The boat clubs we list in New Smyrna Beach are Freedom Boat Club. Membership gets you access to a shared fleet without owning, maintaining or storing a boat yourself.

April through May and October through November are the best all-around times to boat around New Smyrna Beach, especially Ponce de Leon Inlet. Coastal water is generally in the low to upper 70s during those shoulder months, compared with the mid to upper 60s in winter and low 80s in summer. From May through October, east central Florida’s wet season is dominated by daily sea breeze thunderstorms, so early departures often make more sense. Tide timing also matters at Ponce de Leon Inlet because NOAA describes the current through the inlet as strong.

Source: NOAA National Weather Service and Office of Coast Survey, weather.gov and nauticalcharts.noaa.gov (weather.gov)

From New Smyrna Beach, you can cruise Indian River North and the Intracoastal Waterway, continue through Ponce de Leon Inlet to the Atlantic, or head into Mosquito Lagoon. Indian River North follows marshes and becomes narrow and crooked in places; open stretches can turn rough in strong winds. Ponce de Leon Inlet is the open water gateway, but NOAA advises extreme caution because of strong current and the inlet bar. Mosquito Lagoon favors flats boats, with mangrove islands that can feel maze-like. City launch points include the east and west North Causeway ramps and Swoope Boat Ramp.

Source: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (nauticalcharts.noaa.gov)

Boaters and paddlers from New Smyrna Beach can visit Disappearing Island, Firecracker Island, Brown’s Bay and Chicken Island on local day trips. Disappearing Island is a tidally influenced sandbar near Ponce de Leon Inlet. Firecracker Island is an island stop on the route into Brown’s Bay, where oyster beds, mangroves, fish, birds and quiet water reward exploring. Chicken Island lies on an Indian River paddle route that also features historic markers, remnants of a Civil War era wharf and opportunities to watch local wildlife.

Source: Volusia County (volusia.org)

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)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules require boaters to carry life jackets, stay sober, use properly registered vessels, follow personal watercraft limits, and obey posted no wake and manatee zones. Every vessel must carry an accessible U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person; children under 6 must wear one while underway on vessels under 26 feet. Operating while impaired is illegal; a .08 blood or breath alcohol level creates a presumption of impairment. Most vessels must be registered and carry the certificate aboard. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, wear a noninflatable PFD, and not operate from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

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

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)

Alongside the boat clubs on this page, New Smyrna Beach has 7 boat rentals, 5 marinas and 4 boat dealers.