The Sailing LYFE

Minnesota sets the rental age in statute: under section 86B.306, a person who rents or leases a motorboat or personal watercraft must be 18 or older. Someone younger may still operate it if they are named as an authorized operator on the rental agreement and hold a valid watercraft operator's permit.

Operating rules are separate. A person of any age may run a motorboat rated 25 horsepower or less that is not a personal watercraft, without a permit. No one under 12 may operate a personal watercraft or a motorboat over 75 horsepower. An accompanying operator must be 21 or older, aboard, within immediate reach of the controls, and permitted or exempt.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (revisor.mn.gov)

Yes. As of July 1, 2026, Minnesota requires operators age 12 or older who were born after June 30, 2000, to possess a valid watercraft operator’s permit when driving a motorboat or personal watercraft, unless supervised or exempt. Children under 12 cannot operate a personal watercraft or a motorboat over 75 horsepower; they may operate a non-PWC under 75 horsepower with a qualified accompanying operator. Boats with 25 horsepower or less are exempt.

Renters must be at least 18. Adult rental customers can complete a rental course for a 180-day certificate, but resort rentals follow regular permit rules. Qualifying short-term nonresidents and certain licensed maritime operators are exempt. The Minnesota DNR administers the program.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (dnr.state.mn.us)

The best places for varied Minnesota boating are Lake Superior on the northeast North Shore, Rainy Lake on the Canadian border, Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota, the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, and Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River near Lake City. These waters offer very different trips: open Great Lakes shoreline on Superior; a network of large and small lakes in Voyageurs National Park, accessed through Rainy; Minnesota’s second-largest inland lake at Mille Lacs; connected urban paddling lakes in Minneapolis; and broad river boating on Lake Pepin.

Source: Explore Minnesota (exploreminnesota.com)

Among Minnesota’s most popular boating destinations are Lake Minnetonka, the Alexandria Chain of Lakes, Gull Lake, the Whitefish Chain and the Boundary Waters near Ely. Lake Minnetonka is the Twin Cities area’s largest lake and a major year round recreation destination; Alexandria’s chain brings boating and fishing close to town; Gull Lake offers Brainerd Lakes boating, paddling and fishing; the Whitefish Chain draws anglers in Brainerd resort country; and the Boundary Waters offers remote canoe routes through a largely paddle only wilderness, with western entry points near Ely.

Source: Explore Minnesota (dnr.state.mn.us)