‘There’s something special about being your own captain.’
Pack a picnic and bring the family to Bay Cruisers in Morro Bay, where you can rent an electric boat and cruise the bay for up to two hours. Bring the family dog, too!
Located at 845 Embarcadero, Bay Cruisers is part of a family business that rents boats, kayaks, sailboats, gives sailing lessons, and is home to the unique Boat Yard Marketplace for gifts, snacks, beverages, including beer and wine, and other essentials for a great day on the water.
“We offer three packages for boat rentals,” says Bay Cruiser’s owner, Nicholas Trujillo. “Rent for an hour, an hour and a half, or two hours. There’s also a sunset option.” Rental boats accommodate up to eight adults, or 10 people if children are on board.
Bring your own captain (who must be 25 years or older) and sail away to experience the bay like never before. No boating experience is needed. The electric boats are easy to operate, and better for the environment and sea life. Life jackets are included in the rental. You need a credit card for the security deposit, but you can pay with cash, debit, or credit card at checkout.
Twenty-plus years of waterfront experiences
“Bay Cruisers has been around since 2002,” said Trujillo. “It started as a small locally-focused business. I started working with the business in 2009 while I was in college, helping out my friends who owned it at the time. I officially took over ownership in August 2015. It’s been incredibly rewarding to continue building on what they started and to grow it into what it is today.”
Boat rentals are the heart of Bay Cruisers. Over the years, they have grown to a fleet of more than eight boats and expanded to offering a full waterfront experience at a single location. Most recently, the company launched Central Coast Lift, offering sailboat lessons, sailboat rentals, and exciting eFoil (electric hydrofoil) demos.
From captaining your own boat for a few hours to kayaking around the bay, learning to sail, and browsing the Boat Yard Marketplace, Bay Cruisers promises some of the best family-friendly waterfront experiences around.
How to float your boat
Reservations are easy to make. Visit baycruisers.com and choose your adventure, or call (805) 771-9339, or drop by to reserve your boat.
Boat rental options are:
- A 1-hour boat rental is ideal for sailing around the entire bay and watching the sea otters, sea lions, and other sea life.
- Rent for 1.5-hours for extra time for taking photos and observing sea life on the bay.
- The 2-hour rental is a popular option for groups looking to hang out on the water, enjoy picnics, and sip wine for a few hours.
- A sunset option is also available.
All sea-going adventures have protocols to follow, although those at Bay Cruisers are more relaxed than the Navy’s, and more in the form of guidelines. The guidelines include a no-smoking rule, no fishing or swimming from the boat, the cancellation policy, and more. You’ll be informed of all of the guidelines at the time of rental.
“Everything we do is centered around helping people enjoy and explore the bay in different ways,” said Trujillo. “My biggest inspiration has always been being part of the community and creating opportunities for people to experience our beautiful bay and local sea life. There’s something special about being your own captain for the day.”
Bay Cruisers is located at 845 Embarcadero in Morro Bay. For reservations, rates, gift certificates, and more information, visit baycruisers.com, or call (805) 771-9339.
—Jackie Iddings
