Boat Clubs in Naples, ME

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

July and August are the best overall months for boating on Long Lake at Naples, when the water is warmest and the Kent’s Landing launch is staffed daily. Monitoring showed surface water rising through May and June and reaching the upper 70s in late July in 2024; earlier basin monitoring recorded low 80s and found that winds and currents mix this large lake, so favor a lighter wind forecast. By early September, shallow water starts cooling and mixing. Kent’s Landing shifts to weekends after Labor Day, while Songo Lock is listed as operating from May 1 through October 15.

Source: Town of Naples (townofnaples.org)

From Naples, you can cruise Long Lake, enter Brandy Pond, follow the Songo River through Songo Lock, and continue onto Sebago Lake. Long Lake is the broad open water choice and has a public launch at Naples Town Beach. Brandy Pond is a smaller connecting basin with state maintained navigation markers, making it suitable for a shorter local circuit.

The Songo River provides the passage toward Sebago Lake, with boats using Songo Lock along the way. Sebago offers the largest expanse of water and has a boat launch at Sebago Lake State Park. For another Naples outing, Trickey Pond has a public launch at its southern end.

Source: Town of Naples (townofnaples.org)

Good day trips from Naples are Harrison village on Long Lake, Songo Lock on the Songo River, and Songo Beach at Sebago Lake State Park. Harrison offers a public beach and Long Lake waterfront facilities for a shore break. Songo Lock gives boaters a working lock passage near the meeting of the Songo and Crooked rivers. Beyond the lock, Songo Beach is the swimming and picnic choice; the state park map marks a swimming area, picnic areas and a boat launch beside Sebago Lake.

Source: Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (maine.gov)

Maine has no boating license, but qualifying operators must carry a Boating Safety Education Card. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1999 must be at least 12, complete an approved course, and carry the certificate to operate a recreational motorboat over 25 horsepower. Children under 12 may operate under 10 horsepower alone; from 10 through 25 horsepower they need supervision. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 16, with the same birth date cutoff for education.

Authorized motorboat renters may take a rental agent’s temporary course, valid up to 14 days or the rental term, whichever is earlier. Exemptions include qualifying Maine guides, certain Coast Guard credential holders, and supervised dealer test drives. Maine IFW administers the requirement.

Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (maine.gov)

In Maine, carry approved life jackets, stay sober, use properly registered boats, follow personal watercraft limits, and protect inland waters from invasive species. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife requires a Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person; children 12 or younger must wear one while a recreational watercraft is underway, subject to listed exceptions. BUI includes 0.08% BAC or higher for operators 21 and older and any alcohol for operators under 21. Motorboats generally must be registered, with the registration aboard. No one under 16 may operate a PWC, and PWCs cannot run between sunset and sunrise. Motorized craft on inland waters must display a Lake and River Protection Sticker.

Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, maine.gov/ifw (maine.gov)

Maine law does not set one age for every rental; operation depends on the vessel. Under Title 12, section 13068-A, anyone under 12 may operate a motorboat whose motor is between 10 and 25 horsepower only with supervision. A supervisor born after January 1, 1999 must be 16 or older and have completed a boater safety education course. Operators born on or after that date must be at least 12 and hold the education certificate for recreational motorboats over 25 horsepower.

Maine IFW administers these rules. To operate a personal watercraft, a person born on or after January 1, 1999 must be 16 or older and have completed boater education. The rental operator sets its own minimum, so confirm when booking.

Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (maine.gov)

Alongside the boat clubs on this page, Naples has 6 boat rentals, 2 marinas and 1 boat dealer.