It's Friday, the beginning of the much awaited weekend. If everything goes according to plan, Kevin Peterson will hang up his suit and tie, don on his T-shirt and khaki shorts, and be out on the water by early afternoon with his rented boat. Kevin has been opting to spend some of his weekends out boating. Spending a lazy day, relaxing and soaking up the sun while drifting languidly on calm waters, he has discovered, is one of the best getaways. Sometimes he cruises along sheltered intracoastal waterways, where there are wild mangrove sanctuaries that are home to egrets, herons, ospreys, and pelicans. Sometimes, when he is lucky, he sees dolphins gamboling in his boat's wake, and, of course, the glorious gulls squawking and keeping pace with his boat, etched against clear blue skies. Sometimes he dives into shallow, clear waters to marvel at the swarms of multi-hued fish swimming among the corals. Sometimes he just drops anchor and wades onto a pristine beach, where he may spot the paddle marks left by a sea turtle which struggled to climb up past the high tide mark to dig a hole in the warm sand and lay her eggs. On the beach, he finds beautiful shells which he collects, to remind him of his boating trip and the endlessly fascinating world of nature. Many people, like Kevin, only go boating occasionally. Perhaps, like him, although they treasure the boat trips, they want to do it only once in a while, or it could just be because people lack the time. Whatever the reason, for such people, it makes more sense to use boat rentals than to go to the expense of purchasing a boat. If you, like Kevin, are longing to captain a boat out into the watery wilderness, renting a boat will not only allow you to use the boat straightaway, but the boat rental agency will also take care of nitty-gritty matters like insurance, license fees, docking and storage, and maintenance. Besides, you will also have the facility of choosing between a wide range of boats, from houseboats to pontoon boats to personal watercrafts. And they all usually come outfitted with the required recreational and safety gear. Ski boat rentals, for example, come equipped with the ski, along with lifesaving equipment. And, if you want, you will also be given instructional lessons. Also, you can opt for renting the boats either on a short-term basis or for an entire vacation. However, you need to remember that not all boat-renting agencies have the same standards, hence, here are a few tips to keep in mind when you hire a boat for that lovely day out on the blue waters under the sun. Safety has to be a priority when it comes to taking a boat on rent. See that the boat you rent is in tip-top condition. Also, to ensure your safety while out on the water, make sure that it has all the safety equipment along with the latest charts. Plus, see that the boat is equipped with adequate communication gear, so that if you do get into some kind of trouble, you have the ability to call for help. After all, you don't want to be stranded in the middle of an ocean or lake with no means of getting assistance. For additional safety, it is advisable to also take your cell phone along. Before taking the boat out, check to see that it is equipped with a first aid kit. This will prove to be invaluable in the event of an injury occurring. Another useful piece of equipment is a tool kit, although this is something you will have to take along on your own, since it is not supplied by boat rental agencies. Stuff like hammers, screwdrivers, and tapes always come in handy. One of the best locations for boat renting is lakes, which have grown in popularity as vacation spots. With the increasing trend of intergenerational families vacationing together, boating enthusiasts are discovering that even hiring a houseboat is great to meet their requirements. While boating can be great fun as a family holiday with the kids, it is also important to get acquainted with the basics of safety. Many states, along with parks and outfitters, offer safety instructions for boating either for a nominal fee or even for free. How much experience you have is also an important consideration. This will help you to determine the type of boat you ought to take on hire and the distance you can travel safely away from land. In order to enjoy a great boating experience and to ensure that everything in the boat is in order, it is best to use a reliable boat-renting agency. So, go ahead, leave the daily routine and laptops behind, and hire out a boat to explore the wondrous bounty of mother nature, either by yourself, or with the whole family.