Is Evolution JetSports Just A Jet Ski Rental Business?
Evolution Jetsports wasn’t always Evolution JetSports. We started out as CCR Powersport (the CCR stood for Charles Collins Racing, a racing team the owners’ grandfather had created while he was alive). We always wanted what eventually became Evolution JetSports to be more than just a jet ski rental service, as the owner had a love for motorsports as a whole.
Why did we start with just jet skis if we planned to do more? That was more based on customers and what people were used to. We want to provide niche experiences that people will fall in love with, but sadly, people probably won’t search for those things specifically. Right now, our jet kart rentals (Evo Jets) are probably the fan favorite of our fleet. But sadly, every single one of our customers didn’t find them by searching for jet karts; they found them by searching for jet skis and then deciding it was the way to go.
We want to give people the adrenaline rush of being at the autocross or being in full control of a performance vehicle while in a safe environment. As new things come out, we plan on adding them; we don’t want to be known as just another jet ski rental business in Jacksonville, FL. We also plan to add things for people who just want to cruise and go on dates (like the Craig Cat mini pontoons), as well as normal boats for family cruises through downtown Jax.
Where is Evolution JetSports? How Did This Evolve Over Time?
When we started out as CCR Powersport, it was a fresh experience. Transitioning from being a mechanic into doing jet ski rentals was new for me. I didn’t know if I should pick one spot or just let customers choose, so for a while, I just let customers pick any spot within Jacksonville, and I would deliver it there. Of course, I soon realized it just wasn’t feasible to do that. I can’t drop off for one customer in Ponte Vedra at 1 pm and then do another across the city at 3 pm, even if it’s just a one-hour rental. There are always things that cause delays, and it’s not the customer’s fault; stuff just happens. Because of this, we eventually settled on only using the Wayne B Stevens boat ramp and made that our home.
For growth, of course, we realized we needed a location of our own, a place to call home. This was the only way we could give people the best experience and make things as fun and safe as possible. Eventually, we found a place off Timuquana Rd., where we are now.
5775 Timuquana Rd Jacksonville FL 32210
This is by no means a perfect place, but it suits our needs. And who knows, maybe if we grow enough and our customers enjoy the experience we give them, we can move to a better location. But for now, this is where we call home. It has water access in the back, enough space for our floating docks with jet skis, it’s on the main rd. etc. The best part is the shop; we have a dedicated training room where we can give each group the proper training. And what’s better is that if people are waiting on a group to finish, they can play PS5, Guitar Hero, or just watch Netflix. I wanted Evolution JetSports to be a full experience and a place that people enjoyed no matter what they were doing, and I’m hoping I’m on track to accomplishing that.
What’s Next? What Is Our Plan?
Honestly, I have a few plans. Of course, we plan on adding new, different crafts. Like I said, we don’t want to be just a jet ski rental place. Will it always be water sports-related? Honestly, I’m not sure. We love all motorsports over here. As I said before, I was a mechanic for many years, and cars became a passion of mine. One of the things I would love to do is, if we got a bigger place in a better location, at some point add a professional racing sim setup and just have a motorsports-style complex. Anything with a motor, whether it be land or water, would be appreciated. I came from Asheville, NC, so https://thetrackavl.com/ blew me away. Having something like that incorporated into the business somehow would be amazing to me. I love Jacksonville so much, but I believe we lack fun things to do. I think additions like that would be amazing in a place like Jax, where it seems like all we have are bars and restaurants.
