State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Numbering Requirements:

All watercraft (unless listed below) must be registered and have a valid certificate of number issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) in order to be operated or allow to be operated on the waters of Wisconsin. The following are exemptions from registration:

• Sailboards
• Sailboats 12 feet and under without a motor
• Manually propelled boats not equipped with a motor or sail
• Any boat covered by a valid certificate from another state or federal government not remaining in Wisconsin waters for more than 60 days
• Licensed documented fishing vessels

Federally documented vessels used principally in Wisconsin must be registered with the state unless they are exempted by law. They shall also display the registration year decal, but shall not display a Wisconsin registration number unless the decal is not displayed by the documented name.

To register your vessel or to obtain a title, you may submit the proper forms found at www.dnr.wi.gov or visit a DNR service center. Once in receipt of required information and fees, the WIDNR will issue a Certificate of Number. This must be kept aboard the boat or personal watercraft (PWC) at all times and must be readily available for inspection by law enforcement personnel.

The Certificate of Number and Validation Decals are valid for a period of 3 years!

The WIDNR will also issue a set of validation decals valid for 3 years commencing on April 1st and expiring on March 31st of the third year. You must display your validation decals and registration numbers (beginning with WS) on the forward half of your vessel and in a place where it can be easily read by law enforcement officials. Letters and numbers must be at least 3 inches tall and must be black or another color that contrasts with the hull. The validation decals must be in line with and within 3 inches from the registration number, toward the stern.

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

Additional Equipment Requirements:

Beyond minimum federal equipment requirements, some states may have other requirements for certain bodies of water. Please check with your local waterway authority before heading out. The Wisconsin DNR recommends the consideration of having the following items on board depending on the length and location of your boat:

Recommended Additional Safety Equipment!

• Compass and charts
• Marine VHF radio/cell phone
• Anchoring equipment
• Bailing device
• Spare parts & tools
• Extra starting battery
• Oars or paddles
• Flashlight

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

An effective muffling system is required for the exhaust of each internal combustion engine and the use of cut-outs is prohibited. Any boat operated on the waters of Wisconsin must be muffled to effectively reduce noise. Specifically, it is illegal to operate a boat that exceeds a noise level of 86 dB (decibels).

In general, do not modify your factory exhaust if the result makes it louder!

Loud boat noise not only bothers other operators and users of the waterways, it can also disrupt peace ashore because of sound's ability to travel great distances over water. Excessive noise can also prevent a boat operator from hearing other boats' sound signals and warnings and can prevent you from hearing approaching law or rescue personnel.

Requirements for WasteDischarge:

• Federal regulations and equipment standards established jointly by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard govern the uses of marine sanitation devices (MSDs).
• All boats with onboard toilet facilities must have a method to collect and contain all waste products, preventing it from entering surrounding waters. Wisconsin law forbids the discharge of sewage or any waste derived from sewage in the state waters of Wisconsin.
• Type I and II MSDs must have a “Y” valve secured to allow for waste to enter a proper on board holding tank for future drainage at a pump-out station. Type III MSDs will typically have a built-in holding tank with no external plumbing and cannot be pumped overboard. Type III MSDs must be pumped ashore at a proper facility.
• It is unlawful to leave, deposit, place, or throw on the waters, ice, or shores of water or upon public or private property any cans, bottles, debris, refuse, solid waste material or fish parts.
• Discharge of fuel, oil or any oil product, including contaminated bilge water, is strictly prohibited. All boats 26 feet or longer must properly display a 5x8 inch Oily Waste Discharge placard near the bilge pump switch.
• All boats 26 feet or longer, when operating in waters under federal jurisdiction, must display an informational placard on the subject of federal marine pollution prevention laws. The placard must be 4x9 inches and placed in a location where crew and passengers can read it.
• All boats 40 feet or longer operating more than 3 miles from shore that are equipped with a galley and berthing, must also carry a Waste Management Plan. This plan must outline procedures for proper marine pollution regulations for garbage management and designate a person in charge for carrying out this plan.

Boater Age & Horsepower Restrictions:

Who May Operate a Motorboat?

• No one under the age of 10.
• Children ages 10 to 15, if accompanied in the boat by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by the parent or guardian.
• Children ages 12-15 if in possession of a boating safety course completion certificate issued by WIDNR or another state.
• Anyone 16 years of age or older.

Who May Operate a Personal Watercraft?

• No one under the age of 12 may operate, lease or rent a personal watercraft.
• No one under the age of 16 lease or rent a personal watercraft.
• Children ages 12-15 may operate a personal watercraft if in possession of a boating safety course completion certificate issued by the WIDNR or another State. Adult supervision is not a substitute for a certificate.
• Operators 16 years of age or older are not required to complete a boating safety course.
• Persons born on or after 1/1/89 and who are at least 16 years of age are required to take a DNR approved boating safety education course in order to operate a motorboat in Winsconsin.

Reckless & Negligent Operation:

No person shall operate any vessel or manipulate water skis or similar towed devices in a reckless or negligent manner. The failure to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent endangering life, limb, or property may be considered reckless and negligent. Below are just a few of the prohibited methods of operation in Wisconsin.

Specifically, it is unlawful:

• To operate any boat beyond the safe carrying capacity of passengers or cargo or to equip a boat in excess of its safe power.
• To operate a boat within an area clearly marked in accordance with the law by buoys or some other distinguishing device as a bathing or swimming area or other restricted use area.
• To allow any person to ride or sit on the gunwales, tops of seats, backs or sides or on the decking over the bow on a motorboat while underway, unless such a person is inboard of guards or railings provided to prevent passengers from being lost overboard, except for when anchoring, mooring or casting off.
• To operate a motorboat repeatedly in a circuitous course within 200 feet around any other boat or around any person who is swimming.
• For any boat or water skier to operate or approach closer than 100 feet to any skin diver's flag or any swimmer unless the boat is part of the skin diving operation or is accompanying the swimmer.
• To operate any type of motorboat that is engaged in skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity within 100 feet of any occupied anchored boat, marked swimming area, or public boat landing.
• To operate any type of motorboat that is engaged in skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity and get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft or allow the tow rope to get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft.

Additional laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC):
A personal watercraft is considered a motorboat and must follow the same laws and regulations as above. In addition there other laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC).

• To operate a PWC between sunset and sunrise.
• To participate in water skiing, aquaplaning, or similar tow sport activity unless the PWC is designed to seat three people.
• To operate a PWC at greater than slow-no-wake speed anytime:
• The PWC is within 100 feet of any other boat or PWC on any body of water.
• The PWC is within 200 feet of the shoreline of any lake.
• To operate a PWC within 100 feet of the following:
• Another boat towing a skier or person engaged in a similar activity.
• The tow rope of another motorboat towing a skier or person engaged in a similar activity.

Boat and PWC Speed Limits:

Boat speed limits are regulated by law for certain areas and conditions. When no speed limit is posted, operate your boat so that it will not endanger others or cause injury, damage, or unnecessary inconvenience. It is unlawful to create hazardous wakes. Always keep a proper lookout and never load a boat with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity.

• In Wisconsin, a "slow-no-wake" speed is that speed at which a vessel moves as slow as possible while still maintaining steerage control.
• White buoys or signs with red or orange markings will indicate speed limits and no-wake zones.
• It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at a speed that is greater than reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions.
• Motorboat operators must not exceed such a speed that they are unable to avoid colliding with any object, person or conveyance lawfully in or on the water.
• It is unlawful to operate a motorboat within 100 feet of any dock, raft, pier, or buoyed restricted area on any lake at a speed in excess of slow-no-wake.
• Motorboats may not be operated at a speed greater than slow-no-wake on lakes 50 acres or less having public accesses, except when such lakes serve as thoroughfares between 2 or more navigable lakes.

Special Activities Restrictions and Considerations:

Many states regulate certain water sports activities such as waterskiing, diving and hunting from a vessel. For your safety, and for those who may be in the water, you should abide by these special laws.

Special Activities, Restrictions & Requirements:

• Wisconsin statutes prohibit launching a boat, boat trailer, or boating equipment if there are any aquatic plants or zebra muscles attached.
• Boaters engaged in towing a water skier or similar device must have a competent person aboard to observe the towed person and relay signals to the operator.
• It is against the law for boats or PWCs to tow skiers or any similar device between sunset and sunrise.
• A red and white divers flag measuring at least 15 inches horizontally and 12 inches vertically must be displayed when divers are in the water. It must be clearly apparent to other boaters at a distance of 100 yards. Divers must remain within 50 feet (measured horizontally) of the flag.

Operating Under the Influence

Boating Under the Influence (BUI) is illegal nationwide. State BUI laws are becoming more stringent. As on the roadways, on-water enforcement officers may administer sobriety tests and/or conduct a chemical test to determine level of sobriety.

To operate a motorboat or use water skis, aquaplane or similar device while under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance or with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher is illegal in the state of Wisconsin.

Anyone who operates or attempts to operate a vessel is deemed to have given consent to an alcohol and/or drug test. Boating under the influence can bring fines and/or jail time for those convicted.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

In Wisconsin, conservation wardens, many county sheriffs' departments, municipal police departments and the U.S. Coast Guard have the duty to provide for safety on the water and have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels to enforce Wisconsin and federal boating laws.

Boat operators must immediately yield and reduce speed when being overtaken, approached or directed by a law enforcement official operating a siren and/or displaying an illuminated blue light or halt progress as directed. When operating in an area of law enforcement activity, you must reduce speed and give a wide berth until beyond the area of operation of the law enforcement vessel.

Accident Reporting Requirements

Anyone involved in a boating accident is required to stop and give assistance as long as it will not personally endanger the operator, passengers or vessel. Operators involved in an accident shall remain at the scene to the extent it is safe and practical, and exchange personal and boat information with authorities and other involved parties.

When a boating accident results in death or injury to any person or total damage exceeds $2,000 to boats or other property, every operator of a boat involved in such accident shall without delay and by the quickest means available, give notice of the accident to a conservation warden or local law enforcement officer and shall file a written report with the WIDNR within 10 days.

The official Operator Boating Accident Report form is available from law enforcement agencies.

Other State Boating Laws

Often times counties, cities and districts within a state will have different, more restrictive laws. Boating laws are subject to change and it is your responsibility to be informed of the law as it applies to you and your on-water activities. To be absolutely certain about specific boating laws in your state it is wise to contact your state boating agency.

It is Your Responsibility – Be Informed!

We provide this information as a service and strive to keep this website up to date. Please let us know of any inconsistencies by bringing them to our attention at once at onlinecourse@boatus.com. Resources for these pages include state statutes, state web pages and state approved boating guides. BoatU.S. is not responsible for any misinterpretation of the law or any change in the law that is not adequately reflected in these pages. Damages as a result of failing to abide by stated law shall not be the responsibility of BoatU.S., BoatU.S. Foundation or its employees.

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