Marinas in Bayfield, WI

July and August are generally the best months for boating from Bayfield into the Apostle Islands waters of Lake Superior. The local recreational season runs roughly May through October, but average water temperatures remain in the 40s during May and June and barely exceed 60°F in late summer outside shallow, protected bays. July and August are also the busiest months, especially on weekends; use drops quickly in September and October.

Choose the day by the marine forecast, not the calendar alone. Lake Superior around the islands can develop fog, rough water, sudden squalls and frequent summer thunderstorms.

Source: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (nps.gov)

From Bayfield, you can launch into protected Bayfield Harbor and head onto Lake Superior toward West Channel, Chequamegon Bay, or nearby Apostle Islands stops. The city’s municipal ramp is on South Third Street. Bayfield Harbor is a well-protected small-craft refuge; beyond its breakwaters, Lake Superior is open water where fog, rough seas, and sudden squalls are real concerns.

West Channel is a deepwater passage between Basswood Island and the mainland. Basswood Island has a public west-side dock with shallow usable water. Chequamegon Bay is sheltered from Lake Superior, though heavy seas can still develop. La Pointe Harbor on Madeline Island has an enclosed small-craft basin and marina facilities.

Source: City of Bayfield (cityofbayfield.com)

From Bayfield, boaters go to Raspberry Island, Sand Island and Stockton Island in Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands. Raspberry Island draws visitors to its restored lighthouse and first come dock. Sand Island’s East Bay has a public dock and a trail to the lighthouse, passing Justice Bay and a view of the Swallow Point sea caves. Stockton Island offers docks at Presque Isle Bay and Quarry Bay, sandy beaches, and places to anchor or beach a boat in Presque Isle, Quarry and Julian bays.

Source: National Park Service (nps.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)

Know Wisconsin’s life jacket, alcohol, registration, operator and invasive species rules before launching. Carry one U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket per person; personal watercraft riders must wear one. On federally controlled waters, children under 13 must wear one while underway in an open vessel. Operating with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher is illegal. Motorized boats and sailboats over 12 feet generally require registration.

No one under 12 may operate, lease or rent a personal watercraft; operators ages 12 to 15 need an approved safety certificate, and renters must be at least 16. Remove attached plants and animals and drain all water before transporting your boat. Check landing signs for stricter local rules.

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

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)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Bayfield has 4 boat rentals and 2 boat clubs.