Before you and your family head out to enjoy the lakes and rivers of Wisconsin this summer, take the time to review Wisconsin’s boating safety laws.
In Wisconsin, anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 is required to complete a boating safety course in order to legally operate a motorized boat or personal watercraft. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides a list of online boating safety courses that take about three hours to complete.
The Handbook of Wisconsin Boating Laws and Responsibilities is very helpful in providing you with the information to ensure your boat is properly registered and outfitted, and that everyone operating a watercraft is properly prepared.
It’s important to note that there are age restrictions concerning who may operate a motorboat and personal watercraft (PWC). For motorboats, the operator:
- Must be at least 10 years old
- Children between the ages of 10 – 11 can only operate a motorboat if accompanied by someone over the age of 18 who is a designated guardian or parent
- Children between the ages of 12 – 15 must also be accompanied by someone at least 18 years old and must have completed a boating safety course
- Youth ages 16 and above must complete a boating safety course in order to operate a motorboat without an adult present
For PWCs, the operator must be at least 12 years old. Youth above the age of 12 must complete a boating safety course in order to operate a PWC.
According to the Handbook, most boating fatalities involve small boats and people who were not wearing a life jacket. Alcohol and drugs also contribute to boating accidents; remember to choose a designated driver because it is illegal to operate under the influence. As concerns life jackets, all boating vessels — including kayaks, canoes and paddleboards — must have a US Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket on board for each person (seat cushions and rings do not count). Any watercraft (except canoes, kayaks and paddleboards) that is longer than 16 feet must also have a throwable flotation device (ring or cushion) on board and within easy reach. Children under the age of 13 must wear flotation devices and everyone aboard a personal watercraft must also wear a personal flotation device.
For more complete information about boater safety, view the Handbook online.
