Trailside Performance

Maine law does not set one age for every rental; operation depends on the vessel. Under Title 12, section 13068-A, anyone under 12 may operate a motorboat whose motor is between 10 and 25 horsepower only with supervision. A supervisor born after January 1, 1999 must be 16 or older and have completed a boater safety education course. Operators born on or after that date must be at least 12 and hold the education certificate for recreational motorboats over 25 horsepower.

Maine IFW administers these rules. To operate a personal watercraft, a person born on or after January 1, 1999 must be 16 or older and have completed boater education. The rental operator sets its own minimum, so confirm when booking.

Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (maine.gov)

Maine has no boating license, but qualifying operators must carry a Boating Safety Education Card. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1999 must be at least 12, complete an approved course, and carry the certificate to operate a recreational motorboat over 25 horsepower. Children under 12 may operate under 10 horsepower alone; from 10 through 25 horsepower they need supervision. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 16, with the same birth date cutoff for education.

Authorized motorboat renters may take a rental agent’s temporary course, valid up to 14 days or the rental term, whichever is earlier. Exemptions include qualifying Maine guides, certain Coast Guard credential holders, and supervised dealer test drives. Maine IFW administers the requirement.

Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (maine.gov)

Some of Maine’s best boating choices are Casco Bay, Moosehead Lake, Flagstaff Lake, the Penobscot River Corridor and Chain of Ponds. Casco Bay offers saltwater boating in the Greater Portland and Midcoast region, while Moosehead provides a vast inland lake at the gateway to the North Woods.

In western Maine, Flagstaff Lake is a large, shallow reservoir north of the Bigelow Mountains. The Penobscot River Corridor offers remote river and lake paddling through Maine’s undeveloped forest. Near the Quebec border, Chain of Ponds links Natanis, Long, Bag and Lower ponds by short thoroughfares.

Source: Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (maine.gov)

Popular Maine boating destinations include Portland’s Casco Bay, Peaks Island, Boothbay Harbor, Linekin Bay and Camden on Penobscot Bay. Casco Bay draws boaters with islands, beaches, coves and inlets; Peaks Island is an easy ferry outing from Portland with walking and bicycling options. Boothbay Harbor has a strong maritime character, while nearby Linekin Bay is explored on tours that continue to lighthouses, islands and marine wildlife. Camden sits in the heart of Penobscot Bay, with a working harbor full of fishing boats and schooners.

Source: Maine Office of Tourism (visitmaine.com)