“We wanted to do something that would set us apart from other kayak rentals in the area, and we are the only ones offering these from Tampa to Key West,” Aaron said. “We chose Boca Grande because it is our all time favorite place. Before Glass Bottom Rentals was even a real thing, when it still was in the daydream stages, we had already decided Boca would be the place for us … that turquoise water is unlike any other water around,” Katie added. Katie and Aaron enjoy watching the reactions of their clients as they paddle out in the clear water and see manatee and other marine life swimming beneath. They offer two, four and six hour rentals and you can choose to explore on your own or they’ll take you on a tour. And since summer is here, the rentals prices have dropped to special rates. The tours last about two hours and they include digital photos of your adventure. Guests on one recent tour saw dolphins, manatee, a stingray and starfish. Going on a tour with Aaron and Katie is comparable to spending time on the water with good friends. They’re friendly and point out local landmarks if you’re visiting the area, and they always keep an eye out for marine life to share it with the group whenever they spot it. They were even gracious enough to assist two women by towing their kayaks from their paddleboards. Aaron prides himself on caring for the environment and he looks for litter on the water and grabs it as it floats by. He organized a “Keep Boca Beautiful” clean up event in June and provided gloves and trash bags for volunteers. As a bonus, a coupon for a free two-hour kayak rental was given out to every person who filled a bag. The business owners live in North Port and you may see them trailering their clear kayaks to Boca Grande daily. They pay rent to Charlotte County Parks to be able to use the north fishing pier as the main launch site. The tours usually consist of a trip out to the sandbar near the bridge. If the seas are not calm, they head over to 19th street and launch from there. It’s a beautiful drop with a small sandy beach that is maintained by Lee County and is part of the Calusa Blueway, a 190-mile long paddling trail through the Gulf Coast waters around Fort Myers. Aaron and Katie are Massachusetts natives who first moved to Florida in 2005 and stayed for about eight years. They left for a few years when Katie accepted a job promotion in Pennsylvania in 2013 as a district sales manager and Aaron stayed home to raise their two children. “I loved my job but we both missed Florida tremendously,” Katie said. Aaron and Katie Koher “We discussed moving back several times, but we wanted to take full advantage of living in the sunshine state.” Soon they came up with a business idea where they could spend their days having fun in the sun. That’s when Glass Bottom Rentals came to fruition. Their first day of business was February 18, 2017. And so far they’ve stayed pretty busy with clients. The kayaks are specially made and took 3 months to get shipped. All rentals include United States Coast Guard approved life vests, and all kayaks have two puncture proof floatation devices. They’re extremely durable and can seat one adult or an adult plus one small child. Katie’s parents own GJC Windows and Door installation company in Port Charlotte. They were searching for a new sales representative and Katie viewed it as an opportunity to move back to Florida and enjoy a more flexible schedule and a better work-life balance. She currently is the office manager and is helping run the business as her parents begin to transition into retirement. July/August 2017 GASPARILLA ISLAND 23
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