Florida State Law requires that you be at least 21 years old and in possession of a Florida Boater's License in order to operate any boat with an engine of 10 horsepower and above in Florida waters. This means you meed a boater's license to rent a pontoon boat.
To rent a boat in Florida, you need to complete an approved Boating Safety Course. The FWC website links to approved courses for this. If you were born before January 1, 1988 you are exempt from needing this certificate.
You are exempt from this rule if you are: A person licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel. A person operating on a private lake or pond. A non-resident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a NASBLA-approved boater safety course or equivalency examination from another ...
To rent a boat in Florida, you need to complete an approved Boating Safety Course. The FWC website links to approved courses for this. If you were born before January 1, 1988 you are exempt from needing this certificate.
The State of Florida doesn't have classic “boating licenses,” but offers Boating Safety Education Identification Cards. These are absolutely mandatory for anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who wants to rent a boat of 10 horsepower or more.
While Florida does not have a boating license, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 is required to either have successfully completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating education course or have passed an equivalent course or temporary certificate examination.
—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Boater Freedom Initiative, a legislative proposal that protects Floridians' right to boat by preventing local bans on vessels based on fuel type, repealing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)'s authority to conduct random vessel safety inspections ...
SB606 mainly focuses on the operation of human-powered vessels, like kayaks and paddleboards, in the marked channel of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway. While the law enforces new restrictions, it also provides allowances under specific conditions.
The Temporary Certificate Program was established to help people comply with Florida's Boating Safety Education Identification Card requirements for operating a boat in this state. The temporary certificate is valid for 90 days for individuals who have successfully passed the exam.