Tarpon Point Marina, Tarpon Point

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 Cape Coral, the practical day routes are the Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay, Matlacha Pass and Pine Island Sound. Horton Park and Rosen Park launch through saltwater canals to the Caloosahatchee, the river route toward San Carlos Bay; NOAA notes strong crosscurrents in part of that bay crossing. Burnt Store Boat Ramp leads through Rosemary Canal to Matlacha Pass, a shallow, narrow, winding waterway with oyster bars. Beyond San Carlos Bay, Pine Island Sound is the marked main thoroughfare toward Charlotte Harbor, but shoals and small islands are common. Follow marked channels closely, especially on the Matlacha and Pine Island routes.

Source: City of Cape Coral (capecoral.gov)

From Cape Coral, boaters can make day trips to Matlacha, Cabbage Key, Picnic Island and Cayo Costa. Matlacha draws visitors for seafood and its water based island community; Cabbage Key is a Pine Island Sound lunch stop with an inn and restaurant; Picnic Island offers boat access for swimming and fishing; and Cayo Costa has undeveloped shoreline for swimming, shelling and wildlife watching.

Cape Coral’s Burnt Store Boat Ramp provides access through the local canal system to Matlacha Pass and Gulf waters.

Source: City of Cape Coral (capecoral.gov)