Southport Magazine

When we came up with the idea for a Locals Touring Their Home Town series, we expected that maybe a local would get something different, maybe even something more, out of the experience. What we did not expect was the wave of emotions that hit us when we chatted with our Southport Boat Rentals tour captain as we prepared to leave the Yacht Basin for a sightseeing excursion.

We’d scheduled our tour for a weekend when my parents were visiting from Pennsylvania and our son was home for a few days after graduating college in Greensboro. The parent feels were running strong already after the graduation ceremony, then, in talking to Capt. Eli Bostic, we learned that his mom taught our now college graduated son in Kindergarten at Southport Elementary. No tourist is going find that connection— that kind of magic is reserved for locals who take the time to play at tourist at home. We all began our voyage with the biggest smiles on our faces.

We weren’t the only smiling faces aboard, though. Not a surprise, as the Southport Boat Rentals operation is a very cheerful place. From the brightly painted building snuggled between Provision Co and Fishy Fishy on the Yacht Basin to the super-friendly young lady in the ticket office to Captain Eli and his mate, everything about this experience speaks of fun. 

Southport is a very waterfront-oriented town. It even has “port” in the name. In my opinion, seeing Southport from the water is a must-do for locals and visitors alike. Captain Eli grew up blocks from the Southport waterfront and has been out on local waters his entire life, so he was the perfect guide and interpreter of all the sights.

“I truly enjoy taking people out and showing them the area that I love,” said Capt. Eli. “I try to ask most of our guests if they live in the area or if not, where they are from and I’d say it’s close to half locals and half visitors. I’d say the locals enjoy the Sunset Cruise the most because they already know about the landmarks around the area,” he said.

For the true tourist experience, we chose the 2:30 pm Sightseeing Cruise. We began with a spin around the Yacht Basin, traveled up the Cape Fear River past American Fish, the Garrison House and the City Pier. We went as far up river as the River Hotel, which was really cool because that’s where my parents were staying. The trip then headed back downriver past Bird Island and out toward Bald Head before crossing the channel and taking a look at Fort Caswell. We motored back to Southport’s waterfront and headed down the Intracoastal to Southport Marina before heading back to our dock in the Yacht Basin. 

It was a really great taste of Southport from the water and, judging from the reactions of other passengers, enjoyed by all. Capt. Eli narrated the tour with history, local knowledge and nature facts, some of which were new to us even as nearly 30-year residents of the area. We got to see the work being done on the marina, a tree full of nesting pelicans and even a dolphin. 

Capt. Eli said this the fifth year in business with co-owner, Robert Frankenfield. The two grew up friends and neighbors and decided to launch Southport Boast rentals after an accident. “I was working as a Captain in Wrightsville Beach when my best friend Robert (Bobbo) fell off a 40 foot ladder and broke his leg,” Capt. Eli recalled. “He called me from the hospital wanting a different job working on the water and the rest is history. We were neighbors growing up in Southport and now we work two blocks from our childhood homes, so it’s kind of a full circle,” he said.

We offered tours on our smaller boats in the past but saw the need for a larger more accommodating vessel. “We offered tours on our smaller boats in the past, but saw the need for a larger more accommodating vessel,” he said. 

Southport Boat Rentals tour boat is a 40-ft, 28 passenger, squeaky clean and modern pontoon boat. The ride is calm and pleasant. Of course it helps if you go on a day that’s sunny and 73 degrees, but as locals, we can pick our tour day to be a nice as possible, right? At $20 a passenger, we felt like the tour, which lasts about an hour and feels neither hurried nor stretched out too long, was more than worth the investment. 

As the tourists begin to fill up our community for the summer (at least) it would be wise to call ahead to (910) 523-6021 for a reservation, or use their easy online booking at souhtportboatrentals.com. You can also reach them via email at southportboatrentals@gmail.com with any questions. 

Southport Boat rentals also, as you might imagine, rents boats. They have a fleet of 21-ft Carolina Skiffs and pontoon boats available to experienced boaters. Land lubbers might want to stick to the tour and leave the captaining to the professionals. 

Southport Boat rentals is just now completing work on “The Mullet Bar,” a beer and wine bar on the waterfront at the back of their building. Tour guests and anyone who just wants a relaxed place for a refreshing beverage can come enjoy the view. 

Relaxing might not be in the near future cards for Southport  Boat Rentals’ owners though. “Robert and I both just had baby boys only 2 months apart so I see a lot of parenting in our future,” Capt. Eli said.

But Capt. Eli has the right perspective on things, I think. “I just feel really blessed to be able to do what I love for a living and am truly thankful for every person who has come out with us and I hope to keep doing this for many years to come,” he said.