Know These Rules Before You Go

Speed and no-wake rules

Pennsylvania requires slow, no-wake speed within 100 feet of shorelines, docks, launch ramps, swimmers, waders, and anchored, moored, or drifting boats and floats.

Pennsylvania also prohibits operating faster than slow, no-wake when within:

• 100 feet behind another boat underway

• 50 feet to the side of another boat underway

Lake Wallenpaupack additional slow, no-wake areas, including:

• Wallenpaupack Creek

• From Ledgedale Bridge to about 1,000 feet downstream

• From the dam to about 600 feet south

• Between Cairn’s Island and the Pike County shoreline

Life jackets

Every boat must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. From November 1 through April 30, boaters on boats less than 16 feet, plus anyone on a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, must wear a life jacket.

Registration, Permits & Licenses

In Pennsylvania, a Boating Safety Education Certificate is required for all personal watercraft operators and for anyone born on or after January 1, 1982, who operates a boat powered by more than 25 horsepower.

Quick Guide:

Motorized boat
- Needs current boat registration

Kayak, canoe, paddleboard, rowboat, inflatable, or other unpowered boat
- Needs registration and displayed launch permit at public access areas

Jet ski / PWC
- Needs proper registration, and the operator may need a Boating Safety Education Certificate

Fishing
- Age 16+ needs a valid Pennsylvania fishing license

Fishing for trout
- If your planning to fish for trout, you need a trout permit

Common Mix-Ups:

• A launch permit is not the same as boat registration

• A boating safety certificate is not the same as registration

• A fishing license does not cover trout by itself if a trout permit is required

Before you leave home Checklist:

• Registration card or launch permit

• Boating safety certificate, if required

• Fishing license, if fishing

• Trout permit, if needed

Passing, Navigation & Lake Etiquette

Lake Etiquette Quick List

PA spacing rule

Pennsylvania prohibits operating faster than slow, no-wake when within:

• 100 feet behind another boat underway

• 50 feet to the side of another boat underway

Navigation reminders

• Keep scanning the water constantly

• Slow down early near marinas, launches, docks, and anchored groups

• Learn markers and hazard areas before exploring unfamiliar sections

• Do not assume open water means you can run however you want

• Watch your wake near shoreline homes, docks, and tied-up boats

Passing another boat

If you are overtaking another boat, you are the give-way boat. Pass wide, stay predictable, and do not throw a hard wake. Pennsylvania also restricts speed when you are close behind or beside another moving boat..

DO:

• Pass wide

• Slow down early

• Give sailboats room

• Watch your wake

• Be predictable

DON'T:

• Cut close behind someone

• Weave through traffic

• Fly through calm coves

• Throw wake near docks or anchored boats

• Treat sunset like a suggestion on a jet ski, it is regulated by the posted time of sunset.

Emergency Help on the Lake

For a true emergency on the water, call 911 first. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Northeast Region Law Enforcement office, which covers Pike and Wayne Counties, lists (570) 477-5717.

What to tell dispatch

• Your location on the lake

• The closest marina, bridge, island, or landmark

• Boat type and color

• Whether anyone is injured or in the water

Where to Get Gas on Lake Wallenpaupack

Lighthouse Harbor Marina has a gas dock with posted hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

1st Klas Marina & Ironwood Recreation also offer gas dock and refuel service.

Always call ahead. Especially if you'll need relying on fuel late in the day, hours can change by season and weather.

Frequently asked questions

Do sailboats have the right of way?

Usually, yes. A power-driven boat must generally give way to a sailboat under sail. But if the sailboat is overtaking another boat, the sailboat is the give-way vessel. In every case, both operators still have to avoid a collision.

What should jet skiers know?

Personal watercraft operators must wear life jackets, use required safety gear, and cannot operate from sunset to sunrise. They should watch for swimmers, tubes, tow ropes, anchored boats, and larger boat wakes. All PWC operators must have a Boating Safety Education Certificate with them.

How do you pass another boat on the lake?

If you are overtaking another boat, you are the give-way boat. Pass wide, stay predictable, and do not throw a hard wake. Pennsylvania also restricts speed when you are close behind or beside another moving boat.

Is it okay to cut directly across the lake?

Yes, in open water, but do it carefully and predictably. Sudden moves across busy traffic are what create problems. A clean, readable path gives other boaters more time to react. This is an inference drawn from the state’s navigation and safe-operation rules.

Do I need a boating license?

Pennsylvania does not issue a general “boating license,” but some operators do need a Boating Safety Education Certificate. That includes all jet ski operators and anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 operating a boat with more than 25 horsepower.

Do I need a fishing license?

Yes, if you are 16 or older and fishing public waters. Keep it accessible on paper or digitally.