Have you ever gone out in a boat in Seattle, with the sun shining and the wind blowing in your hair? There is nothing better. You're leaving rush hour behind and swimming in your favorite Seattle lake.
Boating is described by the recreation standard as motor boating, jet boating, motorized rafting, canoe trips, sailing, kayaking, paddle sports, scenic floats, tubing, whitewater rafting, drift boats, and dory trips. Each year, an estimated 74 million Americans enjoy the pleasures of recreational boating at public parks, lakes and rivers. Many recreational areas even allow the public to rent boats.
The rules regarding boating at recreational sites vary widely and depend on the place you are visiting. Licensing, fees and seasonal restrictions may vary from site to site. For detailed information on a particular site, please contact that site directly. For contact information use the telephone numbers, addresses, e-mail addresses and web sites provided at http://www.recreation.gov/.
To view recreational areas listed in Recreation.gov that allow boating, please view their recreational activity search results for boating.
Please note: Operators of small recreational boats arriving in the United States from a foreign port or place are required to report their arrival to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immediately. For information on the reporting requirements and the different reporting programs available, please visit the CBP's web page on Pleasure Boats.
Information on registering your boat and/or boat trailer is also available.
In addition, May 17 through 23, 2008, was designated as National Safe Boating Week. During the week, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) urged citizens to take basic safety precautions such as wearing a life jacket, participating in a boat safety course, and never boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The USCG's Boating Safety Division provides information on how to prevent accidents, injuries and fatalities while boating, as well as information on safety tips, news, recalls, defects, and laws and regulations.
Finally, information about additional recreational activities is available at the following links: