Freedom Boat Club – Bear, DE (@ Summit North Marina)

Delaware sets no minimum age to operate an ordinary motorboat, but that does not determine whether a rental company will rent one to you. Under Title 23, Section 2221, anyone born on or after January 1, 1978 must complete approved boating safety instruction and carry the certificate when operating a registered or documented vessel. Personal watercraft have separate rules: operators may operate unsupervised at 16, while 14 and 15-year-olds may operate only under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian. Section 2213 also requires a personal watercraft renter to hold a valid automobile driver’s license. Each rental operator sets any additional minimum, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (delcode.delaware.gov)

Yes. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1978 must complete an approved boating safety course and carry the certificate when operating a motorized boat, including a personal watercraft, on Delaware waters. DNREC states no minimum mandatory age for boats other than PWC. PWC operators must be at least 14; ages 14 and 15 require direct parental or guardian supervision, while certified operators 16 or older may operate unsupervised.

Renters subject to the birth date rule are not exempt and must carry proof. Statutory exemptions cover valid U.S. Coast Guard captains and Delaware River and Bay pilots or equivalents; no temporary certificate exemption is listed. DNREC’s Office of Boating Safety and Education administers the requirement.

Source: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (dnrec.delaware.gov)

The best places to boat in Delaware include the southern Inland Bays, especially Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay, the Brandywine River in northern Delaware, and freshwater Lums Pond and Trap Pond in the state park system. These waters suit different outings: motorboating and sailing on the Inland Bays, gentle canoeing on the Brandywine, and sheltered paddling on inland ponds. Lums Pond is Delaware’s largest freshwater pond, while Trap Pond offers a distinctive paddle among bald cypress trees.

Source: Delaware Tourism Office (visitdelaware.com)

Delaware’s most popular boating destinations include Dewey Beach on Rehoboth Bay, favored for small sailboats, jet skiing, parasailing and wakeboarding; the Indian River Bay sandbar, a relaxed pontoon anchoring spot; Lewes and the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, known for scenic cruises toward Delaware Bay; Fenwick Island, a state tourism pick for kayaking and paddling; and Trap Pond State Park, a quieter freshwater paddling destination. Together, these locations offer a useful mix of active Inland Bays, coastal sightseeing and calm pond boating.

Source: Delaware Tourism Office (visitdelaware.com)