Heritage Boat Yard

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 Fort Pierce, you can boat the Indian River Lagoon, follow the Intracoastal Waterway through Fort Pierce Harbor, visit the lagoon’s spoil islands, or pass through Fort Pierce Inlet to the Atlantic Ocean. The lagoon is a shallow estuary suited to inshore cruising, while the Intracoastal is the main channel route and the spoil islands are local day trip stops. The inlet provides the connection to open ocean water. Common put-ins include Fort Pierce City Marina and Stan Blum Boat Ramp, where the county lists four ramps and a floating dock.

Source: City of Fort Pierce (cityoffortpierce.com)

From Fort Pierce, boaters commonly head to The Cove, the downtown waterfront at Fort Pierce City Marina, and the Curtis Bostick Artificial Reef. The Cove is a sandbar just inside Fort Pierce Inlet where boats gather and anchor for a day on the water. The city marina provides access to downtown restaurants, shops, galleries, museums and parks. Offshore, the Curtis Bostick reef draws anglers and divers because the sunken cargo ship provides habitat for fish.

Source: Visit St. Lucie (visitstlucie.com)