Personal Watercraft

There has been some concern about "careless operation of personal watercraft on Lipsett Lake" and I have been asked to post the regulations for the use of Personal Watercraft.  It is important for everyone to follow the rules so that we don't have any tragic accidents that would ruin Lipsett Lake for all of us.

Personal Watercraft

PWC operators must obey the laws that apply to other vessels as well as obey additional requirements that apply speciically to the operation of a personal watercraft.

• Every perrson on boarrd a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guaard-approved Type I, II, III or V lifejacket
• An operator of a PWC equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch must attach the lanyard to his or her person, clothing or lifejacket
• A PWC may not be operateed between sunset and sunrise.
• A PWC operator must always face forward
• A PWC may not be operated at faster than slow-no-wake speed within
• 100 feet of any other vessel
• 100 feet of a dock pier raft, or rstricted area on any lake
• 200 feet of shore on any lake
• There are minimum age and boater education requirements for operatorrs of PWCs
• A PWC must be operated in a responsible manner.  Maneuvers that endager people or property are prohibited, including.
• jumping a wake with a PWC within 100 feet of another vessel
• Operating within 100 feet of a vessel that is towing a person on water skis inner tube, wakeboard, or similar dvice, or operating within 100 feet of the tow rop of person being towed.
• Weaving a PWC through congested waterway traffic
• Steering toward another objet or person in the water and swerving at the last possible mement in order to avoid collision
• Chasing, harasing or disurbing wildlife with a PW
• A person under the age of 12 may not operate a PWC.
• A person born on or after January 1, 1989, and at least 12 years old may operate a PWC only if he or she has completed a boating safety course that is accepted by the Wisconsin DNR. (Parental supervision is not a substitute for a boating safety course certificate as with other motorboats.)
• A person born on or after January 1, 1989, and at least 16 years old may operate a PWC only if he or she has completed a boating safety course that is accepted by the Wisconsin DNR.

• Requirements for Towing Skiers

  • A person may not be towed behind a vessel between sunset and sunrise.
  • When a vessel is towing a person on water skis, a surfboard, or other device, the operator must have another competent person on board to act as an observer.
  • A PWC operator may not tow a person on water skis or other devices unless:
    • The PWC is designed and recommended by the manufacturer to accommodate at least three people, and...
    • A competent observer is on board and facing backward toward the person being towed.
  • Those towing skiers on water skis, a surfboard, or similar devices and those being towed must act in a safe and prudent manner.
    • Vessels towing persons may not come within 100 feet of other vessels, persons in the water, a swimming area, or a public boat landing.
    • Persons being towed behind a vessel on water skis, a surfboard, or other device, or their towing rope, may not come within 100 feet of a PWC.

For information on boating regulations for all kinds of watercraft, click on http://www.boat-ed.com/wi/handbook/whomayoperate.htm