Dealers in Bradenton carry Avalon, Azimut, Bayliner, Beneteau, Bennington, Boston Whaler, Chaparral and Cobalt, both new and pre-owned depending on the dealer.

Florida does not issue a boating license, but operators born on or after January 1, 1988, must carry photo ID and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating education card when running a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft. There is no general minimum age for boats; personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, and renters at least 18. Exemptions include Coast Guard licensed masters, private lake or pond operators, people supervised aboard by a qualified adult, and nonresidents with proof of a NASBLA-approved out of state course. Rental customers who are not exempt may carry an FWC temporary certificate and photo ID for up to 90 days.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules require boaters to carry life jackets, stay sober, use properly registered vessels, follow personal watercraft limits, and obey posted no wake and manatee zones. Every vessel must carry an accessible U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person; children under 6 must wear one while underway on vessels under 26 feet. Operating while impaired is illegal; a .08 blood or breath alcohol level creates a presumption of impairment. Most vessels must be registered and carry the certificate aboard. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, wear a noninflatable PFD, and not operate from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

The best overall time for boating in Florida is March through May, while October and November are useful shoulder months if the forecast is settled. Spring brings warm weather and lower humidity, but it is also a popular travel season; fall generally has fewer crowds and warm coastal water. Florida water is generally warm enough for swimming from April through October, with South Florida remaining warmest in winter. June through September offers the warmest water but also greater heat, humidity and frequent thunderstorms. Florida’s hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, so monitor conditions closely during summer and fall.

Source: VISIT FLORIDA (visitflorida.com)

The best places to go boating in Florida depend on whether you want ocean coast, calmer bay water, a large reservoir, a river or connected lakes. In South Florida, the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida Keys offers coastal boating beside the island chain. In the Panhandle, Pensacola Bay provides calmer water, while Lake Seminole is a 37,500 acre reservoir at the Florida, Georgia and Alabama junction. Northeast and central Florida boaters can explore the St. Johns River around Jacksonville and DeLand. Near Orlando, the Harris Chain of Lakes connects ten lakes and has many public boat ramps.

Source: VISIT FLORIDA (visitflorida.com)

Florida’s most popular boating destinations include Miami’s Biscayne Bay, known for calm turquoise water, skyline views and mangrove shorelines; Fort Lauderdale, with extensive waterways, Intracoastal cruising and easy Atlantic access; St. Petersburg, for trips on Boca Ciega Bay, through John’s Pass and along Gulf beaches; Destin’s Crab Island, a lively submerged sandbar near Destin Harbor; and Key Largo, where boaters can reach renowned diving and fishing waters near John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Source: VISIT FLORIDA (visitflorida.com)

Alongside the boat dealers on this page, Bradenton has 10 boat rentals, 3 boat clubs and 9 marinas.