Skipper Bud’s

The legal minimum depends on vessel class and power: Michigan has no minimum operating age for a motorboat of 6 horsepower or less. For more than 6 horsepower, unsupervised operation starts at 12 with a boating safety certificate. Under 12, operation through 35 horsepower requires that certificate and direct onboard supervision by someone at least 16; stronger boats are prohibited. Personal watercraft require age 14. Ages 14–15 need a certificate and either a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult 21 or older onboard, or within 100 feet while that adult operates another personal watercraft; independent operation starts at 16. Certificates are compulsory for motorboat operators born on or after July 1, 1996, and PWC operators born after December 31, 1978. Rental operators set their minimums, so confirm when booking.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov)

Michigan requires a boating safety certificate rather than a recreational boating license for anyone born on or after July 1, 1996, operating a motorboat over 6 horsepower. A child under 12 may operate 6 to 35 horsepower only with a certificate and direct onboard supervision by someone at least 16, and may not operate more than 35 horsepower.

For personal watercraft, no one under 14 may operate. Ages 14 and 15 need a certificate plus either accompaniment by a parent, legal guardian or designated adult 21 or older, or operation within 100 feet of one; operators born after December 31, 1978, need a certificate. A renter who completes livery safety training may use the written rental agreement as a certificate only for the listed rental dates. Michigan DNR administers the program.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov)

From Bay City, you can cruise the Saginaw River, enter Saginaw Bay, run upriver toward Middle Ground Island or explore the Kawkawlin River from the bay. The Saginaw River passes through the city and includes regulated slow-no-wake stretches. Saginaw Bay offers open water beyond the river mouth, but its head is shallow and the marked dredged channel leads between the bay and river. The lower Kawkawlin River and its mouth are slow-no-wake, as is the Saginaw River segment extending to Middle Ground Island. City-listed launch choices include Veterans Memorial Park, Golson, Cass Avenue and the DNR Saginaw River Mouth site.

Source: City of Bay City (baycitymi.gov)

Boaters from Bay City can make day trips to Wenonah Park, Bigelow Park on Middleground Island, and the Saginaw Bay sandbar known as Boaters Beach. Wenonah Park offers municipal mooring beside downtown dining and shopping; Bigelow Park has a transient dock, pavilion and footbridge connection to Veterans Memorial Park; and Boaters Beach provides a distinct sandbar stop near Bay City State Park. Together, they offer downtown access, an island park and time out on Saginaw Bay.

Source: City of Bay City (baycitymi.gov)