Mel’s Outdoor Power

At 12, a person may operate a motorboat without supervision in Wisconsin after completing a boating safety course accepted by the Wisconsin DNR. Ages 10 or 11 may operate only with a parent, guardian, or designated adult at least 18 who has a valid boating safety certificate or was born before January 1, 1989. Ages 12 through 15 may use that supervision option instead of certification. Operators 16 or older born on or after January 1, 1989 must have completed an accepted course. No one under 12 may operate a personal watercraft, no one under 16 may rent one, and operators 12 or older must be certified; adult supervision is no substitute. The rental operator sets its own minimum, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (dnr.wisconsin.gov)

Wisconsin does not require a general boating license, but operators born on or after January 1, 1989 generally need boating safety certification or an accepted out of state equivalent and must carry proof aboard. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources administers the rule. No one under 10 may operate a motorboat. For motorboats other than personal watercraft, qualifying adult accompaniment is allowed for operators age 10 and older instead of certification. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 12, and those subject to the cutoff must be certified; accompaniment is not a substitute, and renters must be at least 16. Rental customers 16 or older may use the state rental education certificate, valid through that calendar year only for watercraft they rent. People born before the cutoff are exempt.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (dnr.wisconsin.gov)

From Hayward, practical day-boating choices include Round Lake, Smith Lake and the Chippewa Flowage. Big and Little Round are joined by a navigable channel, with Town launches at Peninsula Road and Linden Road. Smith Lake combines boating with a swimming beach and picnic area at Eytcheson Park, which has a landing and parking.

For a quieter, more complex cruise, launch on the Chippewa Flowage at CC South or CC North. Boaters should watch for sand and rock bars, stumps, floating bogs, driftwood and changing water levels.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (dnr.wisconsin.gov)

From Hayward, good Chippewa Flowage day-trip targets are Big Timber Island for publicly protected wild shoreline, Cranberry Lake for smallmouth fishing, Chief Lake for northern pike, and Moore’s Bay for wildlife watching. A documented boating trip around Chief Lake and Moore’s Bay reported deer, eagles, herons, loons and other birdlife, while local fishing guidance points anglers toward Cranberry Lake and the south side of Big Timber Island for smallmouth action.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (dnr.wisconsin.gov)