North Brooklyn Community Boathouse

New York's only statutory rental age is for personal watercraft and specialty prop-craft: Navigation Law §73-a bars a livery from renting one to anyone under sixteen, and in the same clause requires genuine proof of identification and age plus compliance with the boating safety certificate rule in section 49. A personal watercraft renter over eighteen may skip that certificate only where the livery keeps them within five hundred feet of the agent assigned to supervise, on a clearly marked craft.

Operating age is separate. Section 49 sets ten years for a mechanically propelled vessel and fourteen for a personal watercraft, each with a certificate; a personal watercraft operator may instead be accompanied by a certificate holder over eighteen. Rental companies set their own minimum age.

Source: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (nysenate.gov)

Yes, but New York calls it a Safe Boating Certificate rather than a boating license. The state generally requires recreational operators of motorized vessels to complete a state-approved course and carry the original certificate, including for personal watercraft. Operators of other motorboats must be at least 10, while PWC operators must be at least 14. Renters age 18 or older may operate a livery motorboat without a certificate after receiving basic instruction and safety information; a rented PWC may be operated without one only within a marked area near the livery. Renters under 18 need a certificate, and no one under 16 may rent a PWC at all. Course graduates receive a temporary certificate valid for 90 days. Valid U.S. Coast Guard operator licensees are exempt. New York State Parks administers the program.

Source: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (parks.ny.gov)

From Brooklyn, you can boat on Jamaica Bay, protected Sheepshead Bay, New York Upper Bay, the tidal East River or Lower Bay off Coney Island. Jamaica Bay is marsh-lined and channelized; small craft can hand-launch at Floyd Bennett Field’s seaplane ramp, Mill Basin or Canarsie Pier. Sheepshead Bay is well protected, though its approaches are subject to shoaling.

Pier 5 provides New York Harbor access, while human-powered boats can launch at Pier 4. The East River connects Upper Bay with Long Island Sound and requires careful current planning. For more open water, Coney Island Channel links Lower Bay with Rockaway Inlet.

Source: National Park Service (home.nps.gov)

From Brooklyn, boaters can plan day trips to Sandy Hook, Great Kills Harbor, and Liberty Landing Marina. Sandy Hook combines bay and ocean beaches with the historic lighthouse and Fort Hancock; Great Kills Harbor offers a marina, fishing areas, and a seasonal swimming beach within Gateway National Recreation Area; Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City welcomes transient boats and has restaurants on site. These stops give crews a choice of beach time, fishing, history, or a meal ashore.

Source: National Park Service (nps.gov)