Boating Safety: Protect the People and Memories You Take on the Lake

By Toby Hartman, MM Insurance Associates

A safe day on the lake starts with preparation, training, and a plan.

Summer on Wisconsin's lakes is one of the rewards of hard work. Many business owners I work with spend the short boating season on a pontoon boat, ski boat, fishing boat, surf boat, or personal watercraft. There is nothing better than an afternoon on the water with family and friends.

There is also no faster way to change a summer, a lake home, or a family's life than a boating accident.

Northern Wisconsin has some remarkably clear lakes. Lake Superior's cold, clear water is beautiful, but clear water is not warm water and clear skies do not guarantee calm water. Cold water can take away strength quickly. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources warns that after a fall or a capsize, a person may have as little as two minutes before losing the ability to move their muscles and get back into the boat or reach help.

The answer is not to be afraid of the water. It is to respect it. Training, practice, preparation, and experience are the best ways to reduce risk on the lake.

A recent reminder from Geneva Lake

A recent tragedy on Geneva Lake shows how quickly conditions can change. A privately owned 25 foot recreational motorboat carrying six adults and four children tried to reach safety as a sudden and severe storm moved into the area. Severe wind and waves broke over the bow, the boat took on water, capsized, and sank. Seven people were rescued. Three children died.

Authorities reported that all four children were wearing properly fitted life jackets. Investigators later found the three missing children inside the sunken vessel. The investigation remains with the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin DNR. Wisconsin Public Radio reported on the initial response, and WIFR reported the later investigative details.

This is not a story about assigning blame. It is a reminder that life jackets are essential, but they are not the only line of defense. Weather decisions, passenger positioning, an experienced operator, and knowing what to do when a boat takes on water all matter. The safest response to a dangerous storm is usually made before the storm reaches the boat.

For me, moments like this also bring humility. We cannot control the weather. Faith reminds me that we are not in charge of everything. We can control our preparation, our judgment, and how carefully we look after the people riding with us.

Boating is most enjoyable when the operator, passengers, and weather plan are ready.

Training does not end when the course is complete

I was thinking about this while teaching a relative how to operate our family ski boat. I have been around boats long enough that many steps feel automatic. For a new operator, they are not automatic at all.

Why do we turn on the blower before starting the engine? How do you move smoothly from neutral into idle? Where is idle on the throttle? How do you shift into reverse without overcorrecting? How do you approach a dock when the wind is pushing the boat sideways? What changes when someone is in the water behind the boat?

These are not skills to learn for the first time with a full boat of passengers. Practice them in a controlled setting. Work on starting, stopping, neutral, forward, reverse, slow turns, docking, parking, and handling wind. Make sure a new operator understands the controls before allowing them to take responsibility for family and friends.

I also had my daughter complete boating safety training when she turned 16. Certification was important, but it was only the beginning. We practiced driving, docking, turning, and operating in windy conditions. A certificate shows that someone completed the required education. It does not prove that the person is ready for every real world situation on the lake.

Simple habits prevent serious injuries

Before starting the engine:

• Check the boat's capacity plate and do not overload it with people or gear.

• Check the forecast, wind, waves, fuel, navigation lights, fire extinguisher, first aid supplies, communication device, and emergency equipment.

• Make sure every passenger has a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. The safest choice is for everyone to wear one, not merely keep one nearby.

• If the boat has an enclosed engine or fuel area, open the hatches, run the blower after fueling and before getting underway, and check for fumes. The U.S. Coast Guard recommends running the blower for at least four minutes before starting an inboard or sterndrive engine. If you smell gasoline, do not start the engine.

• Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. A simple float plan can save valuable time if something goes wrong.

While underway:

• Keep passengers inside the protective railings. Never allow anyone to ride on the gunwale, seatback, front deck, or outside the protective railings of a pontoon boat. Feet should stay inside the boat.

• Teach every passenger where the propeller is and why it is dangerous. Turn the engine off before anyone enters the water, approaches the stern, boards from the water, or exits the boat. An engine at idle can still leave the propeller spinning.

• Use the engine cut off switch link when required and when the boat is operating on plane. It can stop the boat if the operator is thrown from the helm.

• Keep a proper lookout. A jet ski, skier, swimmer, or another boat can disappear into a blind spot in seconds. A turn made while looking in the wrong direction can cause a devastating collision.

• Slow down near docks, swimmers, crowded areas, and changing weather. Experience is not permission to stop paying attention.

Some of the accidents I have seen or heard about began as ordinary moments. Children had their feet hanging over the front of a pontoon boat. A personal watercraft was just outside the lead operator's view during a turn. A passenger stepping out of a ski boat caught the throttle and moved the boat into gear. No one expected those moments to become serious injuries or property damage. That is why safety has to be deliberate, even on a familiar lake.

Watch the weather before it reaches you

A blue sky at the dock does not guarantee a safe afternoon. Check the forecast before leaving and continue watching the sky, wind direction, waves, and alerts while you are out. Sudden wind shifts, lightning, dark clouds, and choppy water can signal a storm that is developing faster than expected.

Do not try to beat a storm back to the launch. Leave early or seek safe harbor as soon as conditions begin to deteriorate. If you are caught in worsening weather, put life jackets on everyone, reduce speed, keep passengers low and near the center of the boat, and follow current U.S. Coast Guard and DNR guidance for the conditions.

Lake Superior is a good reminder that clear water can still be dangerous water. Its temperature can remain cold even when the air is warm. Check current conditions before entering the water, and give cold water the respect it deserves.

The numbers are a warning, not a reason to panic

Recent official reports show why these habits matter:

• The latest U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating report verified 3,887 incidents, 556 deaths, 2,170 injuries, and approximately $88 million in property damage. Alcohol was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents when the primary cause was known, appearing in 20 percent of deaths.

• The Wisconsin DNR reported that one third of the state's 15 fatal boating incidents in 2025 involved alcohol. The DNR also reports that more than 90 percent of boat fatalities related to drowning involve victims who were not wearing life jackets.

• The Minnesota DNR's latest full summary recorded eight fatal accidents, nine deaths, and two injuries. None of the nine victims was wearing a life jacket, and alcohol was listed as a factor in three of the eight incidents.

These numbers are not meant to scare people away from boating. They are meant to make preparation feel normal. A sober operator, a wearable life jacket, a weather plan, and a practiced response are small decisions that can change the outcome of a bad day.

Alcohol and boating laws in Wisconsin and Minnesota

The legal limit is not a safe target. Sun, glare, wind, noise, vibration, heat, and fatigue can make alcohol affect an operator more quickly on the water.

In Wisconsin, operating a recreational motorboat with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more is prohibited. Operating while impaired to the point that a person cannot safely operate the boat is also prohibited, even apart from the numeric limit. Commercial motorboat operators have a 0.04 limit. A person below Wisconsin's legal drinking age may not operate a motorboat with an alcohol concentration above 0.0. Wisconsin's DNR boating guidance recommends leaving alcohol onshore.

In Minnesota, the alcohol concentration for impaired operation is 0.08. Minnesota law also prohibits operating while under the influence, which means a person can face consequences based on impairment even when the result is below 0.08. The owner or person in control of a boat also cannot knowingly allow an impaired person to operate it.

Minnesota's current boating guide states that its BWI law does not prohibit drinking alcohol aboard a boat or having an open bottle. Wisconsin's boating statute focuses on impaired operation and does not create a general passenger open container rule for boats. Local ordinances, lake rules, and private marinas can be more restrictive, so check the rule that applies where you are boating.

The safest rule is simple: choose a designated operator before leaving the dock, and that person drinks nothing. Do not use the legal limit as a plan for a safe trip.

Check the insurance before the accident

Safety comes first, but insurance is an important second line of defense. A boat policy does not automatically solve every ownership or driver question.

Start with these questions:

• Who legally owns the boat, and who is named on the policy?

• Who regularly operates it? Are family members, friends, and teenage drivers disclosed as needed under the policy?

• Has the boat changed hands from one generation to the next? If so, were the title, registration, boat policy, and umbrella policy updated together?

• Is the boat used for fishing, water skiing, wake surfing, or towing? Does the policy match the boat and its use?

• Are the liability limits appropriate for the owner's home, business, investments, and other assets?

• If the boat is owned by a business, is it insured under the appropriate business policy? A personal umbrella does not automatically cover a business owned boat.

For example, a business owner with a $2 million lake home, a business, and other substantial assets may want to reconsider whether a $500,000 boat liability limit is enough. A personal umbrella in the $2 million to $5 million range could be part of the conversation, but the right amount depends on the entire household and business risk picture, the underlying limits, and the insurance company's requirements.

Do not assume that a family relationship, a safety certificate, or permission to drive guarantees coverage. Ask your insurance professional to review the boat, the regular operators, the ownership, the limits, and the umbrella together. It is much easier to solve those questions at the dock than after a serious accident.

Enjoy the lake with a plan

Boats are a wonderful way to enjoy the short Wisconsin summer. They help us make the memories that bring families back to the lake year after year. The goal of boating safety is not to remove the fun. It is to make sure the fun does not become a permanent source of grief.

Before you leave the dock, ask four questions:

• Is the operator trained, practiced, and sober?

• Is everyone wearing a properly fitted life jacket?

• Do we have a plan for weather, swimming, docking, and an emergency?

• Does our boat insurance match the owner, the drivers, the boat, and the assets we are trying to protect?

If the answer to all four is yes, enjoy the water. Take the long way around the lake. Teach someone else how to handle the boat. Make the afternoon count.

If you own a boat or your family's boat has changed hands, call MM Insurance Associates at (262) 754 4736. We can review the boat, home, umbrella, and business ownership together so your coverage is designed around the life you have built.

Frequently asked questions

What age does someone need boating safety certification in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin generally requires boating safety certification for operators born on or after January 1, 1989. Additional age restrictions apply to younger operators. A person under 10 may not operate a motorboat. People ages 10 through 15 have supervision and certification rules. At age 16, an operator born on or after January 1, 1989 must have a valid safety certificate, or may operate with an accompanying qualified adult under the statutory exception. A new operator should still receive hands on instruction before operating independently.

What age does someone need a watercraft operator permit in Minnesota?

Minnesota is phasing in a watercraft operator permit requirement. As of July 1, 2026, operators born after June 30, 2000 generally need a permit for motorboats and personal watercraft, with the requirement expanding to older age groups through 2028. Temporary visitors can generally use a valid home state certificate if they meet their home state's requirements, but operators should check the current Minnesota DNR rules before boating.

What is the legal alcohol limit for boating in Wisconsin and Minnesota?

For recreational motorboat operation, both Wisconsin and Minnesota use an alcohol concentration of 0.08 as a numeric threshold. Both states also prohibit operating while impaired. Wisconsin has stricter rules for underage operators and a 0.04 limit for commercial motorboats. The safest choice is a completely sober operator.

Can passengers have an open alcoholic beverage on a boat?

Minnesota's current boating guide says its BWI law does not prohibit drinking aboard a boat or having an open bottle. Wisconsin's boating statute focuses on impaired operation rather than a general passenger open container ban. Local rules can differ, and an open beverage is never a defense to impaired operation. Choose a sober operator before leaving the dock.

Does boat insurance cover a family member or friend who drives the boat?

It depends on the policy, the ownership, the relationship to the insured, the person's regular use, and the policy's exclusions. Do not assume that permission alone guarantees coverage. Ask your insurance professional to confirm coverage for every regular operator and to coordinate the boat policy with home, umbrella, and business insurance.