Requirements to Tow a Person With a Vessel

Vessel operators towing a person(s) on water skis, aquaplanes, kneeboards, or any other similar devices have specific equipment and observer requirements.

• All persons being towed behind a vessel on water skis or any other device must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD. Ski belts are not approved PFDs.
• In addition to the operator, a competent observer must be in the vessel in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed (on a PWC, this means the observer must be seated facing toward the towed person). A competent observer is a person who knows and understands the water-skiing hand signals and can relay these signals to the operator.
• If towing a person behind a PWC, the PWC must be rated for at least three people—the driver, the observer, and the retrieved skier.
• The length of the tow line must not exceed 75 feet.