Marinas in Connecticut

Confirm current requirements with the state agency before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

• Boater Education Card

  Anyone operating a vessel powered by a motor of any size, or a sailboat 19 1/2 feet or longer, must obtain a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation: Connecticut ties the requirement to the vessel, not to a birth year, so operators of all ages are covered (a youth under 16 without a certificate may operate a non-PWC vessel only under the direct supervision of a certified adult 18 or older). Verification with the state agency is recommended for specific exemptions or reciprocity.

  CT DEEP

• Vessel Registration

  All motorized vessels, and all sailboats 19 1/2 feet or longer in length, operating on Connecticut waters must be registered with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which processes vessel registration and numbering. Registration must be renewed annually. Non-residents must register their vessel in Connecticut if it is used on state waters for more than 60 days in a calendar year.

  CT DEEP

• Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD)

  All vessels with an installed toilet must have an operable Type I, II, or III Marine Sanitation Device (MSD). Discharge of sewage, treated or untreated, is prohibited in Connecticut waters, including Long Island Sound, which is a designated No Discharge Zone. Vessels must utilize pump-out facilities.

  CT DEEP

• Minimum Age to Operate

  No person under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat with an engine larger than 10 horsepower unless accompanied on board by an adult at least 18 years old who holds a Safe Boating Certificate. Individuals aged 12 to 15 may operate such a vessel on their own if they hold a Safe Boating Certificate, or without one only while under the direct supervision of an adult at least 18 years old who has held a certificate for at least two years. Personal Watercraft (PWC) operators must be at least 16 years old and hold a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.

1. 01

   Verify Boater Education Requirements

   Before you launch, check whether you, or whoever's driving, needs a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. Most operators born after a certain date need one, as do certain vessel types.

2. 02

   Choose Your Boating Region and Marina

   Open Sound or quiet river? Settle that first, then compare marinas in your chosen stretch on amenities, services, and how close they sit to what you want to see. Ask about transient slips while you're at it.

3. 03

   Book Dockage or Charter in Advance

   Summer weekends fill fast. Lock in your transient slip early, and if you're chartering, book the boat and captain as far ahead as you can to get the dates you want.

4. 04

   Review Local Charts and Weather Forecasts

   Study the charts for your cruising ground (depths, channels, hazards), and pull the latest marine forecast and tide tables before you cast off. Keep checking underway; the Sound doesn't announce its mood changes.

5. 05

   Prepare Your Vessel and Supplies

   Run through the boat: engine sound, safety gear complete, fuel and provisions aboard, spare parts for the obvious failures. If you have a marine head, confirm where you'll pump out along the way.