Boat Rentals on Topsail Island
Topsail’s sound side, sheltered from the ocean surf, is made for a day on a boat: sandbars to anchor at, dolphins in the channels, and restaurants you can pull up to by water. You can drive yourself, renting a pontoon or tritoon from one of the docks by the Surf City bridge, or let a local captain take you to the sandbars, Lea Island or a sunset cruise.
Self-drive rentals are for the sound and the Intracoastal Waterway: Aquaholics, for example, keeps its boats between Jacksonville and Lea Island with no ocean access. Ask any rental company about its ocean and inlet rules. Most include a walkthrough and a map before you leave the dock.
At a glance
| Provider | Self-drive or captained | Published capacity | Fuel | Leaves from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaholics Boat Rentals | Self-drive | Tritoon 13, deck boat 12, fishing boat 8 | Included | Their dock behind Marina Joe’s, Surf City |
| Surf City Boat Rentals | Self-drive | Tritoons for 6 to 17; a 20-ft skiff | Half a tank included; more is charged | Their sound-side dock, Surf City |
| Topsail Intracoastal Adventures | Captained | Up to 6 per boat | Not published | 104 James St., Sneads Ferry; dock pickup by arrangement |
| WaterDog Adventures | Captained | Up to 6; partner boats for larger groups | Not published | Pickups in Hampstead, Surf City and Topsail Beach |
| Coastal Island Charter Company | Captained | Not published | Not published | Surf City public boat launch, 517 Roland Ave. |
| Tiki Tours | Captained tours | Pontoon charters up to 6; Tiki Queen paddlewheel for larger groups (over 46, per its site) | Not published | Topsail Island Marina docks, 412 Roland Ave., Surf City |
| Tuck’s Water Shuttle | Captained shuttle | Not published | Not published | 636 Channel Blvd., Topsail Beach (by appointment) |
“Not published” means the company doesn’t state it online; ask when you book.
Photo: Aquaholics Boat Rentals Aquaholics Boat Rentals
Self-drive tritoon, deck boat and fishing boat rentals from the Surf City bridge, fuel included. Intracoastal only.
View guide →Photo: Surf City Boat Rentals Surf City Boat Rentals
Self-drive tritoons for six to 17 people and a skiff from a Surf City dock, with a map to dock-up restaurants.
View guide →Photo: Topsail Intracoastal Adventures Topsail Intracoastal Adventures
Captained pontoon trips for dolphins, shelling and sunsets, plus fishing charters, from a veteran-run Sneads Ferry outfit.
View guide →Photo: WaterDog Adventures WaterDog Adventures
Private captained sandbar, shelling and sunset trips with Topsail pickups. Deck boat with a bathroom; dogs welcome.
View guide →Photo: Coastal Island Charter Company Coastal Island Charter Company
Private captained trips to Lea Island, sunset and scenic cruises and shelling runs from the Surf City boat launch.
View guide →
Photo: Tiki Tours Tiki Tours
Sound cruises on a vintage paddlewheel and private pontoon trips to undeveloped Lea-Hutaff Island for shelling, from Surf City.
View guide →Photo: Tuck's Water Shuttle Tuck’s Water Shuttle
A boat shuttle from Topsail Beach to wild, undeveloped Lea-Hutaff Island for a day of shelling. Book by phone and pack everything you need.
View guide →
How to choose
Drive yourself or bring a captain?
Self-drive is the most flexible and usually the most affordable for a group, but someone has to be comfortable handling a boat, docking and reading channel markers. A captained trip costs more per hour, but the captain knows where the sandbars and dolphins are and handles the driving, so everyone can relax.
Match the boat to your group
Count heads, including kids, and leave room for coolers. Surf City Boat Rentals has tritoons for up to 17; Aquaholics rents a 13-person tritoon, a 12-person deck boat and an 8-person fishing boat. Confirm both the passenger and total weight limits for the boat you choose: Aquaholics rates each boat by people and pounds, and Surf City Boat Rentals’ passenger ratings assume 140 pounds per person.
Ask about fuel, age and the weather call
Aquaholics includes fuel; Surf City Boat Rentals includes half a tank and charges for more. Renter minimum ages differ (21 at Aquaholics, 26 at Surf City Boat Rentals), and so do cancellation windows. Aquaholics makes weather calls on the day of the rental; Surf City Boat Rentals doesn’t publish a weather policy, so ask.
Boat to lunch
The sound has restaurants with docks. Surf City Boat Rentals’ map points renters to spots such as Sears Landing and JMs. Check our restaurant guide for hours before you go.
Before you book
North Carolina requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 to complete an approved boating safety course before operating a boat or jet ski with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. State law also recognizes a rental agreement that names you as the authorized operator, but each rental company sets its own rules on top of that, so read the company’s requirements before you book. No one under 14 may operate a jet ski, and jet skis can’t be operated between sunset and sunrise. NC Wildlife boating laws · G.S. 75A-16.2
Questions guests ask
Can I take a rental boat into the ocean?
Plan on staying inside. Aquaholics doesn’t allow ocean access, and other companies set their own rules, so ask. For ocean time, book a captained trip or a fishing charter.
Do I need a boating license to rent a boat?
North Carolina requires a boating safety course for operators born on or after January 1, 1988, and recognizes a rental agreement naming you as operator. Rental companies add their own requirements, so check the company’s rules.
Can we bring the dog?
Some companies allow pets for a fee, including Aquaholics and Surf City Boat Rentals, and WaterDog Adventures welcomes dogs on its trips. Ask when you book.
What’s Lea-Hutaff Island?
An undeveloped barrier island just south of Topsail, reachable only by boat, and a favorite for shelling. Several captained trips and Tuck’s Water Shuttle go there.
Plan the rest of your stay
Businesses listed here are independent and not affiliated with Treasure Rentals; book directly and check each company’s terms. Checked October 2026. Services, seasons and policies change, so confirm details when you book.