Friday Harbor Marina

For a rented motor-driven boat or vessel with 15 horsepower or more, Washington law allows unsupervised operation from age 12 if the operator carries the required Boater Education Card; a personal watercraft cannot be rented to anyone under 16. An operator age 12 or older without a required card must be accompanied and under the direct supervision of a person age 16 or older who possesses a card. The card requirement generally begins at 12 for operators born after January 1, 1955. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14. These rules are in RCW 79A.60.640 and 79A.60.190. Rental operators may set higher minimums, so confirm when booking.

Source: Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program (app.leg.wa.gov)

Yes, Washington requires many recreational operators to carry a Boater Education Card rather than a traditional boating license. Operators age 12 or older who were born after January 1, 1955, must carry it when operating a vessel with a motor of 15 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft meeting that threshold. The minimum operator age is 12 for these motorboats and 14 for personal watercraft; personal watercraft cannot be rented to anyone under 16.

Rental customers may instead complete and carry the State Parks approved safety checklist. Common exemptions cover people born before January 1, 1955, qualifying short term visitors and recent boat purchasers. A course completion certificate serves as a temporary card for 60 days. Washington State Parks administers the program.

Source: Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program (parks.wa.gov)

From Friday Harbor, you can cruise the sheltered town harbor and then enter San Juan Channel for Turn Island, Parks Bay and Jones Island. Put in at downtown Friday Harbor Marina, or use the free, two-sided paved ramp at Jackson Beach by Griffin Bay. Turn Island offers a small cove with two mooring buoys, though its western cove has a reef and is not recommended for access. Parks Bay has a good small-craft anchorage, but submerged piles foul its head. Farther along San Juan Channel, Jones Island has anchorages on both shores, plus seasonal pier and mooring facilities on its north shore.

Source: Port of Friday Harbor (portfridayharbor.org)

For a day on the water from Friday Harbor, consider Turn Island, Jones Island, Matia Island and Roche Harbor. Turn Island draws paddlers with pebble beaches and a perimeter trail; Jones Island offers anchoring in North and South coves plus island trails; Matia Island has moorage and a forest walk that opens onto a dramatic cove; and Roche Harbor provides a marina stop with restaurants and formal gardens. These choices mix quiet boat only parks with a waterfront village visit in the San Juan Islands.

Source: Washington State Parks (parks.wa.gov)