It's the Law: Specifically for Skiing

Vessel operators towing a person(s) using a parasail or on water skis, surfboard, or a similar device have additional laws they must follow.

Requirements for Towing Skiers

• Vessels towing water-skiers or participating in a similar activity must be designed to accommodate two or more persons.
• Each person being towed must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device.
• It is illegal for a vessel to tow a person(s) on water skis, a surfboard, a parasail or a similar device unless one of the following conditions is met.
  • A person at least 8 years old, in addition to the vessel operator, is on board observing the towed person(s) or ...
  • The vessel is equipped with an approved rearview mirror or mirrors so that the operator of the vessel can observe the progress of the person(s) being towed while facing forward:
    • If the vessel is not a personal watercraft, one wide-angle convex rearview mirror must be installed.
    • If the vessel is a personal watercraft, two wide-angle convex rearview mirrors must be installed.
• It is illegal to operate a personal watercraft or similar device capable of being remote-controlled by the skier unless such device is factory-equipped with an ignition safety switch capable of shutting off the engine in the event the skier becomes detached from the personal watercraft device.
• It is illegal for vessels to tow skiers or surfboards, parasails or any other device between sunset and sunrise or when visibility is restricted so as to endanger life or property.
• Vessels towing water-skiers or participating in a similar activity must operate in a careful and prudent manner.
• A reasonable distance from other vessels, people and property must be maintained so as not to endanger life or property. It is illegal to cause the person being towed to collide with any object or person.

Hand Signals for Skiers

Knowing proper hand signals will help the skier(s) communicate with their boat operator or the observer.

Illustrations of Hand Signals	Descriptions of Hand Signals for Skiers
	Back to dock
	Skier OK
	Skier down—watch!
	Speed up
	Slow down
	Speed OK
	Stop
	Turn left
	Turn right

Avoiding Propeller Strike Injuries

Most propeller strike accidents result from operator error. Victims include swimmers, scuba divers, fallen water-skiers, and boat operators or passengers. Most propeller accidents can be prevented by following basic safe boating practices.

• Maintain a proper lookout. The primary cause of propeller strike accidents is operator inattention.
• Make sure the engine is off so that the propeller is not rotating when passengers are boarding or leaving a boat.
• Never start a boat with the engine in gear.
• Slow down when approaching congested areas and anchorages. In congested areas, always be alert for swimmers and divers.
• Learn to recognize warning buoys that mark swimming and other hazardous areas.
• Keep the boat away from marked swimming and diving areas. Become familiar with the red and white or blue and white diagonally striped flags signaling that divers are down.
• Make sure that passengers are properly seated before getting underway. Some operators of larger boats with several passengers have caused injuries by putting the engine in gear while people were still swimming or diving from the boat.
• Never ride on a seat back, gunwale, transom, or bow.

Devices that Reduce Propeller Strikes

There are several new technologies designed to reduce propeller strikes. The effectiveness of the devices varies, depending on the boat and the operating environment. For more information, read the article "Propeller Injury Intervention" on the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety website: www.uscgboating.org.