North Dakota does not require a general boating license, but operators ages 12 through 15 must complete an approved boating course to operate alone a motorboat over 10 horsepower. Otherwise, they must be accompanied by someone age 18 or older. Children under 12 may operate such a boat only with that adult accompaniment. These rules include personal watercraft.

There is no separate exemption for rental customers, so the same age rules apply to rented boats. Students completing an approved online course can print a temporary certification card while awaiting the permanent card. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department administers the program.

Source: North Dakota Game and Fish Department (gf.nd.gov)

North Dakota boaters should know the life jacket, registration, sober operation, youth operator and invasive species rules enforced by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Carry a Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for every person; children age 10 and younger must wear one while a vessel under 27 feet is operating, and everyone on a personal watercraft must wear one. Motorized watercraft primarily used in North Dakota must be registered. An alcohol or drug concentration of .10 or higher can bring revocation and other penalties. For motors over 10 horsepower, operators under 12 need an adult; ages 12 through 15 need an adult or an approved course. Before transport, remove vegetation, drain all water and leave drain plugs open.

Source: North Dakota Game and Fish Department (gf.nd.gov)

The best all around time for boating in North Dakota is June through August, the core summer season for lake and river recreation. State park marinas, docks and related services are most likely to be operating then, although boaters should watch forecasts for severe thunderstorms.

Late May and September are good shoulder months, but the water can remain dangerously cold even when the air feels warm. Some park and marina services begin closing after Labor Day or by October 1. Spring and early summer are especially suitable for paddling the Pembina River.

Source: North Dakota Tourism (ndtourism.com)

North Dakota’s best boating variety is found along the Missouri River system, at Devils Lake and in the Turtle Mountains. From northwest of Williston through the Bismarck area, the Missouri offers river boating, sandbars and the immense Lake Sakakawea reservoir before becoming Lake Oahe near the South Dakota border.

In northeastern North Dakota, Devils Lake is the state’s largest natural body of water and accommodates motorboats and experienced paddlers. Farther north, Lake Metigoshe offers a smaller motorized lake surrounded by the aspen forests of the Turtle Mountains, making it a more sheltered alternative to the state’s largest waters.

Source: North Dakota Tourism (ndtourism.com)

North Dakota’s most popular boating destinations include Lake Sakakawea around Garrison and Pick City, prized for its immense open water, marinas and fishing access; Devils Lake, a major destination for anglers and motorboats with several access points; the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, known for free flowing water and sandbars; Lake Ashtabula near Valley City, with boating, swimming and seven launching ramps; and Lake Metigoshe in the Turtle Mountains, popular for motorized recreation and scenic paddling among aspen forest. Together, they offer big reservoir cruising, river outings, fishing and quieter lake days.

Source: North Dakota Tourism Division (ndtourism.com)