Boat Dealers in Huntington Beach, CA

Dealers in Huntington Beach carry Avalon, Boston Whaler, Grady-White and Jeanneau, both new and pre-owned depending on the dealer.

Late spring through early fall is the best time to boat Huntington Harbour, with May through September offering the warmest, generally calmer conditions. April and October are useful shoulder months with milder weather and fewer visitors, while local rentals make harbour outings possible year-round. Pacific water off Huntington Beach generally ranges from the upper 50s at the cool end to the upper 60s around midsummer. For the smoothest trip, go in the morning: winds are generally lighter than in the afternoon, and tide direction can noticeably affect progress in the harbour’s larger, less sheltered waterways.

Source: Visit Huntington Beach (surfcityusa.com)

From Huntington Beach, you can cruise Huntington Harbour, transit Anaheim Bay to the open Pacific, or make a longer coastal run to Newport Harbor. Trailered boats can put in at Sunset Aquatic Park; Huntington Harbour is a sheltered, 5 mph no-wake area to the breakwater.

Anaheim Bay is primarily a transit route: NOAA requires boating traffic to remain in the marked small-craft channel, which leads between the jetties to open coastal water. Newport Harbor provides another 5 mph no-wake harbor cruise, with trailer launching at Newport Dunes in Upper Newport Bay.

Source: Orange County Sheriff’s Department (ocsheriff.gov)

From Huntington Beach, boaters can make day trips to Alamitos Bay Landing, Naples Island, Rainbow Harbor and Lido Village. Alamitos Bay Landing has short-term public docks outside a commercial center with restaurants, while Naples Island offers a cruise through the Naples Canals. Rainbow Harbor provides short-term public mooring near downtown Long Beach shopping and dining. In Newport Harbor, boaters can follow the main channel to the Rhine Channel for access to Lido Village, passing nearby mooring fields along the way.

Source: Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (longbeach.gov)

California requires a Boater Card, rather than a conventional boating license, for most recreational operators of motorized vessels. Since January 1, 2025, the requirement applies regardless of age and includes personal watercraft. Operators generally must be at least 16 for vessels over 15 horsepower; ages 12 to 15 may operate only if supervised on board by an attentive adult 18 or older, and must either hold a card themselves or be supervised by a cardholder.

Rental vessel operators are exempt. Exemptions also cover direct supervision and qualifying temporary visitors. Approved applicants may print a 90-day temporary card while awaiting the permanent card. California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways administers the program.

Source: California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (parks.ca.gov)

California boaters should carry a Coast Guard approved life jacket for everyone and ensure children under 13 wear one whenever a recreational vessel is moving. Operating a boat, water skis or similar device at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher is illegal. Sailboats over eight feet and motorized vessels must be registered with DMV. Personal watercraft may not operate from sunset to sunrise; operators generally must be at least 16, while ages 12 to 15 require qualifying onboard adult supervision. California registered vessels using freshwater also need current Mussel Fee Stickers, and some waterbodies require inspections. The responsible agency is California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways.

Source: California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways (parks.ca.gov)

In California you must be 16 or older and hold a California Boater Card to operate a vessel powered by a motor of 15 horsepower or more, including a personal watercraft. Someone aged 12 to 15 may operate that same class only while supervised on board by a person at least 18 who is also in possession of a California Boater Card. The supervising adult needs the card, not just the years. State Parks' Division of Boating and Waterways administers it. The rental company sets its own minimum rental age, often higher, so confirm it when booking.

Source: California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, dbw.parks.ca.gov and californiaboatercard.com (parks.ca.gov)

Alongside the boat dealers on this page, Huntington Beach has 7 boat rentals and 6 marinas.