The Rental Shack (Dave rents boats)

Rentals from The Rental Shack (Dave rents boats) include life jackets, safety equipment, an anchor, fuel, cooler storage, a bimini top and a Bluetooth stereo. Amenities vary by boat and by season, so confirm what comes with the boat you book.

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 Eagle River, launch at the city’s T-Docks on the Eagle River and cruise the connected Eagle River Chain toward Yellow Birch, Catfish and Eagle lakes. The river provides a close-to-town starting corridor, while Yellow Birch is the in-city gateway and has public access.

Catfish is the chain’s largest lake and offers a broad open-water run, plus a popular sandbar. Eagle Lake is another roomy cruising choice with public access and a favored sandbar near the launch off Chain O Lakes Road. Use extra care in the narrower waterways connecting the lakes.

Source: City of Eagle River (eagleriverwi.gov)

From Eagle River, boaters make day trips along the connected Eagle River Chain to sandbars, city docks and the Burnt Rollways Boat Hoist. The northern Catfish Lake sandbar draws pontoons for wading and swimming, while the Eagle Lake sandbar near the boat launch is another popular gathering spot. Riverview Park on the Eagle River offers boat docking, picnic tables and a playground for a shore break. Farther along the chain, the Burnt Rollways Boat Hoist carries boats between Cranberry Lake and the Three Lakes Chain, making the lift itself a memorable destination.

Source: Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce (eagleriver.org)