Boating Laws and Safety

Slow No Wake Ordinance 

Please show consideration for all lake users and property owners by water skiing, tubing and using personal watercraft between 10:00 am & 5:00 pm as stated by the Web Lake town ordinance. These rules are to protect shorelines and reduce recreational conflict. Slow No Wake means a speed at which the boat moves as slowly as possible while still maintaining steerage control.

WI Lake Courtesy Code
Webb Lake Ordinance

Maintain Distance and Safe Speeds

Under Wisconsin Boating Law, boaters must maintain proper distances and safe speeds while using watercraft on Long Lake.

 

A person younger than 10 years may not operate a motor boat.

 

Personal watercraft (PWC) within 200 feet and boats within 100 feet of shoreline must operate in a slow no wake speed. 

 

A person younger than 12 years old may not operate a PWC.

 

A slow no wake speed is also required within 100 feet of the following:

  • Other Watercraft
  • Rafts and Paddleboards
  • Docks
  • Swimmers
  • BuoysMaintain
Required navigation lights must be displayed between sunset and sunrise (red and geen side lights, along with white masthead light and white stern light. No other lights including docking lights may be used.

Decontamination Ordinance 

Every boat and trailer must be decontaminated according to posted instructions at the Long Lake landing as stated in Sec 18-233 of the Burnett County Code of Ordinances. 

Decontamination helps to kill invasive species that are not visible or are difficult to see(zebra muscles and spiny water fleas).

Burnett County Ordinance

“If a decontamination station is available for use at a public or private access, the boater shall decontaminate per posted directions using the decontamination station provided” – Chapter 18, Article 5 – Burnett County Decontamination Ordinance.

Power Loading

To minimize damage caused at boat landings, the Burnett County Natural Resources Comittee (NRC) has made an ordinance prohibiting all Boat Power Loading.

 

 

Power Loading: is defined as the practice of putting on, or taking off, from a trailer, carriage or device, a watercraft while under motor power, whether by main, auxiliary or trolling power devices.”

 

 

This activity causes erosion of the lake bed, which is the case at our landing. And, can eventually lead to disruption or damage to the concrete portion of the landing. Deep holes may form where Power Loading takes place.

What You Should Know Before You Operate Your Boat

Wisconsin state law states that no person may operate, and no owner may give permission for the operation of, any boat on the waters of this state unless the boat is covered by a current registration certificate and current decals. If the vessel is a motorized boat or sail boat 16 feet or greater, a Wisconsin issued certificate of title or a Federal Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation.Any temporary operating receipt you received at time of application is valid for only 60 days.

Exceptions to the requirement to register a boat include:

  • Sailboats 12 feet in length or less and not equipped with a motor, and sailboards.
  • Manually propelled boats that are not equipped with a motor or sail.
  • Boats registered in another state and using Wisconsin waters for less than 60 consecutive days.

Legally required PFD equipment must be on board at all times including:

  • PFD (personal flotation device or life jackets)
  • All vessels including canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: must have at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable (PFD) for each person on board.
  • All vessels 16 ft or more in length (except canoes, Kayaks and paddle boards) must have one U.S. Coast Guard approved throwable PDF on board that is immediately accessible. 
  • Federal law requires children under 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PDF while underway in an open vessel on federally controlled waters.
  • Every person on board a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved Types I, II, III, or V PFD.
  • You must wear the proper size PFD, and it must be in good and serviceable condition. No tears, rips, broken straps, or snaps. PFD

Wisconsin Penalities for PWC (personal watercraft) operators and riders not wearing PFD (personal flotation device) is $148.20

Who can operate a jet ski?

  • Under 16 years old may not rent or lease a PWC.
  • A person younger than 12 years of age, may not operate a PWC or jet ski.
  • 12-15 years olds may operate a PWC only if they have completed a boating safety course. They must carry a copy of the certificate and make it available to law enforcement officers when requested.
  • A PWC operator must always face forward.
  • A PWC may not be operated between sunset and sunrise.
  • A PWC may not be operated at faster than “slow, no wake speed” within:
    • 100 ft of any other vessel 
    • 200 ft from shore
    • 100 ft from a dock, pier, raft, or restricted area
  • A PWC must operate in a responsible manner. No maneuvers that endanger people or property are prohibited:
    • jumping a wake within 100 ft of another vessel
    • operating within 100 ft of a vessel that is towing a person
    • weaving through congested traffic
    • chassing, harassing, or distrubing wildlife