Sailing license...?

Question

Do you need a sailing license to sail in Florida public waters if it is a non-motorized vessell?

Answer 1

No is the short answer.  As for the why, that takes a little more explanation.  The laws in Florida are very plain, if not numerous when it comes to boating.  In the state of Florida.  Any vessel that is NOT powered by an engine under 10HP is not required to be registered.  Lasers, Sunfish, Optis, 420, all kayaks fall into this category as do all row boats.  If you put an engine on then you have to register it.  As for a Boating License, I took the liberty of copying the new requirements off of the Florida DNR website.  The DNR says:

Anyone under the age of 22 (21 and under) is required to have a boating safety education ID card along with a photo ID while operating a vessel with a motor 10 horsepower or greater in Florida waters.  This includes a personal water craft (PWC). Persons under age 14 may not operate a PWC.

The type of card you need depends on whether you are a resident of Florida or not.  If you are a Florida resident, you can take an 8-hour classroom or internet course and get a "lifetime" ID card.  If you are just visiting, you may prefer to take a temporary certificate exam that is good for 12 months.  Everyone is encouraged to take one of these courses to become familiar with Florida's boating laws and regulations.

The laws just recently changed as it used to be 18 so I double checked myself to see if the new law went into effect.  I know that was probably a bit more information than you needed but it clears up a lot of confustion for people.  So in conclusion, without a motor you don't need a license OR a registration if you are over 21.

Answer 2

How long is your sailboat? You need to register the boat with the state. Go to Florida's Department of Natural Resources web site and this info should be there.