Freedom Boat Club – Panama City Beach, FL

Florida law requires you to be at least 18 to rent a livery vessel other than a human-powered vessel. Florida sets no general minimum age to operate a boat, but a personal watercraft operator must be at least 14.

Under section 327.395, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, operating a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must carry the required boating safety credentials. An exemption applies when accompanied by a credentialed or exempt person age 18 or older who is attendant to the operation and responsible for safe operation and violations. The rental operator sets its own booking minimum subject to state law, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Florida does not issue a boating license, but operators born on or after January 1, 1988, must carry photo ID and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating education card when running a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft. There is no general minimum age for boats; personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, and no one under 18 may rent any vessel other than a human powered one. Exemptions include Coast Guard licensed masters, private lake or pond operators, operators accompanied aboard by someone 18 or older who holds the card or is exempt and is responsible for the vessel, and nonresidents with proof of a NASBLA-approved out of state course. Any non exempt operator may instead pass an FWC approved temporary certificate exam and carry that certificate with photo ID for 90 days.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

From Panama City, you can cruise St. Andrews Bay, Grand Lagoon, Shell Island and Gulf waters, North Bay, or West Bay. St. Andrews Bay is the protected central harbor; city launch sites include St. Andrews Marina, Downtown Marina, Carl Gray Park, Snug Harbor and Bob George Park.

Grand Lagoon has calm, clear water along the St. Andrews State Park shoreline and a park boat ramp. For open water, the marked, jettied entrance cuts through Shell Island to the Gulf; stay within the buoyed channel because strong currents can create heavy tide rips. North Bay has small craft anchorages in its bayous, while the Intracoastal Waterway continues through West Bay; watch for oyster bars in both bays.

Source: City of Panama City (panamacity.gov)

Boaters from Panama City commonly head to Shell Island, St. Andrews State Park’s inlet lagoon and jetties, and Massalina Bayou. Shell Island is a beach day stop for swimming, snorkeling and walking along a pristine barrier-island shore. The state park’s lagoon and rock jetties draw swimmers and snorkelers looking for clear water and marine life. Massalina Bayou offers an in-city stop for waterfront dining, with boat docking, marinas, sailboats and the Tarpon Dock drawbridge.

Source: Florida State Parks (floridastateparks.org)