Hello, boater! Wisconsin's online boating course has moved. Click here to go to the latest version of the Boat Wisconsin online course—the official boating safety course of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Official Wisconsin Boating Course Table of Contents

• Home Page
• About the Online Boating Course
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Wisconsin Boaters License
• Wisconsin Boating Regulations and Laws Summary
• Wisconsin Marine Insurance Savings
• Message from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Know Your Boat

• Contents
• The Many Parts of a Boat
• Types of Boat Hulls
• Length of a Vessel
• Types of Engines
• Jet Drives
• Personal Watercraft
• Sailboats
• Summary
• Review Questions for Know Your Boat

Before You Get Underway

• Contents
• Your Boat's Capacity
• File a "Float Plan"
• Fuel Your Vessel—Safely
• Fueling Issues for a PWC
  • Fuel Selector Switch on a PWC
• Trailering Your Vessel
• Tying Nautical Knots
• Vessel Maintenance
  • Engine Maintenance
• Summary
• Review Questions for Before You Get Underway

Operating Your Boat—Safely

• Contents
• Casting Off
• Docking
• Navigation Rules—Traffic Laws of the Waterways
  • Encountering Other Vessels
    • Meeting Head-On
    • Paths That Cross
    • Overtaking
    • Sailing Vessel Encountering Sailing Vessel
• Navigation Lights
• Night Navigation
• Sound Signals
• U.S. Aids to Navigation System (ATON)
  • Lateral Markers
  • Variations on the U.S. Aids To Navigation System
  • Non-Lateral Markers
  • Buoy System on Waterway
  • Navigational Chart for Waterway
• Anchoring
• Dams, Locks, and Bridges
• Changing Water Levels
• Compasses and Charts
• Operating a Personal Watercraft
  • Steering and Stopping a PWC
  • Courtesy on the Water
  • Environmental Considerations
  • Other PWC Considerations
  • Reboarding a Capsized PWC
• Ignition Safety (Engine Shut-Off) Switches
• Avoiding Propeller Strike Injuries
• Summary
• Review Questions for Operating Your Boat—Safely

The Legal Requirements of Boating

• Chapter 4 Contents
• Your Vessel's Registration
  • Displaying the Assigned Number and Validation Decals
  • Your Vessel's Title
• Hull Identification Number
• Who May Operate a Motorized Vessel or Personal Watercraft
• Unlawful Operation of a Vessel
• Alcohol and Drugs
• Obstructing Navigation
  • Homeland Security Restrictions
• Personal Flotation Devices (Life Jackets)
• Fire Extinguishers
• Backfire Flame Arrestors
• Ventilation Systems
• Boat Battery
• Mufflers and Noise Level Limits
• Navigation Lights
• Visual Distress Signals
• Sound-Producing Devices
• Other Equipment and Regulations
• Requirements Specific to Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
• Towing a Person With a Vessel Legally
• Waste, Oil, and Trash Disposal in Wisconsin and Federal Waters
• Boating Accidents and Casualties—What the Law Requires You To Do
• Enforcement
• Wisconsin Required Equipment Checklist
• Invasive Species
  • Stop the Spread of Zebra Mussels
• Summary
• Review Questions for The Legal Requirements of Boating

Boating Emergencies—What To Do

• Contents
• Risk Management
  • Increased Risk Due to Boating Stressors
  • Increased Risk Due to Dehydration
  • Minimize Risk of Boating Accidents—Avoid Alcohol
  • Minimize Risk of Drownings—Wear PFDs (Life Jackets)
• Boating Accidents
  • Capsizing, Swamping, or Falling Overboard
  • Avoiding Collisions
  • Dealing with Fire Emergencies
  • Running Aground
• Personal Injuries
  • Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  • Responding to Other Serious Injuries
• Weather Emergencies
  • How to Avoid Severe Weather
  • What to Do If Out in Severe Weather
• Summoning Help
• Summary
• Review Questions for Boating Emergencies—What To Do

Enjoying Water Sports With Your Boat

• Contents
• Responsibilities of a Vessel Operator
  • Responsibility to Your Passengers
  • Responsibility to Others You Allow to Operate Your Vessel
  • Responsibility to the Environment
  • Responsibility to Others Using the Waterways
• Paddlesports—Canoes, Kayaks, and Rafts
• Water-Skiing
• Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
• Windsurfing
• Sailing
• Fishing
• Hunting
• Summary
• Review Questions for Enjoying Water Sports with Your Boat