Carefree Boat Club of Ventura Harbor

In California you must be 16 or older and hold a California Boater Card to operate a vessel powered by a motor of 15 horsepower or more, including a personal watercraft. Someone aged 12 to 15 may operate that same class only while supervised on board by a person at least 18 who is also in possession of a California Boater Card. The supervising adult needs the card, not just the years. State Parks' Division of Boating and Waterways administers it. The rental company sets its own minimum rental age, often higher, so confirm it when booking.

Source: California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, dbw.parks.ca.gov and californiaboatercard.com (parks.ca.gov)

California requires a Boater Card, rather than a conventional boating license, for most recreational operators of motorized vessels. Since January 1, 2025, the requirement applies regardless of age and includes personal watercraft. Operators generally must be at least 16 for vessels over 15 horsepower; ages 12 to 15 may operate only if supervised on board by an attentive adult 18 or older, and must either hold a card themselves or be supervised by a cardholder.

Rental vessel operators are exempt. Exemptions also cover direct supervision and qualifying temporary visitors. Approved applicants may print a 90-day temporary card while awaiting the permanent card. California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways administers the program.

Source: California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (parks.ca.gov)

Launch at the Ventura Harbor Public Launch Ramp and begin in Ventura Harbor, where the harbor and entrance channel have a 5 mph limit before the main entrance leads to the Santa Barbara Channel. The channel is open ocean, with currents, shifting swells, fog and strong winds that can change quickly.

For an island day, East Anacapa’s Landing Cove is the island’s only visitor access point, but it is not an all-weather anchorage. Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island has a pier, and no visitor buoys are available at landing areas. These cross-channel trips are for experienced, properly equipped ocean boaters.

Source: Ventura Port District (venturaharbor.com)

From Ventura, boaters head to Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island for kayaking and a Cavern Point hike; East Anacapa’s Landing Cove for snorkeling and diving; and Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard for marina services, restaurants and shops. The National Park Service treats the two island stops as full-day outings, and the Ventura Port District confirms that landing trips to both depart Ventura Harbor. The Oxnard harbor works well when the goal is waterfront dining or marine services instead of an offshore landing.

Source: Channel Islands National Park (nps.gov)