RideOut Charters is the value center console in Key West, a fast 30 foot WhiteWater run by Captain Nick Collins out of Garrison Bight. It carries the cleanest recent review record in the port, near the top of the rating on the booking platforms across roughly 95 reviews, and the recurring note is a captain who works hard to put everyone on fish. It ranks in the middle of the field for an honest reason: the boat is small and open and the captain is still early in his run, so the ceiling is a good reef and nearshore offshore day rather than the long bluewater push the bigger boats handle.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.2 RideOut is a strong choice and the third ranked boat in Key West, the pick when you want a private boat and a hands on captain without the top tier price. The strength is captain and crew: the recent sentiment is as good as anything in the port. What holds it back is the boat and the shorter track record, not the service. The 30 foot center console is right for the reef, the wrecks, and a calm day offshore, and a stretch for a full day in a chop. Book it for a half day on the reef with a captain who teaches, and step up to Corsair 2 or Linda D if a long, comfortable offshore run is the point. The Key West ranking sets the field side by side.
The boat
The RideOut is a 30 foot WhiteWater center console, restored in 2022 and powered by twin 200 horsepower Yamahas that push it to around 29 knots, so it reaches the grounds quickly. It is rigged for reef, wreck, and offshore fishing and licensed for up to 6 anglers. It is also an open boat: no cabin, no head, and a wetter ride than the sportfishers we rank above it. That is the right tool for a half day on the reef and the nearshore wrecks, where most of its trips run, and a real consideration for anyone prone to seasickness on a long day out.
The fishing and what you target
RideOut works the reef, the wrecks, and the close offshore water off Key West. The reef and wreck trips target snapper, grouper, and amberjack on live bait, and the offshore runs chase mahi mahi, wahoo, tuna, and king mackerel in season, with mahi best from spring into fall. Captain Collins fishes the trip the conditions favor rather than forcing a long run on a rough day, which is part of why the reef and wreck reviews are so consistent. A seasonal 3 hour bully netting trip for lobster runs in the open season for something different.
Trips and prices
RideOut sells by the whole boat for up to 6 anglers, private only, with posted rates of $900 for a 4 hour half day, $1,200 for a 6 hour three quarter day, and $1,600 for an 8 hour full day. The booking page does not spell out what is included, which is the one soft spot in an otherwise clear price, so confirm bait, tackle, and license coverage when you book. The rates undercut the larger sportfishers for the same trip length, which is the value case. Our cost guide puts those numbers against a shared seat and the bigger private boats.
The crew
Captain Nick Collins runs the boat himself, and the recent reviews across the booking platforms and Google are strongly positive on the same points: a captain who goes out of his way to make sure everyone catches, is patient with kids and first timers, and is easy to spend a day with. The honest limit is depth and time, not quality. The record is a few years and roughly 95 reviews rather than the decades and hundreds behind the top two boats, so there is less of a long track to judge consistency across seasons. What is there reads very well.
Booking and what to know
Book through the operator’s online booking page or its marketplace listings. The boat leaves from Garrison Bight Marina on North Roosevelt Boulevard, the main Key West charter row. Because it is an open boat, dress for sun and spray, bring water, and take motion sickness medication if you are unsure of your stomach. Confirm the inclusions when you book, since the site is thin on that detail.
How we scored it
RideOut scores 7.2: the best recent captain and crew sentiment in Key West and a fast, well kept boat, held down by a small open hull that limits the long offshore day and a track record still measured in a few seasons rather than decades. Captain and crew is its strongest factor; boat and equipment and track record are where it sits behind the larger, older programs. See how we scored this boat, and weigh it against the rest of the Key West fleet.