Operator Age and Education Requirements for Motorboats

The following are requirements for operating a motorboat, other than personal watercraft (PWC), on Wisconsin waters. A person born before January 1, 1989, is exempt from the safety course requirement.

• A person younger than 10 years may not operate a motorboat.
• A person 10 or 11 years old may operate a motorboat only if accompanied by a parent, a guardian, or a person at least 18 years old who is designated by the parent or guardian and the parent, guardian, or designated adult holds a valid boating safety certificate or was born before January 1, 1989.
• A person 12–15 years old may operate a motorboat only if he or she:
  • Is accompanied by a parent, a guardian, or a designated adult and the parent, guardian, or designated adult holds a valid boating safety certificate or was born before January 1, 1989, or…
  • Has completed a boating safety course that is accepted by the Wisconsin DNR.
• A person who was born on or after January 1, 1989, and who is 16 years of age or older may operate a motorboat only if he or she:
  • Has completed a boating safety course that is accepted by the Wisconsin DNR or…
  • Is accompanied by another person in the motorboat who is at least 18 years of age and that person holds a valid boating safety certificate or was born before January 1, 1989.