Boat Clubs in Michigan

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

Michigan requires a boating safety certificate rather than a recreational boating license for anyone born on or after July 1, 1996, operating a motorboat over 6 horsepower. A child under 12 may operate 6 to 35 horsepower only with a certificate and direct onboard supervision by someone at least 16, and may not operate more than 35 horsepower.

For personal watercraft, no one under 14 may operate. Ages 14 and 15 need a certificate plus either accompaniment by a parent, legal guardian or designated adult 21 or older, or operation within 100 feet of one; operators born after December 31, 1978, need a certificate. A renter who completes livery safety training may use the written rental agreement as a certificate only for the listed rental dates. Michigan DNR administers the program.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov)

Michigan boaters should follow Michigan Department of Natural Resources rules on life jackets, sober operation, registration, personal watercraft and invasive species. Carry a Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person; children under 6 must wear a Type I or II jacket on an open deck while underway. Operating with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher is illegal. Unless exempt, watercraft must be registered and display a decal. PWC operators must be at least 14, with certificate and supervision rules for ages 14 and 15, and PWCs may not operate from sunset to 8 a.m. Before launching or transporting, remove plants and debris from boat and trailer, and pull drain plugs and drain all water before hauling; local no wake rules may also apply.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, michigan.gov/dnr (michigan.gov)

For most Michigan day boaters, June through September is the best window, with July and August the practical peak because Great Lakes surface water generally reaches its annual high around August. May and late September into early October are shoulder months, with colder water and more variable conditions. Great Lakes conditions can shift rapidly, bringing high waves and strong currents, while lake levels follow a seasonal cycle and vary from year to year. Check current marine forecasts and water levels before launching, especially on the Great Lakes.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov)

Michigan’s best boating variety spans open Great Lakes water, broad bays, connected inland lakes and scenic rivers. Try Lake Michigan along the west coast for sailing and motorboating, or Big Bay de Noc near Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula for expansive bay water. In the northern Lower Peninsula, the nearly 40 mile Inland Waterway links rivers and lakes, while the Chain of Lakes includes Torch Lake and quieter connected waters. For river paddling in southeast Michigan, the Huron River offers a long inland water trail.

Source: Travel Michigan (michigan.org)

Popular Michigan boating destinations include Grand Traverse Bay at Traverse City for small sailboat outings; Torch Lake near Rapid City for turquoise water and its large southern sandbar; Muskegon Lake for water skiing and cruising through the channel to Lake Michigan; St. Clair Shores for sailing on Lake St. Clair; and Bay City for a day of fishing. Together, these destinations offer a useful mix of inland lake recreation, sheltered bay sailing, fishing, sandbar stops, and access to Great Lakes waters.

Source: Travel Michigan (michigan.org)

The legal minimum depends on vessel class and power: Michigan has no minimum operating age for a motorboat of 6 horsepower or less. For more than 6 horsepower, unsupervised operation starts at 12 with a boating safety certificate. Under 12, operation through 35 horsepower requires that certificate and direct onboard supervision by someone at least 16; stronger boats are prohibited. Personal watercraft require age 14. Ages 14–15 need a certificate and either a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult 21 or older onboard, or within 100 feet while that adult operates another personal watercraft; independent operation starts at 16. Certificates are compulsory for motorboat operators born on or after July 1, 1996, and PWC operators born after December 31, 1978. Rental operators set their minimums, so confirm when booking.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov)

Alongside the boat clubs on this page, Michigan has 308 boat rentals, 308 marinas and 250 boat dealers.