Requirements to Tow a Person With a Vessel

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

• Each person being towed behind a vessel must wear a USCG–approved PFD.
• Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must have a competent person, in addition to the vessel operator, continuously observing the towed person(s).
• If the towing vessel is a PWC, the PWC must be rated by the manufacturer for at least three people—the operator, the observer, and the retrieved skier.
• Vessels towing a person(s) on water skis or similar device must carry on board a red or orange skier-down flag. The observer must display the flag whenever the skier is in the water.