Big Sissabagama Lake Boating Regulations

All Boats

  • Wisconsin statutes prohibit launching a boat, boat trailer, or boating equipment if there are any aquatic plants or zebra mussels attached.
  • Anyone born after 1-1-1989 is required to have a boating education certificate to operate a motorboat.
  • You may not operate or allow the operation of an unregistered motorboat or sailboat over 12 feet in length. The registration numbers and decal must be displayed.
  • All boat batteries have to be secured against shifting and the terminals have to be covered with a nonconductive shield to prevent electrical shorting.
  • Wearable (Coast Guard approved) life preservers, of an appropriate size for each person, must be readily available on each boat.
  • It is unlawful to operate a motorboat within 100 feet of any dock, raft, or pier in excess of “slow-n-wake” speed.
  • It is illegal to operate a boat while intoxicated.
  • You may not operate a boat towing persons engaged in water skiing, wake boarding, or knee boarding to come within 100 feet of an occupied anchored boat or personal watercraft.
  • You may not operate a boat from sunset to sunrise without proper lights.
  • A boat or water skier may not come closer than 100 feet of a skin diver’s flag.
  • While operating a motorboat, you may not allow any person to ride or sit on the gunwales, tops of seats, backs or sides or on the decking over the bow while underway, unless such person is inboard of guards or railing provided on the boat to prevent passengers from being lost overboard, except for anchoring, mooring or casting off.
  • You may not operate a motorboat towing a person unless there is a competent person in addition to the operator in the boat.
  • It is illegal to operate a boat pulling a water skier, wake boarder, or knee boarder between 6:00PM and 10:00AM (local regulation).

Personal Watercraft

  • You may not operate a PWC between 6:00PM and 10:00AM (local regulation).
  • All persons riding a PWC must wear a PFD of the proper size.
  • It is unlawful to operate a PWC faster than “slow no-wake” speed within 100 feet of another PWC, a boat, the tow rope of another boat pulling a skier, or the person skiing.
  • It is illegal to operate a PWC faster than “slow-n-wake” speed within 200 feet of the shoreline.
  • The kill switch lanyard must be attached to the operator.
  • You must have a PWC designed to carry three (3) people if you are pulling a water skier.

TO REPORT A VIOLATION CALL THE DNR CONFIDENTIAL HOTLINE
1–800–Tip–WDNR (1–800–847–9367)