Section 8
Wisconsin State
Boating Laws
Revised 2015
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Environmental Regulations
Exotic Species:
Wisconsin statutes prohibit launching a boat, boat
trailer, or boating equipment if there are any
aquatic plants or zebra mussels attached.
Inspect your boat, trailer, bilge, live wells, and bait
containers for visible plants, animals, & mud. Do
not transport to other bodies of water.
Dry boats & equipment for at least 5 days.
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Registration
Hull Identification Number:
• Boats built after 1972
• Engraved or permanently attached
to transom
• Similar to VIN of auto
Federal Documented Vessels:
• Must be registered with Wisconsin
• Follow USCG guidelines
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Registration
Certificate of Number (Registration):
• Must be carried aboard vessel
• Expires on March 31
• Good for 3 years
ALL – except:
• non-motorized - under 16 feet, canoes, kayaks
• Registered in other states & in Wisconsin for 60
days or less
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Registration
Registration Numbers and Validation Decal
Display:
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Affixed to bow – both sides
3 inch BLOCK letters
Validation Decal: space 3” after letters
Contrasting colors to bow
Space or hyphen between letters and numbers
Example: WS 3717 ZW or WS-3717-ZW
No other numbers displayed on bow
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Boat Operation
Valid Boating Safety Certificate - Issued By:
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WI DNR
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
United Sates Power Squadrons
Other NASBLA approved course providers
Boat Rentals - Must Meet:
• Wisconsin age requirements (16 for PWC)
• Boating Safety Certificate requirements
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Boat Safety Education
Wisconsin boating safety
certification or
out-of-state equivalent certification
is required for operators
born on or after January 1, 1989
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7
Boat Operation
Navigation Lights: (Displayed Sunset to Sunrise,
periods of restricted visibility)
Motorboats: One White light visible for 2 miles (All
Around), Combination Red (Port side) & Green
(Starboard side) attached so the light shows
directly ahead to 225 Degrees
Non-motorized: Must carry a White light and
displayed in sufficient time to avoid collisions.
Visible for 2 mile distance
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PWC Operation
Who May Operate:
Less than 12 years old: Never
12–15 years old:
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Valid Boat Safety Certificate AND
Parental permission is not a substitute for
boat safety certificate.
16 years and older:
• Valid Boat Safety Certificate
• Minimum age to rent
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Equipment Requirement
Boat Battery: Must be secured against
shifting & Both negative and positive
terminals must be covered. (Covered
battery box with straps works best)
Fire Extinguisher: Unlawful to operate a
motorboat, except outboards of open
construction, without fire extinguisher of
the size, type, and number as specified
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Equipment Requirement
Fire Extinguisher Requirement by boat size and class:
A = Less than 16’ = 1 size B-1
1 = 16’, less than 26’ = 1 size B-1
2 = 26’, less than 40’ = 2 size B-1 or 1 size B-2
3 = 40’, and over = 3 size B-1 or 1 size B-2 & 1 B-1
Gasoline Inboard boat engine: Must have a bilge
ventilator (blower system) to vent fuel vapors & must
have a USCG approved flame arrestor (carbureted
engines)
Mufflers: Boat noise must not exceed 86db
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PFD Requirements:
Available for each person on board:
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Type I – Offshore – Turn unconscious person face-up
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Type II - Near Shore – might turn person face-up
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Type III - Floatation Aid – will not turn person face-up
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Type IV – Throwable – not to be worn
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Type V – Special Use Device – vest, suits - used
according to label (Must be worn to be valid)
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PFD Requirements:
All PFD’s Must Be:
• Proper size
• Readily accessible
• Serviceable condition
Federal Waters: Under age 13 must
wear PFD while underway(Great lakes)
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PFD Requirements:
• Vessel 16’ or over: must have Throwable (except
canoes or kayaks)
• One USCG approved wearable PFD of proper size &
type for each person on board
• PWC: Must wear Type I, II, III, or V to operate
• Inflatables are not legal for watersports (PWC,
Skiing, or whitewater paddling
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Requirements - PWC
• All must wear a PFD Non-inflatable Type I – III,
or V
• Not legal to operate between sunset & sunrise
• Minimum operator age of 12 (Rental age 16)
• Lanyard must be attached to operator
• If between 12– 16 years old: Must possess a
valid state-approved boating safety certificate
• PWC restricted to slow-no-wake within 100’ of
any other boat, PWC, skier
• PWC restricted to slow-no-wake within 200’ of
the shoreline of any lake
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Requirements - PWC
• Illegal Reckless Operation:
• Must be at “Slow - No Wake” speed:
• Within 100’ of any other vessel on the waterbody
• Within 200’ of shoreline on any lake
• Less than 100’ from docks, piers, rafts or
restricted areas on any lake
• Illegal to disturb wildlife & aquatic vegetation
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Towing Behind Vessel
• Waterskiing: Requires 3 People (Minimum)
• PWC: Must be rated by Manufacturer to carry 3
People (includes gear)
• No Skiing between sunset & sunrise
• Must have an observer, in addition to the operator
• Keep the towed person at least 100’ away from:
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Moored or anchored vessel, dock or raft, marked swim
area or person in the water.
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Stay Clear of Divers
•Diver: within 50’ of flag
Alpha Flag:
Vessel unable
Diver-Down:
to maneuver
Diver in the water
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Unlawful Operation:
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Weaving in and out of congested area
Jumping Wakes (minimum distance)
Chasing, Harassing, Disturbing Wildlife or Vegetation
Causing damage from wake
Operating at greater than “slow, no wake” speed:
Within 100 ft. of any dock, raft, pier, or buoyed restricted area
on any lake at a speed in excess of “slow, no wake speed
Loading beyond capacity stated on the capacity plate.
In restricted areas
Bow riding – walking, standing in areas of boat not designed to
Operating under influence of intoxicant or controlled substance
or with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher
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Reporting a Boat Accident
A "reportable" boat incident is any incident (regardless of
the number of boats involved) that results in loss of life,
injuries that require medical treatment beyond first aid,
boat or property damage in excess of $2,000, or complete
loss of a boat.
Wisconsin law requires every boat operator involved in a
reportable boat incident to report the incident without
delay to law enforcement officials. In addition, within 10
days of the incident, the operator must submit a written
report:
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/boat/crashinfo.html
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Questions / Comments
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