Do you have to have a license to canoe in wisconsin?

Question

Do you have to have a license to canoe in wisconsin?

Answer 1

A personal one? No.

A canoe one. No.

Exception, Yes, if a motor is used with the canoe. The canoe needs to be registered with State of Wisconsin.

Answer 2

This is from the Wisconsin DNR Boater Safety / Regulations website:

"There are no age requirements for operating a boat that is not equipped with a motor."  

"Exemptions From Registration

1. Sailboats 12 feet and under without a motor.

2. Manually propelled boats not equipped with a motor or sail."

So... no personal license, no boating registration - as long as you are only paddling.   As the previous poster wrote - if  you put a motor on the canoe, then you need to register it.

You do have to have a pfd (lifejacket) for each person in the boat.  Children under 13 are required to wear them at all times.

Answer 3

Most states require a boating safety class and certificate for operation of any motorized vessel, including electric motor.