Jet Ski Rentals on Topsail Island
Rental jet skis on Topsail ride the sound side. Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports uses a marked stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway between the Surf City and North Topsail bridges, and Cruisin’ Ken’s riders stay on the Intracoastal near where the skis are launched. You can ride from a dock in Surf City, follow a guide on a dolphin or sandbar tour, or have the skis delivered to your rental’s dock or a nearby ramp.
Expect an orientation before you ride and a refundable damage deposit for each ski. The season runs roughly from spring to early fall.
At a glance
| Provider | Based in | Comes to you | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports | Surf City (512 Roland Ave.) | No; ride from their docks | Self-guided rides and guided tours; reopens Easter 2027 |
| Cruisin’ Ken’s Jet Ski Delivery | Surf City area (mobile) | Yes, to your ramp or dock, or a nearby public ramp (delivery fee) | Sound-front homes with a ramp or dock; lesson on arrival |
| Sand 2 Sea Rentals | Surf City (no storefront) | No for jet skis (check in at Soundside Park); beach gear and paddleboards are delivered | Small operator that also delivers shades and paddleboards |
Photo: Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports
Self-guided and guided jet ski rides on the sound from Surf City, plus kayaks and SUPs. Seasonal; reopens Easter 2027.
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Photo: Cruisin' Ken's Jet Ski Delivery Cruisin’ Ken’s Jet Ski Delivery
Jet skis delivered and launched at your Topsail rental’s ramp or dock, with a lesson on arrival. Intracoastal only.
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Photo: Sand 2 Sea Rentals Sand 2 Sea Rentals
Wind-powered Shibumi and Solbello shades, beach chairs and paddleboards delivered free across Topsail, plus jet skis on the sound.
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How to choose
Self-guided or guided?
Self-guided rides let you explore the company’s marked riding area at your own pace. Guided excursions follow a guide to places like Lea Island, a shark-tooth island or the sunset, and some include ocean riding. Guided tours are the better pick for first-timers.
Delivery for waterfront homes
If your rental is on the sound with a ramp or dock, Cruisin’ Ken’s brings up to four skis to you and launches them after a lesson. Everyone else meets the skis at a dock in Surf City.
Check the age and paperwork rules first
Every company requires the renter to be 18 or older with ID, and each sets its own rules for younger drivers and boating-course proof. Cruisin’ Ken’s asks renters to show a boater safety course; Surf City Jet Ski relies on its own orientation. Read the rules before you book so nobody is turned away at the dock.
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 you ride jet skis in the ocean at Topsail?
Rental riding areas are on the sound. Some guided excursions include ocean riding with a guide.
How old do you have to be to drive a jet ski?
No one under 14 may operate a jet ski in North Carolina. Rental companies require the renter to be 18 or older and set their own rules for drivers aged 14 to 17.
When is jet ski season?
Roughly spring through early fall. Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports is closed for the rest of 2026 and reopens Easter weekend 2027; Cruisin’ Ken’s runs April through September, plus March and October.
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.