Boat Clubs in New Hampshire

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

Yes. New Hampshire requires operators of motorized vessels over 25 horsepower on public waters to carry a safe boater education certificate; there is no birth date cutoff. Certificates are available at age 16. Anyone under 16 may operate such a boat only when accompanied by someone 18 or older with a valid certificate. The rule covers personal watercraft over 25 horsepower, and ski craft operators must be at least 16. Renters are not exempt, but someone 16 or older may pass an approved exam for a 14 Day Temporary Certificate, which can be used only once. Other accepted credentials are another state's NASBLA certificate, a US Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary card, and Coast Guard or New Hampshire commercial licenses. New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol administers the program.

Source: New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol (gc.nh.gov)

New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol enforces the state’s main recreational boating rules. Carry one U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person; children under 13 must wear one while underway. Operating while impaired is illegal, and the alcohol limit is 0.08, or 0.02 for operators under 21. Motorboats of any size and sailboats at least 12 feet long generally need New Hampshire registration, with limited exemptions.

“Ski craft” operators must be at least 16, hold a valid safe boater certificate, wear a life jacket, and operate only from sunrise to sunset. Before trailering away, remove aquatic organisms and drain the motor, live well, and bilge; transporting exotic aquatic plants is prohibited.

Source: New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol (gc.nh.gov)

The best overall time to go boating in New Hampshire is June through August, when summer conditions make the state’s lakes and rivers most inviting. This is also the peak period, with more activity around popular lake harbors.

May and early June can work once local ice is out, but lake water is still warming. September into early October offers a quieter shoulder season and fall scenery; New Hampshire tourism notes that Sunapee Harbor is quieter in autumn, though some local hours scale back. Water cools again in fall, so prepare for colder conditions.

Source: New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development (visitnh.gov)

The best places to boat in New Hampshire span four distinct settings: Lake Winnipesaukee, Great Bay, the Pemigewasset River and the Connecticut Lakes. In the Lakes Region, Winnipesaukee is the state’s largest lake and offers broad water for boating and fishing. On the Seacoast, Great Bay provides saltwater estuary paddling near Portsmouth. The Pemigewasset has both serene stretches and moving water for river trips. Far north in the Great North Woods, the four Connecticut Lakes offer remote boating, kayaking, canoeing and wildlife viewing amid forests and mountains.

Source: New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development (visitnh.gov)

Among New Hampshire’s most popular boating destinations are Lake Winnipesaukee, Meredith, Wolfeboro, Weirs Beach in Laconia, Portsmouth Harbor, and the Isles of Shoals. Lake Winnipesaukee is the state’s largest and most popular lake, with cruises and varied water recreation. Meredith pairs a traditional waterfront village with lake and White Mountain views. Wolfeboro combines lakeside scenery with cruise access. Weirs Beach is a lively family resort stop on the lake. Portsmouth Harbor offers scenic Seacoast cruises, while the Isles of Shoals can be visited on coastal boat excursions.

Source: New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Division of Travel and Tourism Development (visitnh.gov)

Under New Hampshire law, you must be 16 to operate a motorized vessel over 25 horsepower without the supervision required for younger operators. RSA 270:30 allows someone under 16 to operate that class only when accompanied by a person at least 18 who holds a valid safe boater education certificate; that adult is liable for resulting personal injury or property damage. RSA 270:74 separately requires ski craft operators to be at least 16. From age 16 onward, anyone operating a motorized vessel over 25 horsepower must hold the boating safety certificate required by RSA 270-D:10. The rental operator sets its own minimum age, so confirm it when booking.

Source: New Hampshire Department of Safety and New Hampshire General Court, nhsp.dos.nh.gov and gc.nh.gov (gc.nh.gov)

Alongside the boat clubs on this page, New Hampshire has 35 boat rentals, 47 marinas and 53 boat dealers.