Boat Dealers in Mesa, AZ

Dealers in Mesa carry Alumacraft, Avalon, Bayliner, Bennington, Chaparral, Cobalt, Crest and Malibu, both new and pre-owned depending on the dealer.

Spring and fall weekdays are normally the best time to boat Canyon Lake from Mesa. Tonto National Forest lists the lake for year-round use, though it commonly reaches boating capacity early on weekends and holidays from April through October.

Typical surface temperatures rise from the mid-50s in winter to the mid-80s in July and August. During summer, favor mornings because monsoon thunderstorms can bring lightning and sudden damaging winds later in the day. Salt River Project drawdowns can also close the lake to boats for months, so confirm it is open before planning a trip.

Source: Tonto National Forest (fs.usda.gov)

From Mesa, you can boat Saguaro Lake, Apache Lake, Roosevelt Lake and the Lower Salt River. Launch at Saguaro del Norte for Saguaro’s general motorboating; Apache offers secluded coves and launching at Burnt Corral; Roosevelt provides the broadest open-water day, with ramps at Windy Hill, Grapevine and Schoolhouse. The Lower Salt is flowing water suited to kayaks and rafts.

The reservoirs line up downstream as Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon and Saguaro, with the Lower Salt below. These are working reservoirs on the Salt River, so a drawdown can close a lake to boats for months at a time; check the status of the lake you plan to use before setting out.

Source: Visit Mesa (visitmesa.com)

From Mesa, boaters head to Bagley Flat on Saguaro Lake, a boat access only camping stop with designated sites, grills and tables; Butcher Jones Beach, where the no wake water suits paddling, swimming and calm water fishing; and Coon Bluff on the Lower Salt River, which combines river access and picnic facilities with opportunities to watch wild horses along the banks. Together, they give lake boaters and paddlers distinct choices for camping, beach time and river scenery near Mesa.

Source: Salt River Project (srpnet.com)

No. Arizona does not require recreational operators to hold a boating license or carry a mandatory boater education card, so there is no birth date cutoff and no special exemption for rental customers or temporary certificates. The Arizona Game and Fish Department administers voluntary boating safety education for boats and personal watercraft.

Arizona does restrict young operators: a person under age 12 may not operate a vessel with a motor greater than 8 horsepower, including a personal watercraft, unless an emergency exists or a parent, legal guardian, or another person age 18 or older is aboard.

Source: Arizona Game and Fish Department (azgfd.com)

Arizona boaters should know the life jacket, sober operation, registration, personal watercraft and invasive species rules administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Most vessels must carry a properly sized U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person, and children 12 and younger must wear one while underway. A 0.08% BAC is illegal, and impairment to the slightest degree may also be prosecuted. Motorized watercraft generally must be registered. Everyone on a personal watercraft must wear a life jacket; operators under 12 need an adult aboard when the motor exceeds 8 horsepower. Obey posted no wake zones. When leaving listed invasive species waters, clean, drain and dry the boat; stays of six or more consecutive days require inspection and decontamination before transport.

Source: Arizona Game and Fish Department (azgfd.com)

You must be at least 12 to operate, without an adult aboard, an Arizona vessel powered by a motor greater than 8 horsepower. Under A.R.S. § 5-341(E), a child under 12 may operate that class of vessel in an emergency or when the child’s parent, legal guardian, or another person at least 18 is on board. Subsection F goes further: it is unlawful to allow anyone under 12 to operate any motor-powered watercraft at all, whatever its horsepower, except on those same terms. The statute speaks of watercraft generally and does not single out personal watercraft. Rental operators set their own minimum ages, so confirm the requirement when booking.

Source: Arizona Game and Fish Department (azleg.gov)

Alongside the boat dealers on this page, Mesa has 10 boat rentals, 1 boat club and 1 marina.