Towed Water Sports in North Carolina (2024)

FAQs

When engaged in towed water sports how many people are required on board the vessel in Washington state? ›

Three people are required to engage in waterskiing: the vessel operator, an observer and the skier. The observer and the operator cannot be the same person.

A PWC must have a rearview mirror or an observer on board besides the operator to legally tow someone on skis or similar device.

Water skiing behind a motorboat (or towing of people on other devices) is allowed only between one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

It's not illegal to exceed your capacity rating, but it's not smart. And whether or not the boat's overloaded depends more on weight than on the number of people. A bit more: A boat's capacity rating delineates how many people or pounds the boat can safely hold in good conditions, as determined by the manufacturer.

The rules for this program specify that the "Maximum Loading Weight" which is the combined dry and ballast weight, must not exceed 5,500 lbs in order to receive the decals. Boats larger than 5,500 lbs. are not eligible for the program and cannot operate for the purposes of towed watersports on the Newberg Pool.

How many people can be towed behind a vessel at one time? No more than six people may be towed on one or more inflatable tubes and no more than two people may be towed on water skis, aquaplanes, or other devices from the same motorboat at the same time.

Water skiing or towing people on other devices is only allowed 1 hour before sunrise until 1 hour after sunset.

The operator of a vessel towing someone on skis or another aquaplaning device must either have an observer, in addition to the operator, on board who is attendant to the actions of the skier or have and use a wide-angle rear-view mirror.

It shall be mounted firmly to give the operator a full, complete view beyond the rear of the vessel at all times. (3) No vessel shall have in tow or shall otherwise be assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar contrivance from the period of one (1) hour after sunset to one (1) hour prior to sunrise.

When you are in a power-driven vessel and you see a red, a green, and a white light, you are approaching another power-driven vessel head-on and both vessels must give way.

What is legally required to be worn by a person when waterskiing for 74 under Florida law? ›

Each person operating, riding on, or being towed behind a PWC must wear an approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD).

Virginia Boater Safety Course

For a personal watercraft (PWC), the minimum operator age is 14 and operators must complete and pass a boating safety course before they can operate. For a motorboat, there is no minimum operator age and there is no minimum age requirement to attend a NASBLA-approved boating safety course.

Boating under the influence (also known as BUI) is also enforced for water skiing, surfing, and operating non-motorized vessels like sailboats and paddleboards. Just like driving a vehicle, people can be convicted if they have an alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more.

A PWC cannot be operated at any time between sunset and sunrise. The operator and all passengers on a PWC must be wearing a personal flotation device. Any person being towed by a boat or PWC must wear a personal flotation device.

Operation of a Personal Watercraft between the hours of sunset and sunrise is prohibited. The operator as well as all passengers of a PWC must be wearing a PFD. When towing someone on a tube or on water-skis there must be capacity on the PWC to accommodate the operator, the observer as well as the tuber/skier(s).

Any person being towed behind a vessel must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, III, or V life jacket. Exceptions are made for those performing or participating in an official regatta, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition. Inflatable life jackets are not approved for use while water-skiing.

Final answer: An observer on board or a wide-angle rearview ski mirror is a specific legal requirement when towing a person on water skis.

Final answer: A specific legal requirement when towing a person on water skis is to have an observer on board or a wide-angle rearview ski mirror.