Current Boating Education

Connecticut DEEP’s minimum operating age depends on vessel type. To operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower alone, an operator must be at least 12 and hold an SBC or CPWO; under 12 requires an onboard certificate holder age 18 or older. Under 16 without a certificate, a person may operate a non-PWC vessel only under direct supervision of someone 18 or older who has held a boating certificate for two years. A PWC operator under 16 needs onboard supervision by someone at least 18 who holds a CPWO. At 16, that supervision requirement ends. Confirm the rental operator’s minimum when booking.

Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (portal.ct.gov)

Yes. Connecticut generally requires a boating certificate rather than a license, with no birth date cutoff. Connecticut residents, real property owners and operators of Connecticut registered vessels need an SBC or CPWO for motorboats or sailboats 19½ feet or longer. Personal watercraft operators need a CPWO or an accepted reciprocal certificate.

Children under 12 cannot operate over 10 horsepower without a certified adult onboard. Operators under 16 need adult supervision onboard a personal watercraft; for other vessels, they may operate uncertified under a qualified adult. Non-PWC rentals from a boat livery for 14 days or less are exempt. Temporary certificates are available to qualifying new boat owners. Connecticut DEEP administers the program.

Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (portal.ct.gov)

Connecticut’s best boating choices include Long Island Sound along the southern coast, the Connecticut River through the state’s central corridor, Candlewood Lake in western Connecticut, and the Housatonic River impoundments of Lake Lillinonah and Lake Zoar. The Sound offers broad saltwater and estuarine boating, while the Connecticut River provides an extensive river route. Candlewood is a major inland lake, and Lillinonah and Zoar belong to a sequence of three large riverine impoundments with state boat ramp access.

Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (portal.ct.gov)

Connecticut’s most popular boating destinations include the Norwalk shoreline, known for protected marinas, islands and lighthouses; Mystic River and Fishers Island Sound, where boaters can see historic ships, lighthouses and wildlife; Essex, a popular sailing stop on the Connecticut River near Long Island Sound; Branford’s Thimble Islands, favored for kayaking among scenic islands; and Candlewood Lake, the state’s largest lake and a major destination for powerboating and water sports.

Source: Connecticut Office of Tourism (ctvisit.com)