Rented 21 footer to hit the Catalina island for some calico time! Boat was clean and ran very well even though the water was bad (rain and wind). We had to refuel in the middle of the ocean, but I guess that is part of the fun and story to tell!! :) Marc came to the rescue!!! I will rent from Harbor rentals again for sure!!! read more

I reserved a Duffy Boat last 1/29/2026 to use it for that Saturday 1/31/2026. I have family friends from out of state. Aaron did not deliver the boat. I was totally embarrassed. He refunded the $222 right away, at least and offering a 50% off next time I need to reserved his boat. Sorry Aaron, I'm not stupid enough to do that again! I hope you get more organized than this and please, please don't do this to other customers. read more

Can't recommend enough! The boat was top of the line - sleek, impeccably clean, and so spacious. Very easy to drive too. Aaron was great to work with and very communicative. I've rented Duffy boats in Newport and Long Beach, and this was by far the best experience. read more

Harbor Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Dana Point, California

Great rental experience for a work outing. Aaron made it a very easy process and my coworkers loved. Highly recommended.

Great owner, friendly, boats are well kept, it's been a pleasure renting these boats for the la st 5 years, will rent again, read more

Harbor Boat Rentals - Fun, catching sand and calico bass - Boating Near Me - Dana Point, California

Yes, I also highly recommend them! I had to rent a boat in the Dana Point area and found this business online and glad I did. Aaron was very helpful in answering all my questions. On the morning I arrived, Aaron was waiting for me and the boat was just what I needed. Great business and great service! If you think this might be a fake review, call my cell at 323-459-7798. read more

The owners were amazing, and the boat felt brand new--spotless and super comfortable. We had such a great time! Would definitely rent from them again! read more

My boys and I had a great experience with Harbor Boat Rentals. Their boats are beautiful and well maintained. This is a family business and we had 3 generations making sure we had a great time on the water. Job well done Harbor Boat Rentals! read more

Harbor Boat Rentals - Fun on the rental boat in Dana Point. - Boating Near Me - Dana Point, California

Absolutely phenomenal time. Aaron and Craig took excellent care of us. Very relaxed, extremely professional. Nicest Duffy boat I've ever seen, very well maintained. Wouldn't change anything, worth every dollar! read more

These guys were great to deal with and the boats are in perfect shape. Perfect for coastal fishing and seeking out kelp paddies. We cleaned up with halibut, thresher, white sea bass, barracuda and yellowtail. read more

Aaron has been great and communication was on point through everything. Even with my group getting difficult and cancelling last minute Aaron was really respectful and understanding. Definetly will be renting from here soon once my group can get it together. read more

Rented one of their 21ft boats to fish, great time! They were super helpful. Definitely will be back to rent again!

My family revered a Duffy boat for a 2 hour sunset cruise with 11 of us onboard. The boat was in pristine condition... Very clean with refreshments and easy to drive. The company owners are so helpful and accommodating, assisting us with a wheelchair/special-needs person getting onto and off of the boat. I highly recommend this company for any of your boating needs! read more

Excellent whale watching tour. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. We saw 8 humpback whales and a super pod of common dolphins. Truly an amazing experience. read more

OHANA BOOKING BEWARE!!! ....Careful with booking and fees. Although the website states that fuel surcharge is included, it is an additional 10% charge added at the end as fees. In addition to a erroneous 18% charge in fees an additional 18% is added for service gratuity. Ask the right questions before booking. read more

Got to enjoy a free whale watching tour during the Festival of the Whales. We have lived here over 3 years and it was our first time out on the water. Colin was our guide and he was an awesome, friendly and fun guy! He was able to show us whales and a ton of dolphins. My wife, kids and myself truly enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you! read more

Harbor Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Dana Point, California

Danny is a Class Act, provides great service and runs a great fleet. I would highly recommend!

We had an amazing day on the water with Danny and his crew. They were incredibly helpful and super knowledgeable. They knew exactly where to go and what gear to use. We were on the fish all day and ended up catching a couple of beautiful bluefin. Can't wait to get back out with them again. read more

Danny was very responsive and informative when I first got into contact about renting a boat. He set us up with a boat rental with less than 24 hours notice. Upon arrival the boat was very clean and Danny was sure to inform my father who has had boats of his own about places to avoid with rocks and reefs while boating the ocean. Overall, great experience! I would definitely recommend Harbor Boat Rentals to anyone looking for a great couple of hours sailing on the ocean. read more

Harbor Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Dana Point, California

We loved boating with Harbor Boat Rentals! Be sure to read the other 35+ reviews they have! I almost passed them up when I only saw the 3 reviews on the front page. We didn't go fishing, but we rented a 25 foot custom pontoon boat and had a blast at the sandbar and cruising. Highly recommend these guys. read more

Great boat for fishing. Easy to operate, sonar, GPS chart finder, bait tank. Perfect for a quick day of fishing. Ryan was great. Highly recommend read more

Danny really is just the best -- kind, knowledgeable, and passionate about having fun and staying safe. That's basically everything I want from a boat guy. We've rented twice from Harbor Boat Rentals. The first time, we took Danny along to show us the ropes (it's been a few decades since I've driven a boat and didn't want to do anything dumb with family in tow). The boat was clean, new, and everything we'd been promised. And Danny was a pretty great instructor. He kept us laughing, showed us some whales, and made sure we felt comfortable at sea. Second time, we were on our own and felt more than prepared. The boat handled perfectly and we couldn't have been more pleased. Danny was there to meet us on the way in and out; this is about as easy as boating gets! A terrific company and a great addition to the Dana Point Marina. read more

My daughter and I went on a one hour whale watching tour during the Festival of the Whales. Danny was very responsive getting us scheduled. We had a great ride out with a knowledgeable captain, who brought us up close to a few whales traveling up the coast. Definitely loved the private experience, which beats being jammed in with lots of other people on one of the larger commercial Whale Watching tours. Will be back to do a rental or fishing trip for the hubby! read more

Like everyone else has already said, this is boat ownership without the boat headaches! I used to have a boat similar to HBR's, and what a headache! There was always something ti fix or buy, and it just ate me out of house and home. Half way to Catalina id NOT where you want something to go wrong! This is the best way to get on the water, be your own captain, and in very nice boat with all of the electronics and up-to-date equipment you'd need to have a great day of fishing or whale watching. I took my nephew & bro out whale watching. What a great day we had. Saw 3 whales and motored behind one for about 2 hours. I got back to the dock, unloaded my stuff, and Danny took it from there. This is a much needed service here in SoCal! read more

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I met these guys at the Fred Hull show in Long Beach. I've been waiting for fishing boat rentals in Dana Point for a long time so I was excited to check em out. I followed them on Facebook and they advertised a coupon special which I purchased. I met Danny at the dock and he showed me the boats and went over everything I needed to know. I just took the boat out and I was so impressed with the experience I had to share. Danny was there waiting for me at the dock, gave me some pointers and even told me where to fish. The boat handled great, it was very comfortable fishing and we drove all day and only used 2 gallons of gas. He was there when we pulled in and even parked the boat for us. Overall I was very impressed and I would definitely recommend them. I'm probably going to become a member of the harbor boat rentals club. Brian read more

I called Danny to ask a few questions about a boat I am trying to purchase. He took a lot of time out of his day to answer a bunch of questions I had. He doesn't even sell boats but he was very helpful. read more

This was our first boat rental in this area and it was a simple and great experience. Our 21' center console was in good condition and all electronics working. Sonar, nav, fishing charts, radio, bait well. Simple to use and worked great. Also fuel efficient. I worked with Danny mostly over text. Very responsive which made all communication from reserving to booking to day of coordination very easy. Aiden checked us in, helped us get aboard and went over the boat operation. That was it. Easy in , fun on the water , and easy out. I'll rent again. read more

My husband, his buddy & our sons went out with Captain Daniel last Sunday. They had a blast, saw a bunch of dolphins, whales & mantas, and caught a load of fish, including a huge dorado. The staff at Harbor are Friendly & knowledgable. Already Planning our next trip! read more

Best Day Ever!!! Rented a 21 footer and packed a picnic lunch. Had a wonderful time cruising along the coast with a few drinks and great company. The boat was in excellent condition, clean and ran great. Thanks Danny for such an amazing experience. read more

Went out on a full day rental today, scheduled for 8 a.m. They met us at the dock early, and took us through about a 20 minute instructional of the boat. We were pulling away from the dock not even five minutes after the scheduled launch time. It's a 5 minute ride to the bait barge to load up with 'ammo', and another 5 minute ride out of the harbor. After that we hit the throttle and were off the point and fishing the kelp beds by 8:30/8:45. Between the two of us, we pulled 11 bonito, 7 calico bass, 2 barracuda, and 2 corbina, all before noon. The bite went off in the afternoon, only getting a couple bonito to the boat before they popped off. I'm definitely doing this again, but will probably leave earlier. 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. would be best. Clean up was a breeze. A quick rinse with the hose, then a scrub with the brush, and another rinse. The entire boat clean-up took maybe 10 minutes tops. So much fun!! Owning a boat is too expensive. You can take four people out on a full day trip for less that a full day charter service! Bring your own food and drink (just like a charter), and go where your want, when you want. This is how to fish off Dana Point. Thanks team!! read more

If I were to sum up my experiences with harbor boat rentals, simply put, I'd say fun and stress free. I owned a similar sized/type boat for a number of years and there are just a number of costs and maintenance considerations associated with boat ownership. It's not a knock on boat ownership - they just have to be maintained constantly, especially in a saltwater environment. Every time I have rented one of their boats, it's been spotless and runs like a top. The equipment is modern and well maintained. Danny is always eager to help and answer any questions. The electronics are simple, easy to use and work well and the boats are highly fuel efficient. The pricing is fair and when you take the time to pencil out the costs, makes much more sense than owning your own boat. read more

The moment I called in and spoke to Danny to book a day trip for my wife and I's 1st year anniversary, I was shocked with the above reproach customer service. In today's boat rental market, true customer service is a lost art; this is definitely not the case for Danny's business. The boats were extremely well maintained and in excellent running condition. All of the electronics were completely functional and even explained to me in detail before departing in our rental boat. We renter the Sea Hunt with a small cabin in the front which truly made out trip comfortable. The boat ran smooth, strong, and worry free thanks to the attention to detail and state of the art boat design that many have come to know and love. Cheers to a summer full of referrals and more trips this summer. Amazing Job! read more

Lets start of by saying we have a world class company right here. I contacted Danny 2 1/2 weeks prior to scheduling our trip. Email contact and text were detailed and very thorough. Danny answered all my questions even late into the evening. Closer to the date of our rental I got a text from Danny informing me of the location to meet up and what I should be bringing. Asked if we needed a guide service or anything prior to our arrival. We declined for additional services. Upon arriving we met up with Landon. He explained everything about the boat, safety was discussed very thorough, who to contact in case of an emergency, paper work signed and we were on our way. Day was spent fishing offshore. The boat was clean, handled the water like a champ, well maintained, and was prepped for our day of fishing. We couldnt ask for a better day. We only had one issue with the livewell, but didnt effect our day of fishing. We put plenty of blood on the deck ( which we cleaned) treated the boat with respect as if it was our own. I have and will continue to use their service, would definitely refer friends and family as well..Well worth the money. Forgot to mention they have a Boat Club, offers are great. I marked good for kids due to the type of boat, safety feature all coast guard approved items. This is only if you are experienced in open water. read more

All around good experience. Easy to book (via text message, my personal favorite.) show up as scheduled (same day), hop on a nice, very clean 21 footer and go cruising. Easy as pie. Simple and smart. read more

Danny and his team offer a great experience on the water! Completely exceeded our expectation and got us on the fish. You have the option of renting the boat on your own or Danny will supply a guide including gear. We opted for the guide and my buddy and I took our 8 year old sons and promised them we would catch BIG FISH AND we did! A monster Dorado and experience of a lifetime. The boats are well maintained and the guides know the waters well. We went about 18 miles out and felt completely safe. Thanks Danny for offering a great service without having to buy a boat. Cheers. read more

Harbor Boat Rentals - Great Day off Dana Point - Thanks Danny and Team! - Boating Near Me - Dana Point, California

Great day and experience! Danny was very accommodating and went above and beyond! Highly recommended

Just got back from whale watching and the wife, kids, and I had an amazing time. We were immediately met with the friendly staff and couldn't have been happier with the trip. 10/10 would recommend and will definitely be booking again. read more

I'm sure these guys are fine if you're just renting a boat. I'd think twice before booking a fishing charter with them. I did back in December and we caught ZERO fish. Danny (Owner) was very quick to show up at the dock on time to take our money up front! The captain we had wasn't very experienced and I strongly considered telling him to go back in after only two hours. At that point, I'm sure I would've had a hard time getting any money back because Danny was long gone. Danny also instructs his captains to go buy bait and fill the boat up with gas on the way back to the dock while you're on the boat. Reputable captains take care of bait and gas on their own time, not mine. Those two things combined take away an hour's worth of fishing. Really ridiculous in my opinion. I've been on charters all over the world and this one is by far the WORST experience I've ever had. I will be going back to Dana Point to fish, but I will NOT be calling Harbor Boat Rentals. ***UPDATED 8/5/2016*** See below the response from the owner. For reference, I tipped the captain well (20% or $150) because he tried hard to put us on fish but just couldn't deliver. It's not his fault - he was just trying to do his job and I didn't feel I should short him any money because of his efforts. The bigger issue here is how condescending the business owner's response is. I'll let you form your own judgements... ***Response from the Owner of HBR - Danny***: I will ask fish to bite your hook next time. But, not saying anything to us at the time, tipping our (very experienced) captain well and blasting us online 6 months later is a great way to handle things. Perhaps I should collect money after your trip and base my fees on whether you catch fish or not. I explained to you very clearly before the trip that fishing had been slow and was very fair in setting your expectation. You chose to rent a boat and add a captain instead of doing a full service charter that would've included the very inconveniences you've whined about. Looking at your other 3 negative reviews where you've blasted businesses with comments like sucks, sucks sucks (explains a lot). Thank you for not using us next time. Danny Harbor Boat Rentals read more

Danny the owner is simply awesome. He's mellow and very helpful. Today is the second time I took my wife and 5 year-old son for a 4-hour ride to Laguna Beach and Newport from Dana Point. Danny was awesome from start to finish, and the boat was clean and well-maintained (mechanically) too. Rent a boat and have fun. read more

Lovely experience! We took the Pontoon boat out around the harbor and had such a relaxing time:) We can't wait to do it again!!