Boating Safety and Courtesy
Be safe on Bone Lake. Print and save the Bone Lake boating map Boating_2026_MapHandout.pdf or pick up a copy printed on waterproof paper available at the north and south landings.
DNR Tip Line
Emergency 911
Slow-no-wake
- Within 100 feet of shore
- Within 100 feet of any dock, pier, raft or restricted area on any lake;
- Within 100 feet of any vessel
PWCs have additional regulations
- Within 200 feet of shoreline on all lakes, reservoirs, and bays.
- PWC operators must not exceed slow-no wake speed when approaching within 100 feet of any boat or vessel.
- Operating a PWC between the hours of sunset and sunrise is prohibited.
- When towing someone on a tube or on water skis there must be capacity on the PWC to accommodate the operator, the observer and the person(s) being towed.
Personal Flotation Devices
When boating in Wisconsin, you are required to have at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type IV throw-able PFD, either a ring buoy or seat cushion, on recreational boats that are 16 feet in length or longer. In addition, you must have at least one wearable Type I, II, III, or V PFD for each person on board, regardless of the length of vessel. Make sure the wearable PFDs are readily accessible.
All personal watercraft occupants must wear a PFD at all times.
Boating Safety Certificate
All boaters born on or after January 1, 1989 must have a Wisconsin Boating Safety Certificate to operate any motorized watercraft.
BOATERexam.com is a delegated provider for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
WHO CAN LEGALLY DRIVE A MOTORBOAT...
A person at least 16 years old may operate a motorboat. If born on or after January 1, 1989 a person may operate a motorboat only if he or she holds a valid boating safety certificate issued by the DNR.
Operators 12-15 years of age must either have a DNR safety certificate or an adult on board while operating 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 designated by the parent or guardian.
A person younger than 10 years old may not operate a motorboat.
WHO CAN LEGALLY DRIVE A PWC...
A person at least 16 years old may operate a PWC only if he or she holds a valid boating safety certificate issued by the DNR.
A person 12-15 years of age may operate a PWC only if he or she holds a valid boating safety certificate issued by WDNR.
Parental supervision is not a substitute for a boating safety course certificate as with other motorboats.
A person younger than 12 years old may not operate a PWC.
Not enough life jackets?
Polk County Boating Viewer
Polk County Boating Viewer allows users to visualize Polk County Lakes’ slow no wake regulation, physical buoys marking hazards, boat access locations and for Bone Lake, the suggested area for enhanced wake activities. Open the viewer, agree to the terms and conditions, manually zoom or search for Bone Lake.
Be Bonelake Nice
Bone Lake can get busy on holidays and weekends. Please be courteous so everyone can have their best experience on the lake.
- More and more of us are enjoying the water in a wide variety of ways.
- Some seek peace and quiet, and a little bit of nature.
- Some let it all hang out and test their prowess and athletic skills.
- How do we share our small world with the creatures that need to live here?
- Can there be less stress and more pleasure?
- How will what I want to do affect others?
- Can I be respectful? Polite? Understanding?
Noise:
Speed:
Litter:
Space:
