Marinas in Miami, FL

Late October through April is generally the best time for boating on Miami’s Biscayne Bay, with milder, less humid weather and less frequent rain than during the warm season. NOAA’s Virginia Key data show average bay temperatures in the low 70s in winter, rising through spring and reaching the upper 80s in July and August.

Summer boating remains practical, but frequent showers and thunderstorms make daily timing more important. With easterly winds, coastal storms often occur late at night or in the morning; westerly or light winds can bring afternoon thunderstorms to the Miami coast.

Source: NOAA National Weather Service and National Centers for Environmental Information, weather.gov and ncei.noaa.gov (weather.gov)

From Miami, you can spend a day boating on Biscayne Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway, the Miami River, Government Cut or Haulover Inlet. Biscayne Bay is shallow, while the Intracoastal provides a smoother route through it. Miami South Channel connects the bay with the Miami waterfront and branches into the Miami River, an idle speed, no wake waterway. Government Cut and Haulover Inlet provide access to open ocean water. Public launches include Pelican Harbor Marina and Crandon Park; Pelican Harbor serves the Intracoastal and both ocean inlets.

Source: Miami-Dade County (miamidade.gov)

From Miami, boaters commonly head to Flagler Monument Island for a shore stop and walk to the monument; Nixon Sandbar near Key Biscayne for tie-ups and wading; and Haulover Sandbar for another popular gathering spot on the water. Farther into Biscayne National Park, Boca Chita Key draws visitors to its sheltered harbor, ornamental lighthouse and walking trail, while Elliott Key offers marina-side picnic tables, wildlife watching and hiking. These destinations provide a mix of social sandbars and quieter island stops within the Miami boating area.

Source: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (miamiandbeaches.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)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules require boaters to carry life jackets, stay sober, use properly registered vessels, follow personal watercraft limits, and obey posted no wake and manatee zones. Every vessel must carry an accessible U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person; children under 6 must wear one while underway on vessels under 26 feet. Operating while impaired is illegal; a .08 blood or breath alcohol level creates a presumption of impairment. Most vessels must be registered and carry the certificate aboard. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, wear a noninflatable PFD, and not operate from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

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

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)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Miami has 234 boat rentals, 19 boat clubs and 57 boat dealers.