Union Marine Bellingham Boat Showroom

For a rented motor-driven boat or vessel with 15 horsepower or more, Washington law allows unsupervised operation from age 12 if the operator carries the required Boater Education Card; a personal watercraft cannot be rented to anyone under 16. An operator age 12 or older without a required card must be accompanied and under the direct supervision of a person age 16 or older who possesses a card. The card requirement generally begins at 12 for operators born after January 1, 1955. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14. These rules are in RCW 79A.60.640 and 79A.60.190. Rental operators may set higher minimums, so confirm when booking.

Source: Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program (app.leg.wa.gov)

Yes, Washington requires many recreational operators to carry a Boater Education Card rather than a traditional boating license. Operators age 12 or older who were born after January 1, 1955, must carry it when operating a vessel with a motor of 15 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft meeting that threshold. The minimum operator age is 12 for these motorboats and 14 for personal watercraft; personal watercraft cannot be rented to anyone under 16.

Rental customers may instead complete and carry the State Parks approved safety checklist. Common exemptions cover people born before January 1, 1955, qualifying short term visitors and recent boat purchasers. A course completion certificate serves as a temporary card for 60 days. Washington State Parks administers the program.

Source: Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program (parks.wa.gov)

From Bellingham, boaters can explore Bellingham Bay, sheltered Chuckanut Bay, Bellingham Channel and Rosario Strait. Put in at Squalicum Harbor’s year-round paved ramp, which is usable at all tides, or use Fairhaven’s seasonal ramp for small trailer boats and hand-launched craft.

Bellingham Bay is broad salt water with anchoring available south of the flats. Chuckanut Bay offers small-craft shelter and another launch at Wildcat Cove, although rocks and shoals lie around parts of its entrance. Bellingham Channel is deep but has strong tidal currents in places; Rosario Strait is deep open water where currents and tide rips demand more care from small boats.

Source: Port of Bellingham (portofbellingham.com)

Boaters leaving Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor can make day outings into the San Juan Islands to Sucia Island, Matia Island, Eagle Harbor or Pelican Beach. Sucia draws visitors with beaches, forested trails, sandstone formations and several coves with moorage. Matia offers dock or buoy access and a loop trail through mossy forest. On Cypress Island, Eagle Harbor provides a quiet harbor, while Pelican Beach combines shore access with views across the San Juan Islands.

Source: Port of Bellingham (portofbellingham.com)