Color intensity represents the concentration of California Boater Card holders by ZIP code, normalized by population and boat ownership. Because the California Boater Card is now mandatory to operate a vessel with engines of 25 horsepower or greater, this metric serves as an indicator of access to boating across all communities. Approximately 30 years ago, California had about 1.3 million registered boats. By 2025, that number has declined to roughly 600,000. This data was presented at the November 2025 California Boating and Waterways Commission meeting as part of the Commission’s research into access, registered vessels, and boat slip availability across California. A high-resolution version of this map is available for download at the link provided.
Dark blue indicates areas with approximately 300 cardholders per 10,000 residents, while very light shading indicates areas with as few as 10 cardholders per 10,000 residents.
These disparities suggest opportunities for targeted outreach, education, and infrastructure investments to ensure Californians have greater—not fewer—opportunities to participate in safe, responsible, and enjoyable boating.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lercxamm611mifcpopgj1/ca-cards-per-zip-populations.pdf?rlkey=xp3nlsym2mdb2fqzg6kbxoue0&dl=0
