TERMS OF SERVICE

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

Last Updated: May 2026

These Terms of Service govern your use of the Port A Boat Rentals website and your reservation of services offered by Port Aransas Boat Rentals LLC, d/b/a Port A Boat Rentals (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By using our website or making a reservation, you agree to these Terms. Additional legally binding documents — including a Vessel Rental Agreement and a Liability Waiver — are required to be signed at the dock prior to departure and contain detailed terms governing your rental. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and the dock-signed documents, the dock-signed documents control.

1. Who We Are

Port A Boat Rentals is operated by Port Aransas Boat Rentals LLC, a Texas limited liability company. Our vessels are owned by Freedom Waves LLC, an affiliated entity under common ownership. We operate out of Island Moorings Yacht Club, 3500 Island Moorings Pkwy, Port Aransas, TX 78373.

2. Our Services

We offer the following services on Corpus Christi Bay:

Bareboat pontoon rentals — guest operator-piloted, in half-day (4-hour) and full-day (8-hour) blocks
Captained experiences (in development) — sunset cruises, dolphin tours, and all-day cruises. Captained experiences are limited to six (6) persons aboard the vessel, including the captain, in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard requirements for uninspected passenger vessels. Check our website for current availability.
Optional add-on equipment — including coolers with ice, floating islands, floating trampolines, paddleboards (SUP), and Trip Protection

Towed activities of any kind are strictly prohibited during the rental period. No tubes, water skis, wakeboards, or other devices may be towed behind the vessel at any time. This restriction is set forth in the Liability Waiver and is a material condition of every rental.

All vessel operations are restricted to Corpus Christi Bay. Operation in the Gulf of Mexico or any waters outside the designated bay area is strictly prohibited. Service availability is subject to weather, vessel availability, and these Terms.

3. Eligibility to Operate

To serve as a guest operator on a bareboat rental, you must:

Be at least twenty-five (25) years of age
Present a valid government-issued photo identification — including a U.S. state driver’s license, U.S. state identification card, U.S. passport, or a foreign-issued passport or driver’s license acceptable to the Company in its sole discretion
If born on or after September 1, 1993, present a valid Texas Boater Education Certificate, an out-of-state equivalent accepted under Texas law, or an international equivalent recognized by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. This is a mandatory legal requirement under Texas law. Failure to present a valid certificate will result in forfeiture of your reservation without refund.
Represent and warrant that you have not been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or accepted deferred adjudication for any offense involving operation of a motor vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or other conveyance while intoxicated or impaired — including DUI, DWI, BWI, OWI, or any equivalent offense — within the three (3) years preceding the rental date
Complete all required documents and the mandatory pre-departure safety briefing at the dock

We reserve the right to refuse service to any individual who, in our sole judgment, appears impaired, unqualified to safely operate a vessel, or in violation of any eligibility requirement.

4. Reservations and Payment

Reservations are made through our online booking platform. A reservation is not confirmed until you receive a booking confirmation from us. By reserving, you agree to provide accurate information and pay all applicable fees.

Payment is due in full at the time of booking
Fuel is included in your rental for standard bay cruising; excessive consumption may result in additional charges
A mandatory damage coverage fee is charged per rental based on duration and is non-refundable once the vessel departs
A credit card authorization hold is placed on your card prior to departure, in an amount matching your selected coverage tier (typically $500–$1,000). This is a temporary hold, not a charge, and is released after the post-return inspection if no charges apply.
Optional Trip Protection is available at booking — see Section 5 for details
Applicable Texas sales taxes and fees will be applied to all transactions

5. Cancellation Policy

Without Trip Protection:

Seven (7) or more days before your rental: full refund
Less than seven (7) days but more than forty-eight (48) hours: 50% refund
Less than forty-eight (48) hours, no-shows, and early returns: no refund

With Trip Protection (optional add-on, purchased at booking):

Cancellations attributable to a qualifying event — including verified illness or injury, death of an immediate family member, verified mechanical failure of your transportation to Port Aransas, weather conditions meeting our published objective thresholds, or involuntary obligations such as jury duty or military activation supported by documentation — are eligible for a full refund or free reschedule.

Trip Protection does not cover change-of-mind cancellations, no-shows, or cancellations caused by the Guest Operator’s breach of the Vessel Rental Agreement or Liability Waiver. Trip Protection fees are non-refundable once purchased. Full Trip Protection terms, including the complete list of objective weather thresholds, are set forth in the Vessel Rental Agreement signed at the dock.

Company-initiated weather cancellations:

We may cancel or reschedule rentals when weather conditions meet our published thresholds, including sustained winds of 20 knots (approximately 23 mph) or greater, a NWS Small Craft Advisory or higher marine warning, severe weather warnings, lightning within six (6) miles of Port Aransas, or other conditions listed in our Trip Protection terms. Company-initiated weather cancellations always result in a full refund or free rescheduling at your election, regardless of Trip Protection status.

Guest-initiated weather cancellations must be submitted at least two (2) hours before your scheduled departure by phone or email. Cancellations after this window are treated as no-shows.

Refund processing: All refunds are processed to the original payment method within five (5) to ten (10) business days of approval.

6. Vessel Use Rules

All guest operators agree to the following as a condition of rental. Detailed terms are set forth in the Vessel Rental Agreement signed at the dock.

Operate only within Corpus Christi Bay. Gulf of Mexico access and operation outside the designated bay area is strictly prohibited
Never enter the Corpus Christi Ship Channel except for necessary transit. No stopping, anchoring, drifting, or recreational activities in the channel at any time
Operate the vessel only during daylight hours, defined as the period from thirty (30) minutes after sunrise to thirty (30) minutes before sunset on the day of the rental
Do not operate the vessel in water where you know, or reasonably should know based on visible conditions, depth instrumentation, posted markers, or charts, that water depth is less than two (2) feet
Comply with all speed limits, no-wake zones, and idle-speed areas communicated during your pre-departure briefing
Never operate the vessel while impaired. Alcohol is permitted for passengers on bareboat rentals; the operator must remain unimpaired at all times. Operating while impaired is prohibited under Texas Penal Code §49.06.
Glass containers are strictly prohibited aboard the vessel
Fishing from the vessel is prohibited during bareboat rentals
Towed activities of any kind are strictly prohibited
Do not exceed the vessel’s rated passenger capacity
Return the vessel to the designated dock at or before your scheduled return time
Only the person identified as the guest operator on your Vessel Rental Agreement may operate the vessel

7. GPS Monitoring and Geofencing

All vessels are equipped with Boatfix GPS tracking and speed monitoring. By using our vessels, you consent to real-time location and speed data collection throughout your rental period. GPS technology is a supplemental tool used to enforce safety boundaries, document compliance, and support incident investigation; it does not replace your obligation to navigate safely and comply with all rules at all times. Geofence and speed violations are documented and may result in damage coverage voiding, rental termination, and full liability for any resulting damage.

8. Damage Coverage

Mandatory damage coverage is included with every bareboat rental. For accidental damage during normal, lawful operation in compliance with all Terms and the dock-signed documents, your maximum out-of-pocket responsibility is the deductible set forth in your Vessel Rental Agreement. If damages exceed the deductible, the remainder is covered by the Company’s insurance.

Damage coverage does NOT apply — and you assume full financial liability with no cap — for damage resulting from reckless operation, impaired operation, prohibited uses, geofence violations, speed violations, channel entry, operation outside daylight hours, operation in water below the two-foot threshold (where the operator knew or reasonably should have known), exceeding passenger capacity, unauthorized operation transfer, towed activities, fishing from the vessel, or any breach of your Vessel Rental Agreement or Liability Waiver. Full terms are set forth in the Vessel Rental Agreement.

9. Assumption of Risk

Boating involves inherent risks including sudden weather changes, vessel issues, collision, grounding, contact with submerged objects, and personal injury or death. By using our services, you voluntarily assume all risks associated with boating. A full Liability Waiver, Assumption of Risk, Release of Liability, and Indemnification Agreement is required to be signed by every guest operator and every passenger prior to departure. Minors must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY TEXAS LAW, PORT ARANSAS BOAT RENTALS LLC, FREEDOM WAVES LLC, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, OWNERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND CONTRACTORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES — INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS, LOST WAGES, TRAVEL COSTS, ACCOMMODATION COSTS, OR ANY OTHER EXPENSE INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE RENTAL OR ITS CANCELLATION — ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OUR WEBSITE OR SERVICES. OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE SPECIFIC RENTAL GIVING RISE TO THAT CLAIM. This limitation does not affect, modify, or limit the personal injury releases and liability waivers contained in the separate Liability Waiver signed at the dock.

11. Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of our services will first be submitted to good-faith mediation in Nueces County, Texas. If mediation is unsuccessful within thirty (30) days, the dispute shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration under the Texas Arbitration Act in Nueces County, Texas.

BY AGREEING TO THESE TERMS, YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND ANY RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION OR CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF OUR SERVICES. Each party is responsible for its own attorneys’ fees and arbitration costs unless the arbitrator awards otherwise.

12. Documents Required at the Dock

These Terms of Service are a general agreement governing your website use and reservation. They do not replace the following documents, both of which must be completed and signed prior to departure on every rental:

Vessel Rental Agreement — covers operator eligibility, vessel use rules, mandatory damage coverage, security deposit, payment authorization, cancellation, marina rules, and all other commercial terms
Liability Waiver, Assumption of Risk, Release of Liability & Indemnification Agreement — required for every guest operator and every passenger; covers personal injury releases, assumption of risk, indemnification, captain experience addendum (when applicable), media release, pet policy, and additional terms

Every adult passenger aboard the vessel must sign the Liability Waiver prior to departure. Minors must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf. No person may board the vessel without a completed waiver on file.

13. Privacy

Your use of our website and services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, available at www.portaboatrentals.com/privacy-policy, which is incorporated by reference into these Terms.

14. SMS & Texting

By opting in to SMS messages from Port Aransas Boat Rentals LLC, you agree to receive text messages for customer support, service updates, and other communications related to your account.

You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Just text STOP. After you send the SMS message “STOP” to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. If you want to join again, just sign up as you did the first time and we will start sending SMS messages to you again.
If you are experiencing issues with the messaging program, you can reply with the keyword HELP for more assistance.
Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
As always, message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to you from us and to us from you. Message frequency varies. If you have any questions about your text plan or data plan, it is best to contact your wireless provider.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on our website with a revised effective date. Material changes will be communicated by a notice on our website or by direct email where appropriate. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms or your reservation:

Port Aransas Boat Rentals LLC

d/b/a Port A Boat Rentals
3500 Island Moorings Pkwy, Port Aransas, TX 78373
Phone: (361) 339-2628
Email: reservations@portaboatrentals.com
Website: www.portaboatrentals.com