Riding with the Waves
Jet Ski Rentals at Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Sports provides the ultimate summer experience
By: Liz Hilfrank
Wind in your hair, sun on your face, and salty water splashing your feet. Is there a better way to spend a warm summer day? Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Sports thinks not. With Jet Ski rentals on the hour, it offers the opportunity to experience beach life through a new perspective.
Whether you’re looking for a fun activity for the family, or just a solo cruise through water, Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Sports offers it all with single, double and triple jet skis for rent. Reserve your watercraft ahead of time, or just stop by the small building in Oak Bluffs harbor and speak with the friendly staff, who are more than willing to help you choose the best seafaring option.
Sign a waiver and you’re on your way.
I had the pleasure of riding in a group with Ocean Sports’ employee, Ray. Once the jet skis were docked from the noontime ride, he suited my very nervous mother and I with snug life jackets. After the rest of our group was ready, we descended from the dock to board our grown-up beach toys.
While I was ready to just push the throttle and go, wondering how I could get the jet ski to work in reverse, Ray made eye contact with me and quickly came over to attach a tether from the jet ski to my wrist. That way, if I got a little too crazy in the waves and fell overboard, the Jet Ski would not develop a mind of its own.
Next came the safety speech. Ray explained all the important facts both in regards to the watercraft itself and ocean etiquette. Did you know there are no brakes on most water vehicles? News to me, but it makes sense when you realize there’s nothing for the breaks to grip. Also, don’t use the throttle in the harbor; chances are it won’t end well. Ray delivered all of his facts in a way that instilled a bit of fear into the previously overly confident driver, while also assuring the nervous nellies that they were safe with him.
Then, it was time to take off. We coasted our way out of the harbor before receiving the go ahead to hit the throttle. One after another, we followed Ray out into the vast ocean. It’s not as easy as it looks, I can promise you that. I recommend that, unless you’re looking for a very, very bumpy ride, you follow in the person’s wake ahead of you as much as possible.
Once we arrived in our skiing zone, Ray set us free. Just stay between the hotel and the end of the jetty, at least 100 yards between each other, and everything will be all right, he said. My mom gripped the straps of my life jacket just as she was taught, I pressed the throttle, and off we went. 30 miles per hour feels a lot faster on water than it does on land.
We slammed into waves, defied gravity, and zig zagged across the ocean. All the while Ray watched from a distance that made you feel both safe but, to use a child’s phrase that explains it best, not puppy guarded. Salt water spritzed our faces, and, when my turns weren’t so clean, completely engulfed our bodies. Smiling and laughing are guaranteed additions to the trip, but I recommend the closed mouth smile, unless you really want to become one with the ocean.
After a full hour out on the water, it was time to turn in. Following Ray just as we had on our way out, but with a little more confidence, we safely docked our jet skis. Getting off caused the realization that riding a jet ski and riding a horse isn’t that different when it comes to muscles worked. The climb back up to the dock was a sore and slow one to say the least. A full hour on the water brings you back tanned, salty and with a satisfying fatigue that makes you deserve that afternoon nap you always debate.
Open 8AM to 8PM, Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Sports is the place to go for fun and safe ocean activities. While Jet Ski rentals prove to be a great choice, there are many other ways to explore the island as well.
If you want to see things through a bird’s perspective instead of a fish’s, for example, try out a parasail flight. You can fly solo or tandem. For the larger groups, a banana boat ride might be ideal, or, if you want both a slow boat cruise and exciting action, charter a 17’ Boston Whaler by the hour. It comes with the options of waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and tubing. There’s also a new watersport in town…fly 
boarding. Try this one out if you’re looking to experience the future of watersports first hand.
Finally, for those who want to experience the entire island in one day, Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Sports has tours for you. Take a paddleboard out early in the morning or as night falls, and enjoy some snorkeling and tubing along the way; or, start your day with the early bird Jet Ski special. From 8AM to 10AM, you can have a Jet Ski guided tour around all of Martha’s Vineyard, and then later in the day, relax with a boat sunset cruise looking out to the Elizabeth Islands. There’s no better way to see it all than from the way the fish see it.
As the months of summer vacation grow smaller and smaller, it’s time to finally put those adventurous bucket list plans into action and go make the most of long hot days by the ocean with Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Sports.
