A news report from Fort Lauderdale’s WSVN 7 News, states that Marine Patrol is making it difficult for jet ski rental operators to conduct business in the area. Bill Schneider owns Hot Scooter and Jet Rental has been in business since 2014. His crew has always used the boat ramps at George English Park to launch their jet skis. Petrina wellington owns Lustre Watersports and uses the same ramps to launch their rental PWC.
Everything was fine until the Fourth of July weekend when one of Schneider’s employees was slapped with a trespassing warning from a Marine Patrol officer. Wellington’s business also received a trespassing warning. They were both hoping for a super busy weekend and instead were forced to temporarily shut down.
The business owners called 7News for help who contacted the City of Fort Lauderdale. City Manager Greg Chavarria said: “…due to an influx and substantial increase of commercial activity, as well as resulting safety concerns … the City has stepped up its enforcement and, with regards to Jetski rentals, has opened up a bidding process and awarded a contract to an authorized vendor.”
Schneider and Wellington were not aware of the bidding process which had occurred in October of 2021. The company that secured the bid has exclusive rights to operate motorized and non-motorized watersports rentals at George English Park. Wellington is operating out of Boca Raton for the time being and Schneider’s jet skis are sitting on their trailers. They both plan to appeal the ruling in hopes of keeping their businesses afloat. This is a developing story and we’ll let you know when we hear more.
