Freedom Boat Club of Maine

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)

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)

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)