Tarpon Pointe Marina

Florida law requires you to be at least 18 to rent a livery vessel other than a human-powered vessel. Florida sets no general minimum age to operate a boat, but a personal watercraft operator must be at least 14.

Under section 327.395, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, operating a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must carry the required boating safety credentials. An exemption applies when accompanied by a credentialed or exempt person age 18 or older who is attendant to the operation and responsible for safe operation and violations. The rental operator sets its own booking minimum subject to state law, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Florida does not issue a boating license, but operators born on or after January 1, 1988, must carry photo ID and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating education card when running a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft. There is no general minimum age for boats; personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, and no one under 18 may rent any vessel other than a human powered one. Exemptions include Coast Guard licensed masters, private lake or pond operators, operators accompanied aboard by someone 18 or older who holds the card or is exempt and is responsible for the vessel, and nonresidents with proof of a NASBLA-approved out of state course. Any non exempt operator may instead pass an FWC approved temporary certificate exam and carry that certificate with photo ID for 90 days.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

From Bradenton, you can choose the Manatee River, Tampa Bay, Palma Sola Bay or Sarasota Bay for a day on the water. Warner’s Bayou Boat Ramp puts you on the Manatee River, a marked river route that opens into broad Tampa Bay. Palma Sola Causeway launches into Palma Sola Bay; from there, the local blueway continues through Sarasota Pass toward Cortez. For a sheltered inner-bay plan, launch at Coquina Bayside South and follow Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway along the barrier islands, using routes with little open-water crossing. Sarasota Bay is generally shallow, so watch the marked channels and your boat’s draft.

Source: Manatee County (mymanatee.org)

From Bradenton, boaters make nearby day trips to Egmont Key, Cortez Village and Greer Island, also known locally as Beer Can Island. Egmont Key is accessible only by boat and combines swimming, snorkeling and shelling with island history. Cortez Village is a waterfront lunch stop where the county’s guide points boaters toward the historic fishing village and its moorings. Greer Island on Longboat Key draws visitors to a secluded sandy beach and weathered driftwood, with access through the Bradenton area’s sheltered Intracoastal waters.

Source: Florida State Parks (floridastateparks.org)