Towing a Person With a Vessel

Vessel operators towing a person(s) on water skis, surfboards, or similar devices and the persons being towed must do so safely and responsibly.

• It is illegal to tow a person on water skis or any person in any other manner from a PWC.
• It is illegal for vessels to tow a person(s) on water skis or similar devices from sunset to sunrise.
• Everyone engaged in water-skiing—the operator and the towed person(s)—must conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner.
  • Water-skiers must ski at a safe distance to prevent their wash from being thrown into or causing excessive rocking of other vessels, rafts, or floats.
  • The towing vessel must not be operated within 150 feet of shorelines being used as swimming areas or within 75 feet of floats or markers that designate swimming areas.
  • It is illegal for the vessel operator to be under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance.
• Water-skiing is not permitted on some Massachusetts waterways. Check before you go boating.