Boat Headquarters

In Vermont, a person must be at least 12 to operate a motorboat powered by more than six horsepower on public waters, and at least 16 to operate a personal watercraft. Under 23 V.S.A. § 3305b, anyone born after January 1, 1974 must hold a certificate of boating education to operate a motorboat on public waters; that requirement is tied to date of birth, not to age. These rules appear in 23 V.S.A. §§ 3305a and 3305b. A rental operator sets its own minimum age for renting, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Vermont State Police, vsp.vermont.gov, and Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)

Yes. Vermont requires motorboat operators age 12 or older who were born after January 1, 1974, to complete approved boating safety education and carry the card; this includes personal watercraft. Anyone under 12 may not operate a motorboat over six horsepower, and no one under 16 may operate a personal watercraft. Rental customers are not listed as a blanket exemption, and official guidance does not describe a rental-only temporary certificate. Exemptions include U.S. Coast Guard licensed commercial operators and operation on private-property waters; substantially equivalent NASBLA-approved out-of-state cards are accepted. The Vermont Department of Public Safety administers the program through Vermont State Police.

Source: Vermont State Police Marine Unit (vsp.vermont.gov)

Vermont’s best boating variety is found on Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog, Harriman Reservoir, and the Connecticut River. Lake Champlain offers broad, deep water along the state’s western side for sailing and cruising. In the Northeast Kingdom, Lake Memphremagog extends north from Newport into Quebec. Harriman Reservoir provides a large southern Vermont lake bordered by Green Mountain National Forest. For river boating, the Connecticut River forms a long eastern corridor, with paddling access through southeastern Vermont state parks such as Wilgus.

Source: Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (vermontvacation.com)

Vermont’s most popular boating destinations include Lake Champlain at Burlington, with broad water, mountain views and an active waterfront; Malletts Bay in Colchester, with beach access and seasonal paddling; Lake Memphremagog at Newport, a cross border lake suited to cruising and paddling; Burton Island in the Champlain Islands, reached only by boat and served by a state park marina; Lake Bomoseen near Castleton, Vermont’s largest lake entirely within the state; and Waterbury Reservoir, known for mountain scenery, multiple launches and remote boat access campsites.

Source: Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (vermontvacation.com)