Welcome aboard! Wisconsin Recreational Boaters Association, Inc. (WisBOAT),
a nonprofit organization is committed to safe and
accessible boating for all recreational boating enthusiasts.
We might have differing interests, whether it’s
fishing, skiing, paddling, sailing or power boating,
but in sharing our waterways, we have a common bond
and interest when it comes to safety and access.
Join by July 30, 2005,
and become a charter member where you’ll be
recognized as one of the first to help “make
positive waves”!
Since the grassroots organization banded together
and then officially became WisBOAT in February 2005,
we have accomplished the following:
Education:
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Opened informational dialogue with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Detroit Office) and garnered a “seat at the table” with the management of water levels in the Winnebago Watershed. |
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Opened informational dialogue with Legislators and State Government leaders to retain U.S. Coast Guard Jurisdiction over the Winnebago Watershed. |
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Investigated and have kept recreational enthusiasts informed about the intent of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to remotely operate bridges in the densely trafficked Winnebago Watershed. |
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Informed Legislator, State and Local Government leaders and Governmental Agencies of the Economic impact of boaters in Northeastern Wisconsin. We make waves all around the state and want to gain a clearer understanding of our statewide impact and what’s contributed to tourism and local economies. |
Project Involvement:
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Monitoring water depth on the Winnebago System. |
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Support of University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh Lake Winnebago Water Quality Studies with support in a call for volunteers. |
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The Reopening of the Historic Lower Fox River Locks Project. |
Future Educational Projects:
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Why are there so few Wardens and so many DNR employees? |
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Are boating laws being enforced? |
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The Wisconsin Recreational Boaters Fund (RBF), commonly referred to as “The Boaters Gas Tax”; What is it? How is it calculated? How is it spent and by whom? |
Navigational Issues:
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What are YOUR three top concerns as a user of Wisconsin waterways? We need to hear from you in order to have a positive impact and balanced resolution to boating issues around the state. |
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WisBOAT is structured to overlay the five DNR districts throughout the state and will also serve as a clearing-house in posting important navigational updates that aren’t yet readily available on charts and electronic charting software chips. We need to hear from you as you learn of navigational or access challenges and changes. |
Who Should Join:WisBOAT is the only organization to represent the interests of recreational enthusiasts, marinas, marine dealers, ancillary marine related businesses and commercial enterprises that benefit from recreational boating traffic throughout the entire State of Wisconsin. This includes Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, the Mississippi River and all our inland lakes as well. We currently represent the interests of nearly 2,000 recreational boaters. In 2003, the DNR had 610,000 registered boats in the State of Wisconsin. Think of what our collective voice can accomplish!
Clubs: To date, Fond du Lac
Yacht Club, Oshkosh Boat Club, Neenah Nodaway Yacht
Club, Fond du Lac Boating Club and Fond du Lac Sailing
Club are proud members of WisBOAT. Spread the word
and have your club join and join as an individual
as well so you receive the latest breaking news affecting
safe and accessible navigation.
Harborside
Yacht Center is the first
within the marine dealer and marina ranks to not only
join WisBOAT, but has committed to the growth of the
organization by giving a complementary one year membership
with each new boat sold through it’s family of
dealerships. Harborside has dealer/marina facilities
in Kenosha, Milwaukee and Green Bay and is charting
thecourse for other commercial enterprises
as we maintain vigilance on safe and accessible waterways.
Buy WisBOAT when you are on the
waterways. Ask your marina, boat dealer, favorite
on water restaurant, bait shops, canvas shop and
more if they’re members of WisBOAT. Recreational
boaters have tremendous buying power and we encourage
you to support those members who support safe and
accessible waterways. Check back often to find out
who is supporting the recreational boating community
and utilize those members as your preferred businesses
for goods and services.
Radtke
Contractors, Inc. of Winneconne
and Russ Reff, Attorney-at-Law,
Oshkosh, have played an integral role in the founding
of WisBOAT with in-kind and pro bono sponsorship
of financial advisement, legal incorporation and
marketing support of our organizational structure.
Ports of Call:
Send us your favorite
ports of call on our waterways throughout the state.
WisBOAT can provide an important service to boaters
in providing one another helpful information about
service and amenities. Make sure your favorites are
WisBOAT members and encourage them to join if they’re not currently members. As
our membership grows, we’ll strive to make chat
boards available for posting information pertinent
to recreational boating.
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