Marinas in Tacoma, WA

July through September is usually the best time to boat on Tacoma’s Commencement Bay and nearby Puget Sound. NOAA’s Tacoma averages put the water in the mid-50s from July through September, versus the upper 40s in winter, so summer and early fall offer the mildest water conditions.

There is no local launch season to wait for: the Point Defiance public boat launch is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Check tidal-current predictions before heading around Point Defiance into Tacoma Narrows, where NOAA says currents can exceed 5 knots.

Source: NOAA NCEI (ncei.noaa.gov)

From Tacoma, point a rental boat toward Commencement Bay, the Thea Foss Waterway, Gig Harbor, or the Dalco Passage and Tacoma Narrows route on Puget Sound. A major public saltwater put-in is the Point Defiance launch beside the Vashon ferry terminal. Commencement Bay gives you open bay water; Thea Foss is a working waterfront channel at the bay’s head and is a no-wake zone. Gig Harbor is an enclosed inlet with marinas and launch ramps. Dalco Passage links the bay with The Narrows, the current-heavy choice; NOAA says currents there can exceed 5 knots.

Source: Parks Tacoma (parkstacoma.gov)

From Tacoma, boaters can make Puget Sound day trips to downtown Gig Harbor, Cutts Island Marine State Park and Penrose Point State Park. In Gig Harbor, Jerisich Dock provides transient moorage on the downtown waterfront beside Skansie Brothers Park, with restrooms and showers. Cutts Island is reachable only by boat and offers a beach stop, moorage buoys and a natural spit used for scuba diving. At Penrose Point on Carr Inlet, visitors can tie up at the dock or use a buoy, then go ashore for picnic areas and wooded trails.

Source: City of Gig Harbor (gigharborwa.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)

Washington boaters should carry a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for everyone; children 12 and younger must wear one while underway in a vessel under 19 feet unless inside a fully enclosed area. The alcohol limit for operating any vessel is 0.08. Boats generally need a Washington title, registration card and decals, with exemptions including human powered craft and certain small boats used only on nonfederal waters. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, and rentals cannot be made to anyone under 16. Washington State Parks also advises checking local waterway rules and prohibits transporting aquatic invasive species on boats, trailers or gear.

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

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)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Tacoma has 2 boat rentals, 3 boat clubs and 8 boat dealers.