Boat Rentals in Bailey, CO

Colorado does not require a boating license or safety card for recreational motorboat operators age 18 or older. Operators ages 14 through 17 may operate only after completing a Colorado Parks and Wildlife approved boating safety course and carrying the provider issued certificate; this rule includes personal watercraft. Anyone under 14 may not operate a motorboat.

Rental customers are not exempt: renters under 18 must meet the same age and certificate requirements, and the state rule provides no temporary rental certificate alternative. The age and education requirements do not apply on bodies of water located on private property. Colorado Parks and Wildlife administers the program.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (cpw.state.co.us)

Colorado Parks and Wildlife requires a correctly sized U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person aboard; children age 12 and younger must wear one while the vessel is on the water unless inside an enclosed cabin or below deck. Boating under the influence is illegal, and operating with a blood or breath alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is prohibited. Motorized and sail powered boats must be registered; valid out of state registration is accepted for up to 60 days. Motorboat and personal watercraft operators must be 18, although ages 14 through 17 may operate with an approved safety certificate. Trailered or motorized watercraft also require aquatic nuisance species inspection.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (cpw.state.co.us)

The best overall time for boating in Colorado is Memorial Day through Labor Day, especially June through August. Seasonal marina services operate during this period at some Colorado Parks and Wildlife reservoirs, and popular destinations such as Chatfield and Cherry Creek are busiest during the hot summer months. May and September are useful shoulder months, while some reservoirs remain open for boating into October; access and services vary by park.

Colorado water stays cold much of the year, so spring and fall require extra caution. Summer weather can change quickly, with most storms developing in the afternoon, making an early start prudent.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (cpw.state.co.us)

The best boating in Colorado spans Grand Lake in the northern mountains, Blue Mesa Reservoir on the Western Slope, and the Colorado River for moving water. Grand Lake, beside Rocky Mountain National Park, offers summer kayaking, paddleboarding and boating on a mountain lake. Blue Mesa, near Gunnison in high mountain desert country, is Colorado’s largest body of water and has long stretches of reservoir water with arms reaching into secluded canyons. The Colorado River adds a river option with whitewater rafting, while eastern prairie and Western Slope reservoirs offer motorboating and water skiing.

Source: Colorado Tourism Office (colorado.com)

Popular boating destinations in Colorado include Grand Lake for summer boating, kayaking and paddleboarding; Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison for its vast water, speedboating and rocky beaches; Chatfield Reservoir for boating, swimming and fishing; Lake Pueblo for 4,600 acres of water, extensive shoreline and full service marinas; and Horsetooth Reservoir for powerboating, canoeing, kayaking and rafting. These destinations give day boaters a varied choice of motorized recreation, paddling, fishing and marina access.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (cpw.state.co.us)

Under Colorado law, the youngest person who may operate a motorboat, including a personal watercraft, is 14. Operators ages 14 through 17 must complete a Colorado Parks and Wildlife approved boating safety course and possess the certificate issued by the course provider; people under 14 may not operate a motorboat. At 18, the youth certificate requirement no longer applies. The rental operator sets its own booking minimum, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (cpw.state.co.us)