California requires a Boater Card, rather than a conventional boating license, for most recreational operators of motorized vessels. Since January 1, 2025, the requirement applies regardless of age and includes personal watercraft. Operators generally must be at least 16 for vessels over 15 horsepower; ages 12 to 15 may operate only if supervised on board by an attentive adult 18 or older, and must either hold a card themselves or be supervised by a cardholder.

Rental vessel operators are exempt. Exemptions also cover direct supervision and qualifying temporary visitors. Approved applicants may print a 90-day temporary card while awaiting the permanent card. California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways administers the program.

Source: California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (parks.ca.gov)

California boaters should carry a Coast Guard approved life jacket for everyone and ensure children under 13 wear one whenever a recreational vessel is moving. Operating a boat, water skis or similar device at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher is illegal. Sailboats over eight feet and motorized vessels must be registered with DMV. Personal watercraft may not operate from sunset to sunrise; operators generally must be at least 16, while ages 12 to 15 require qualifying onboard adult supervision. California registered vessels using freshwater also need current Mussel Fee Stickers, and some waterbodies require inspections. The responsible agency is California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways.

Source: California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways (parks.ca.gov)

For most California boating trips, June through September is the best window. June through August is peak travel season, with the largest crowds; May and October are useful shoulder months in many regions, while autumn generally brings mild weather. Spring snowmelt and winter or spring storms can produce cold, fast water and debris, especially on rivers. Summer’s warmer, calmer inland conditions can encourage harmful algal blooms. Reservoir access also varies: at Lake Perris, for example, water managers may raise or lower the lake, affecting recreation and exposing hazards. Review current water and park conditions before launching.

Source: Visit California (visitcalifornia.com)

California’s best boating choices span sheltered coastal bays, long rivers, large reservoirs, and clusters of alpine lakes. On the North Coast, Humboldt Bay provides protected bay boating, while the Klamath River offers a route from the Pacific into redwood country. Near Redding, Shasta Lake is the state’s largest reservoir and a center for houseboating. In the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe offers a major alpine setting, while the Eastern Sierra’s June Lake Loop groups June Lake with three neighboring glacial lakes used for boating during warmer months.

Source: Visit California (visitcalifornia.com)

California’s most popular boating destinations include San Francisco Bay for cruises past the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz; Lake Tahoe, including South Lake Tahoe, for alpine scenery and marina rentals; Shasta Lake for houseboating, bass fishing, coves, and extensive shoreline; and the California Delta near Stockton for water skiing and houseboating along winding inland waterways. Together, they offer a varied mix of coastal sightseeing, mountain lake boating, and sheltered river routes.

Source: Visit California (visitcalifornia.com)

Alongside the marinas on this page, San Francisco has 18 boat rentals, 1 boat club and 4 boat dealers.