Frequently Asked Questions

Beer Can Island is the local name for Pine Key, a privately owned island located approximately 2 miles offshore in Tampa Bay, Florida. It encompasses about 9 acres of pine tree-covered upland and 60+ acres of shoal area. The island has been a beloved community gathering spot for decades, dating back to 1944 when it was first conveyed to private ownership by the state of Florida.

Pine Key sits in Tampa Bay between Tampa and St. Petersburg, approximately 2 miles from the mainland. It's accessible only by boat. Most charter services depart from Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Davis Island, Downtown Tampa, and Sarasota area docks.

You can arrive by private boat or book one of our partner charter services. We have 8+ trusted captains who regularly bring guests to the island, offering both private and group trips. No boat? No problem.

As of 2024, Beer Can Island remains unzoned, located in unincorporated Hillsborough County. Our team has met with county officials and is preparing a site plan and Planned Development application. We are confident our future plans will be approved.

Plans include reclaiming lost beach due to erosion, installing breakwaters for permanent protection, docks, cabins, open recreational space, a clubhouse, tiki huts, and several other amenities. Sand replenishment will restore the island toward its 1995 dimensions of 26+ acres.

Pine Key is owned by Pine Key TampaBay LLC. The Beer Can Island Owners Club LLC holds 10% ownership and sells membership units to the public. The mission is simple: a private island for the community, owned by the community.

Explorer (Free) — Basic access, 1 welcome drink ticket.
Monthly ($9.99/mo) — 20% tiki discount, 2 guests, 1 ticket.
Annual ($299/yr FREE) — 20% tiki discount, 4 guests, 3 tickets, all events.
Ownership ($1,030/share) — LLC membership unit, voting rights, profit sharing, K1 tax docs, 6 tickets.
Lifetime — By invitation/special arrangement.
Captain ($299/yr FREE) — For charter operators, includes enhanced listing, booking platform, 3 tickets.
View all membership details

Drink tickets are digital credits you receive with your membership. You can redeem them at the island tiki bar, gift them to other members, or earn more through referrals. They're managed from your member dashboard.

Monthly memberships can be cancelled anytime through your dashboard. No partial-month refunds. Annual memberships run for the full year. Ownership units are non-refundable and permanent (no expiration).

After joining, log into your member dashboard and click "Digital ID Card." Your card shows your name, photo, member number, membership type, and a QR code for verification.

Yes! You can add family members as connected accounts from your Edit Profile page. Each person gets their own login, digital ID card with their name, and 20% tiki bar discount.

Limits by membership type:
• Monthly ($9.99): 1 primary + 1 connected (2 people total)
• Annual Boat ($299): 1 primary + 3 connected (4 people total)
• Shareholders: 1 primary + 3 connected (4 people total)

To add someone, go to Edit Profile → Family / Connected Accounts → enter their name and email. They'll receive a welcome email with a link to set their password.

Connected accounts get their own login and password, their own digital ID card with their name, 20% off at the tiki bar, and access to their own member dashboard. They cannot manage billing, cancel the membership, or add additional connected accounts — only the primary account holder can do that. If a connected account is removed, that person can sign up independently with their own membership.

Since we are registered as an LLC, membership units (also known as membership interests) represent an owner's stake in the company. They are similar to shares of stock in a corporation but offer more flexibility in ownership structure and distribution of profits and losses.

A total of 1,500 LLC Owner Membership Units are available at $1,030 each. Once all 1,500 are sold, no further ownership units will be offered. You can purchase 1 or more shares through the website. For 10+ shares, contact us directly.

Owners Club members receive: profit sharing, voting rights, an official Ownership Certificate, K1 tax documents, invitations to exclusive owner events (2-3x annually), island access, 20% off all food and beverage at the tiki bar, and 6 complimentary drink tickets.

After purchasing shares through your dashboard via Stripe:

1. Complete your Shareholder Profile — choose ownership type (Personal, Co-Signer, or Company), enter your name, address, phone, and SSN or EIN.
2. Review and sign the BCI Shareholder Purchase Agreement — a 12-page digital contract with your information pre-filled. All fields are editable if corrections are needed.
3. Await counter-signature — an authorized representative will counter-sign your agreement. You'll receive a notification when complete.
4. Download your signed PDF from your dashboard once fully executed.

Yes! During the shareholder profile step, you choose your ownership type:

• Personal — shares registered under your individual name. SSN required for K-1 tax filing.
• Co-Signer — joint ownership (e.g., husband & wife). The contract will show both names (e.g., "John Smith & Jane Smith"). SSN of primary required.
• Company — shares registered under your LLC, corporation, or trust. EIN required for K-1 tax filing. The company name appears as the purchaser on the contract.

You can change your ownership type later from Edit Profile.

The only required fee is a $39 annual tax filing fee (to issue your K1 each year after January). There are no HOA fees. The company covers liability insurance and property taxes out of operating profits.

Profit sharing distributions are made annually, typically after January of each calendar year when financials are finalized. Your K1 tax document will also be available at that time.

We value the Beer Can Island Owners Club LLC at $1.5 million, representing 10% ownership of the property. Being the most famous privately owned island in Florida, located between Tampa and St. Pete, the property holds enormous value beyond the company valuation.

In the unlikely event of a full buyout, we would negotiate terms for owners wishing to maintain their share. If your equity is purchased, you would receive your percentage of the sale proceeds based on your ownership percentage.

We offer six types: Crewed Charters (boat + captain included), Bareboat Rentals (vessel only, you operate), Jet Ski Rentals, Captains for Hire (independent USCG-licensed captains available for your vessel), Paddle & Small Craft (kayaks, SUPs, pedal boats, canoes), and Unique Finds (tiki boats, airboats, eFoils, floating aqua parks, glass-bottom boats, and more). Browse all charter services

Find a listing on our charter page, check the availability calendar for open dates, then click "Book Now." Choose your tour, select a date and time, add any optional extras, sign the booking agreement, and pay securely through Stripe. You'll receive an instant confirmation email and a reminder 24 hours before your trip. You must create a free account or log in to book or send inquiries.

A bareboat charter is a rental where you take full possession and control of the vessel without a captain or crew. You are responsible for operating, navigating, and managing the boat. You may independently hire a USCG-licensed captain from our Captains for Hire list if desired.

Each captain sets their own cancellation policy including non-refundable deposit percentages and cancellation windows. These are clearly displayed during booking and in the agreement you sign. Captain cancellations or unsafe weather always result in a full refund. Refunds come from the captain's Stripe account, not BCI.

Contact the captain or vessel operator directly. Once payment has been transferred to the captain/operator, Beer Can Island has no control over those funds. All refund requests, price adjustments, disputes, and complaints must be handled between you and the captain/operator.

BCI acts solely as a booking platform — we connect customers with independent service providers but do not own, operate, or control any vessel, equipment, or service. We cannot issue refunds from a captain's account on your behalf.

Exception: If the captain has escrow enabled, your payment is held by BCI until after the trip completes. In that case, BCI can assist with disputes before the funds are released. Look for the 🔒 Escrow Protected badge when booking.

Some captains offer shared rides where multiple groups can book the same time slot. You can also book exclusively (private boat) for an additional fee. Both options are shown during booking if available.

Yes. Before payment, you must sign a service-specific agreement that includes a liability waiver. There are six different agreements depending on service type (Crewed Charter, Bareboat Rental, Jet Ski, Captain for Hire, Paddle & Small Craft, Unique Finds). You can review them below in the Legal section.

No. BCI does not provide any insurance coverage to customers or service providers. You are solely responsible for obtaining your own travel, health, or marine insurance. BCI acts only as a booking platform.

Yes! Any registered member can leave a review on any charter listing. Click the review link on any listing card, rate 1-5 stars, write up to 500 characters, and optionally upload a photo. One review per listing per member.

Some captains opt into our escrow system. When you see the 🔒 Escrow Protected badge, it means your booking payment is held securely by Beer Can Island — not sent directly to the captain — until after your trip is completed. The captain receives their payment within 24 hours of a successful trip. If the captain cancels, you get a full refund immediately. This gives you extra peace of mind when booking.

Some captains require a damage deposit for exclusive/private bookings (not shared rides). This is a separate, fully refundable charge that covers potential damage to the vessel or equipment.

How it works:
• You choose when to pay it: at booking time, or on a date you pick before the trip
• After your trip, the captain has 2 days to inspect and confirm no damage
• If the captain confirms no damage — or takes no action — your deposit is automatically refunded in full
• If you no-show, the deposit is also refunded (you can't damage what you didn't use)
• If there is damage, the captain files a claim with a description and amount, which an admin reviews before any deposit is kept
• The damage deposit is separate from the booking's cancellation policy

Visit Submit Your Charter Service and fill out the form with your company info, services offered, and a photo. Your listing goes live immediately — no admin approval needed, no fees, 100% free. If you're already a member, log in first to link it to your existing account. Otherwise a free captain account is created automatically.

Everything is 100% free. Every listing gets the full suite of features:

• Gold 5-star recommended badge & priority placement
• Full booking platform with Stripe Connect direct payouts
• Up to 15 photos with drag-to-reorder
• Promoted on Facebook, Instagram & Google Ads at no cost
• Customer reviews & responses
• Visual calendar with availability management
• Optional escrow protection & damage deposit
• Optional add-ons (extras for a fee)
• Google Calendar & iCal sync
• Analytics: views, clicks, bookings, revenue
• 3 complimentary drink tickets
• Captain profile with bio, photo, and specialties

The only fee is 10% on bookings made through our platform. Direct bookings = $0 fees. Get started

After creating your listing, you get a Captain Dashboard where you can manage everything:

• Create unlimited tour services with custom pricing and duration
• Add optional extras for a fee (cooler, fishing gear, catering, etc.)
• Set weekly availability, time slots, and blackout dates
• Visual calendar showing bookings, open dates, and blackouts
• Configure deposit, refund, and cancellation policies
• Enable damage deposit and/or escrow protection
• Connect Stripe for direct bank payouts (90% of bookings)
• Upload up to 15 photos, add boat specs, write your captain bio
• Respond to customer inquiries and reviews
• Track views, clicks, bookings, and revenue
• Pause or delete your listing anytime

USCG license is only required for crewed charters and captain-for-hire services. Not needed for jet ski, bareboat, paddle, or unique vessel rentals.

Only 10% on platform bookings. Customers can always book directly with you (by phone, email, or your website) at zero cost. We only charge when a customer books through the "Book Now" button on your listing. On a $500 booking: you keep $435, BCI takes $50, Stripe takes ~$15. Tips go 100% to you — no platform fee on tips.

Compare: Other platforms like Boatsetter and GetMyBoat take 20-35%, leaving you with only 65-80%. We charge a flat 10% — you keep 90%. No hidden fees, no monthly minimums, no exclusivity. You're free to list on other platforms and take direct bookings with zero fees from us.

Google Calendar: Full two-way sync. Connect with one click from your Captain Dashboard. New bookings auto-appear on your Google Calendar. Your existing Google Calendar events automatically block time slots so customers can't double-book you.

Apple Calendar, Outlook & others: Subscribe to your iCal feed URL in any calendar app. All bookings auto-sync. Works with iPhone, Mac, Outlook, Samsung, Yahoo, and any app that supports iCal.

No license required for jet ski rentals, bareboat rentals, paddle & small craft, and unique vessel rentals. You can list and accept bookings immediately.

License required for crewed charters and captains for hire only. Upload your USCG license from your Captain Dashboard — admin will verify it quickly. If you don't have a license, click "I don't have a USCG license" on your dashboard and you'll be set up for the service types that don't require one.

Refunds are processed from your connected Stripe account, not BCI's. You set your own refund policy (non-refundable percentage, cancellation window). Captain cancellations and weather cancellations always result in a full refund. BCI's platform fee may or may not be refunded at BCI's discretion.

Escrow is an optional toggle in your Captain Dashboard settings. When enabled:

• Customer's booking payment is held by BCI instead of going directly to your Stripe account
• Your payment is released to your Stripe account 24 hours after the trip date
• Your listing shows an "🔒 Escrow Protected" badge — proven to increase booking confidence
• The 10% platform fee is the same whether escrow is on or off
• You can turn escrow on or off anytime from your settings

Why use it? It signals trust to customers, especially first-time bookers. They know their money is safe until the service is delivered. Listings with escrow tend to convert at higher rates.

Set a damage deposit amount (e.g. $200) in your Captain Dashboard. It only applies to exclusive/private bookings — not shared rides or captain-for-hire services.

What happens:
• Customer chooses to pay the deposit now or on a date before their trip
• The deposit is charged separately from the booking payment
• After the trip, you'll see an action panel in your dashboard: "No Damage — Refund" or "File Claim"
• Click "No Damage" and the deposit is refunded instantly
• If damage occurred, file a claim with a description and amount — an admin reviews it
• Important: If you take no action within 2 days after the trip, the deposit is automatically refunded to the customer
• Set deposit to $0 in your settings to disable it

Enhanced listing captains can bid for the #1 position on the charter page. The first enhanced captain gets top spot for free. Subsequent captains can bid starting at $99, with $50 increases. Outbid captains have 48 hours to counter-bid. Bids reset every 6 months (January 1 and July 1).

Yes! You can have dual membership on the same account. Adding captain services is free and doesn't change your existing membership benefits. Shareholders keep voting rights, profit sharing, K-1 docs, and everything else — plus full captain features. You can also create a separate account for captain services if you prefer.

Absolutely. Any membership type (free, monthly, annual, shareholder) can add captain features at no extra cost. Go to your dashboard and click "Get Listed" or visit Submit Your Charter Service. If you're logged in, your listing will be linked to your existing account automatically. All your current benefits stay the same.

Yes! Captains can create unlimited listings for different services, boats, or locations. Additional listings are free to create. Normal booking fees and upsell options apply per listing. Manage all listings from your Captain Dashboard with a listing switcher.

Log in to your account and go to List Your Boat. Fill out the details — vessel type, year, make, model, specs, price, description, and photos. Submit for review, and your listing will be approved within 24 hours. Free members can list up to 3 boats at a time.

Any type! Center consoles, pontoons, bowriders, fishing boats, sailboats, catamarans, jetskis/PWC, kayaks, paddleboards, airboats, houseboats, inflatables, and more. We support 22+ vessel categories.

Yes! Free members can have up to 3 live listings. For more trust, get a Verified Seller badge for $39/year. Dealers who need unlimited listings can upgrade to Dealer for $299/year (includes verified badge).

Buyers can submit an offer on any listing that accepts offers. The seller receives an email and in-app notification. From their seller dashboard, they can accept, reject, or counter the offer. The buyer is notified of the response. BCI does not handle payments — the actual sale happens directly between buyer and seller.

Listings are active for 6 months. You'll receive an email warning before expiry. You can renew anytime (90 or 180 day extensions) or mark as sold. Expired and sold listings are automatically cleaned up — photos are deleted from our server to free up space.

Only logged-in members can see your phone and email. Non-members see a prompt to create a free account first. You can also set different contact info on each listing if you prefer not to use your profile info.

No. BCI is a listing platform only. We do not verify vessel condition, handle money transfers, or mediate transactions. Always inspect the vessel in person before sending any payment. Never wire funds to someone you haven't met.

For $39/year, you get a green "Verified Seller" badge on all your listings, the ability to reply to buyer reviews, and increased visibility. Buyers trust verified sellers more. Dealers ($299/year) are automatically verified and get unlimited listings.

Every member gets a unique referral link. When someone signs up through your link, both of you earn rewards! You can share your link on social media, email, or anywhere. Manage your referrals and earnings from your dashboard.

Monthly referral: 1 ticket each
Annual referral: 3 tickets each
Ownership referral: 6 tickets each
Captain referral: 3 tickets for you + 3 for them
Rewards can be received as drink tickets, or as cash via Venmo, check, or Solana wallet.

Yes! Go to your dashboard and set up a vanity URL like beercanisland.net/yourname. This becomes your personal referral link that's easy to share and remember.

Look for the blue chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of any page (when logged in). Click it to see your conversations and friends list. Click any friend to start chatting instantly — a mini chat window opens, just like Facebook Messenger. You can have multiple conversations open at the same time. To message a captain, visit their charter listing and click "Message."

Yes! Click the blue chat bubble, then click "+ Group" in the friends section. Name your group, select the friends you want to add, and click Create. All members see the same conversation. Great for planning trips with your crew.

The messenger includes: tropical-themed emoji picker (beer, palm trees, island vibes), thumbs up quick-send, group chats, online status indicators, read receipts, mute notifications per conversation, archive or delete chats, block users, and report to admin. Messages update in real-time.

Go to your Friends tab and search by name, @username, or email. Click "Add Friend" to send a request. Once accepted, you'll see each other in your friends list with online/offline status and can message instantly from the chat bubble.

Yes. In any chat window, click the settings menu (…) and select "Block User." You can also report them to admin from the same menu. Blocked users cannot send you messages or friend requests. Manage blocked users from your Blocked tab.

Trip Events — Crowdfund a group charter trip. Set a funding goal, invite friends, everyone pays their share. When fully funded, the organizer books the charter using the trip fund balance — no credit card needed.

Social Events — Organize parties, meetups, BBQs, or any gathering. Optionally sell tickets (like Eventbrite) with custom ticket types, prices, and quantities. BCI charges $1.25 per paid ticket sold.

Island Events — Official Beer Can Island events, created by BCI admins and Class A owners. Can be free or ticketed.

Browse all events at beercanisland.net/events.

Create a Trip Event from your dashboard:

1. Set a title, description, date, group size, and total cost
2. Link the charter(s) you're considering
3. Invite friends from your friends list or by sharing the event link
4. Each friend RSVPs and pays their share via Stripe
5. Progress bar shows funding status
6. When 100% funded, click "Book Your Charter" — funds pay directly, no credit card needed

90% goes to the captain, 10% platform fee to BCI. If cancelled, everyone is refunded automatically.

If the event isn't fully funded by the deadline (3 to 30 days), or if the organizer cancels, all payments are automatically refunded. No one is charged a platform fee unless the goal is met and a charter is booked.

Yes! For Social Events, you can add multiple ticket types with custom names, prices, and quantities — just like Eventbrite. BCI charges a flat $1.25 per paid ticket sold. Free events and free tickets have no fee. You'll need a Stripe Connect account (same setup as charter captains) to receive ticket revenue.

Yes. When creating an event, choose "Friends Only" for privacy. Your event will still be visible on the public events page, but only people on your friends list can join and purchase tickets. Others will see a message saying it's friends-only with a button to send you a friend request.

Trip Events (before charter is booked): Your payment is held by BCI until the organizer books. If the event is cancelled or the deadline passes, BCI refunds you directly and automatically. No fees are charged.

Trip Events (after charter is booked): Once the organizer has booked a charter and funds have been transferred to the captain, BCI no longer holds those funds. You would need to contact the captain directly for any refund, just like a normal charter booking.

Social Events with tickets: Ticket revenue goes directly to the event creator's Stripe account. BCI does not hold those funds. If the creator cancels, refunds are pulled from the creator's account automatically. If the event has already happened, contact the event creator directly for any refund requests. The $1.25 service fee per ticket is non-refundable. BCI is a platform only and is not liable for social event refunds.

During event creation, you can select friends from your friends list (individual or "Select All"). After creation, you can invite more people by @username or email from the event page. You can also share the event link on Facebook, X/Twitter, WhatsApp, or email using the share buttons on the event page.

Yes! When creating a Social Event, you can add vendor spots with custom names, descriptions, and prices. For example: "Food Vendor — $150" or "Merch Table — $75." Vendors sign up and pay through Stripe directly on your event page. BCI charges a 10% platform fee on vendor spots. You'll need a Stripe Connect account to receive vendor payments.

Yes! Any event with donations enabled has two options:

Logged-in donations: Members can donate any amount from the event page. Their name appears on the donor list unless they check "Donate anonymously."

Anonymous donations (no login required): Anyone — even non-members — can donate via Stripe checkout without creating an account. They enter a name (or "Anonymous") and email for their receipt. BCI charges a 10% platform fee on all donations.

Yes! When creating an event, toggle on "Accept Crypto Donations" and your event page will display a Solana wallet address for SOL and USDC donations. Donors send crypto directly to the BCI master wallet, and BCI forwards 90% to the event creator (10% platform fee). To receive crypto payouts, add your Solana wallet address in Edit Profile. We recommend Phantom Wallet.

For any refund questions about tickets, donations, or vendor payments, please contact the event creator directly through the messaging system. BCI is a platform that connects people — once funds are transferred to an event creator or captain, refunds are handled between you and them directly. For Trip Events that haven't been booked yet, cancellation triggers automatic refunds from BCI.

Click Login and choose "Register" to create a free Explorer account. Or go directly to Memberships to sign up for a paid tier. Captain accounts are created automatically when you submit a charter listing.

Click "Forgot Password" on the login page. You'll receive an email with a reset link. Shareholders can also verify via phone number and last 4 of SSN as an alternative method.

Log into your dashboard and click "Update Payment Method." You'll be redirected to Stripe to securely update your card. This applies to all recurring memberships.

Yes. Go to Edit Profile and click "Change" next to your email. Enter your new email address and click "Send Confirmation." A confirmation link will be sent to your current email. Click the link to complete the change. The link is valid for 24 hours. Your Stripe billing email will also be updated automatically.

The $39 annual tax filing fee applies only to ownership (shareholder) members. It covers the cost of preparing and issuing your K1 tax document each year. It is billed annually and can be paid through your dashboard.

All users are bound by our Terms of Service and Liability Waiver. Charter customers also sign a service-specific booking agreement before payment. Captains agree to platform terms when listing their service. All agreements include comprehensive hold harmless and liability release provisions.

Absolutely. All agreements are available for public review:

Terms of Service
Liability Waiver & Release
Privacy Policy

The six charter booking agreements (Crewed Charter, Bareboat Rental, Jet Ski Rental, Captain for Hire, Paddle & Small Craft, and Unique Finds) are presented during the booking process and can also be reviewed here:

Crewed Charter · Bareboat Rental · Jet Ski · Captain for Hire · Paddle & Small Craft · Unique Finds

The waiver protects both Pine Key TampaBay LLC and Beer Can Island Owners Club LLC, along with all of their respective owners, members, managers, officers, directors, board members, shareholders, equity holders, employees, agents, contractors, affiliates, successors, assigns, heirs, executors, family members, and insurers.

No. Neither Pine Key TampaBay LLC nor Beer Can Island Owners Club LLC provide any insurance coverage of any kind to users, members, visitors, charter customers, or service providers. You are solely responsible for obtaining your own insurance coverage.

All agreements are governed by Florida law. Disputes are resolved exclusively in Hillsborough County, Florida courts. All agreements include a jury trial waiver and class action waiver. Claims must be filed within one year.