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For a rented motor-driven boat or vessel with 15 horsepower or more, Washington law allows unsupervised operation from age 12 if the operator carries the required Boater Education Card; a personal watercraft cannot be rented to anyone under 16. An operator age 12 or older without a required card must be accompanied and under the direct supervision of a person age 16 or older who possesses a card. The card requirement generally begins at 12 for operators born after January 1, 1955. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14. These rules are in RCW 79A.60.640 and 79A.60.190. Rental operators may set higher minimums, so confirm when booking.

Source: Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program (app.leg.wa.gov)

Yes, Washington requires many recreational operators to carry a Boater Education Card rather than a traditional boating license. Operators age 12 or older who were born after January 1, 1955, must carry it when operating a vessel with a motor of 15 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft meeting that threshold. The minimum operator age is 12 for these motorboats and 14 for personal watercraft; personal watercraft cannot be rented to anyone under 16.

Rental customers may instead complete and carry the State Parks approved safety checklist. Common exemptions cover people born before January 1, 1955, qualifying short term visitors and recent boat purchasers. A course completion certificate serves as a temporary card for 60 days. Washington State Parks administers the program.

Source: Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program (parks.wa.gov)

The best boating areas in Washington are Puget Sound, Willapa Bay, Lake Roosevelt, the Columbia River, and the Lake Washington corridor. Puget Sound provides interconnected saltwater passages, islands, sheltered estuaries, and bays across western Washington, while Willapa Bay offers a protected estuary on the southwest Pacific coast. Inland, Lake Roosevelt is a large impounded section of the upper Columbia, and the Columbia River provides long routes through Eastern Washington toward the coast. Around Seattle, Lake Washington is part of the Lakes-to-Locks route through connected urban waterways, coves, sloughs, and natural areas.

Source: State of Washington Tourism (stateofwatourism.com)

Some of Washington’s most popular boating destinations are Friday Harbor, with a marina and easy access to San Juan Island’s beaches; Roche Harbor, known for its protected harbor and waterfront village; Anacortes, the coastal gateway to San Juan and Orcas islands; Bellingham Bay, with access to boating, paddling and Whatcom County water trails; and Lake Chelan, where boaters can explore deep mountain waters and reach remote Stehekin.

Source: State of Washington Tourism (stateofwatourism.com)