looking ahead...tips for summer

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Keep in mind that legally you have to be 100 ft. from shore.  It's a very narrow river to be legal at all times.

Hey Cory,

I did take the boaters safety course but in no way am I an expert on boating law.  There must be some exceptions to this rule although I don’t pretend to understand them.

Here are some examples of situations I don’t understand but think they must be legal.

In Wisconsin Dells there is a ski show we normally go to at least 1x/year called the Tommy Batlett ski sky and stage show.  In this show I have never seen more then just a driver in the boat.  I will concede there are spotters on shore but this seems on the surface to be not legal.  Also they ski right up to the edge of the stage often letting go of the rope as their ski’s are about to touch the stage that is slanted into the water.  They literally ride the stage and hop off the ski’s as they slide to a stop and take a bow to applause.

Looking at another boating situation I don’t understand but again, see it all the time, at the mouth of the Wolf as you leave Lake Poygan you can take 2 ways into the Wolf River. One way is known as “Boom Bay.”  This is no wake during the weekends and holidays but a wake zone during the week.  At the very end of boom bay the channel narrows.  I did not measure it but I don’t think it’s over 120’ wide total.  Boats go through this spot at wake speed then make a hard starboard turn upriver all the time.  Given the boat has width this means at least one side of the boat is likely 50’ or less from shore. 

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Here....You read them and tell me what they say on page 22 about water skiing, observers, prudent and safe behavior and marked ski areas. 

Then on page 19 about speed within 100 ft of docks, rafts, piers etc. 

Then check out the #8 most common offence on page 26.

Aparently I'm not reading them right. 

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/docs/BoatingRegs.pdf

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Here....You read them, tell me what they say on page 22 about water skiing.  Aparently I'm not reading them right. 

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/docs/BoatingRegs.pdf

Hi Cory,

Thank you for the link. I have seen that booklet before.  I think when I registered my boat it came in the mail with my boat registration certificate. 

I see lots of things in that booklet that are clear in how they are stated yet are not consistent with what I observe as a spectator at water ski shows.  I’m wondering if there is some sort of exception you can do if certain conditions exist.

Again, I don’t know.  I’m asking. 

The ski show I mentioned above at Wisconsin Dells has been going on for a lot of years.  If you happen to go just read the page you referred to then see how many violations you can spot. 

I have highlighted areas I have seen at shows that are opposite of the below. 

To operate a motorboat towing a person whether or not on water
skis, aquaplane, parasail or similar device, unless there is in the
boat a competent person in addition to the operator in a position
to observe the activity of the person being towed. The observer
must be be able to observe the person being towed and relay
signals to the operator.
● To engage in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity from
sunset to sunrise. (See pages 25–27 for sunrise/sunset tables.) (At the later part of August they are skiing 1 ½ hours after sunset.  They actually use spot lights so you can see the skiers)
● To operate a motorboat having a person in tow on water skis,
aquaplane or similar device other than in a careful and prudent
manner and at a reasonable and safe distance from persons or
property.
● To operate a boat towing persons engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning,
parasailing or similar activity within 100 feet of any occupied
anchored boat, any personal watercraft, or marked swimming area
or public boat landing, except where pick-up and drop areas are
established and marked with regulatory markers.
● To operate a personal watercraft towing a person on waterskis,
aquaplane, or similar device unless the personal watercraft is
designed to seat at least 3 persons.
● For a person engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity
to get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft or allow the tow
rope while in use to get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft.

Actually, I thought there was a rule of 100 feet from shore or a pier. Now that I read it I don’t see it. 

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Actually, I thought there was a rule of 100 feet from shore or a pier. Now that I read it I don’t see it. 

Found it. On page 19.  "SPEED RESTRICTIONS"
● It is unlawful to operate a motorboat within 100 feet of any dock,
raft, pier, or buoyed restricted area on any lake at a speed in excess
of “slow-no-wake.”

I could not find a rule in this pamphlet about a distance you need to keep from shore when at wake speed.  I don’t remember there being a pier along Boom Bay.  This could explain how going wake speed (week day, not on a holiday) in this narrow area is legal.  Again, its just a guess.  I'm not a expert.

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I’m wondering if there is some sort of exception you can do if certain conditions exist.

Again, I don’t know.  I’m asking. 

The ski show I mentioned above at Wisconsin Dells has been going on for a lot of years.  If you happen to go just read the page you referred to then see how many violations you can spot. 

Best as I can tell, they are by all rights in violation of the law. 

But I'm sure that some thing to do with the amount of Tourist $$$ generated by having attractions, like ski shows, plays a part in law inforcement turning a blind eye.

Maybe a letter to the local sheriff's patrol will take care of it?  lol.

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.......But I'm sure that some thing to do with the amount of Tourist $$$ generated by having attractions, like ski shows, plays a part in law inforcement turning a blind eye.

That could be. When we last went we were a group of 14.  I know with admission and concessions plus some over priced souvenirs the kids just had to have that they ended up playing with never again  as a group we dropped several hundred bucks.