STINKBOATERS ARE CERTIFIABLE. That's obvious to any Laser sailor. This proposal is somewhat more serious.

Many thousands of future boaters would be banned from driving powerboats and personal watercraft unless they complete state-sanctioned boating safety courses under legislation awaiting Gov. Jim Doyle's signature.

The impetus for the legislation is a fatal accident on Lake Delton in which an inexperienced Illinois jet-skier ran down an inner-tuber. Yes, I know, "inexperienced Illinois jet-skier" is a long-winded way of saying "parvenu." But therein lies the problem. Will Wisconsin's lake safety patrols be able to enforce such laws against, say, youngsters operating powerboats with an IL or MC prefix to their hull numbers?