, dolphin tours, and boat rentals. The Fort Pierce Inlet location — where Atlantic water flows into the lagoon — means you're riding in some of the clearest, most beautiful water in Florida.

Book online at saltyswatersports.com or call (772) 448-4516. Open 7 days a week. Arrive 30 minutes before your booking with a valid photo ID and the credit card used for payment.