USVI-On-Line

Last trip I thought about renting a dinghy, but we ran out of time (easy to do) and it never happened. Who has rented a dinghy before and from where? Is it worth it? Where can / can't you go? To me, it just seems weird to be in a boat w/o having some sort of boat license, but it seems like fun. Opinions.....?

The dinghy rental is my favorite way to see the north shore beaches. We usually rent from Noah's Little Arks in Cruz Bay, though they don't have center console steering. There is a motor in the back with a handle that you turn to make the dinghy go. It's honestly a cinch, but I wouldn't advise it for anyone with a fear of boating.

We typically leave Cruz Bay, go all the way to Waterlemon and then work our way back. In my opinion, St. John is the most beautiful from the water, so it's a great way to get an up close perspective on the island on your timetable.

We did the same - I felt it was the best money best on vacation EVER - but there are places where it gets rough so if you aren't used to boating it may be tricky.

"Dinghy Day" is one of our favorite things to do when we are on island. We rent from Calypso cause we like the dinghys with a center console; just like the extra room & steering that's more 'boat-like'.

We go to Waterlemon then make our way back..stopping along the way. Love to stop at Salomon & other favorite places along the way.

It's truly worth it. STJ is so beautiful from the water & you do get a different perspective.

Enjoy!

We rented a dinghy through Low Key Watersports, who turns the reservation over to Noah's Ark. Did this months in advance and got a confirmation. But when we got there, Noah's didn't have our dinghy or our reesrvation. Someone at Noah's had dropped the ball, as our reservation had been found through Low Key. BUT Low Key made sure to find us a dinghy to use for that day. They sent us over to Calypso, where we ended up renting a center console dinghy. Turns out, we preferred the center console..just lost about an hours time due to the mishap. Next time, we are going directly through Calypso.

FYI- my husband told me that he thanked his lucky stars that we got a center console as the trek to Waterlemon and Mary's Pointe was VERY bumpy indeed.

I like the tiller stearing on the Noahs and also like that they let you beach the boats on the beach

Is that the big difference between tiller and center steering, that you can beach the tillers on park beaches, but not the center console dinghy's?

Company policy

How are you able to stop at beaches w/o destroying the reefs? Just watch where youre going? Are dinghys not that popular? Because last trip all week we didnt see a single one at any beach. I think it'd be weird to pull up to Maho or Trunk or wherever and see a dinghy on the beach.

There are only a few beaches where you are allowed to pull directly up. I know that Trunk, Cinnamon and Maho are not on that list. There, you must tie up to mooring balls and swim in. I think that Solomon may be, but you cannot pull the center consoles up onto any beach. That is one advantage of the Noah's dinghy.

You can pull up on the left at trunk the right on maho I can't remember where on cinnamon but you can there too you just have to stay in between the bouy's by the way the sides are if you are looking out from land other way coming from the water

waterguy is right. Noah's makes you watch a video before you go out about the buoys and where you can beach vs. tie up. "red and green, go between" is how I always remember it.

Is there a spot at Waterlemon where you can pull the dinghy up?

There are mooring balls at Waterlemon that you can tie up to and then swim over to the cay.

You can pull the center console dinghys up to certain beaches...just like smaller dinghys. Just go between the red & green channel markers; otherwise hook onto a mooring ball. This is one of our favorite ways to get to Salomon Beach.

Have a great time whichever dinghy you get; its so much fun!