Malibu Boats RESPONSE TXi 2021, Owner'S Manual

Page: 37 / 202

2021 OWNER’S MANUAL | Safety 23
• Use rear view mirrors to allow the driver to glance at the
towed person, while keeping their main attention on the
path of the boat and the surroundings.
• Return safely to pick up towed persons or persons in
the water. Keep the individual in view, approach slowly
(preferably on the driver’s side) and shut off the engine
when close to an individual in the water. DO NOT back up
or operate the boat in reverse to a person in the water.
Observers should:
• Confirm for the boat operator that it is “all clear” behind the
boat prior to starting the engine.
• Watch the towed person.
• Be responsible for communication for the signals and status
of the towed person to the boat driver.
• Notify the boat operator of status and changing conditions
with the towed person and inform the boat driver of
the towed person’s readiness to start, their desire to go
faster or slower, or that they have fallen and are in need of
retrieval.
• Deploy the fallen skier flag when the towed person falls, if
needed. In some states, it is required to raise the “fallen
skier” flag when the skier has fallen.
• Monitor the tow line to ensure that it does not become
tangled, it does not become wrapped around anyone in
the boat, and it does not become wrapped around the
towed person. Also monitor the tow line so that it does not
become tangled in the propeller. Notify the boat operator
if any of these conditions are observed to avoid potential
injury.
• Remind the boat operator to shut off the engine when
persons are on the swim platform or in the water near the
back of the boat.
Towed persons should:
• Wear a PFD.
• Not approach the back of the boat if the engine is running.
• Not become entangled in a tow line or wrap a tow line
around any body part.
• Know signals to communicate with the observer and boat
operator.
Additional Precautions for Towed Skier/Rider
• Wear wet suits or protective shorts when engaging in high
energy skiing/riding to prevent abrasions, hypothermia, and
injuries to orifices (rectal and vaginal) from impact with the
water surface.
• Inspect watersports equipment for wear, fraying, etc. before
use. DO NOT use if they show signs of wear or fraying.
Ropes or watersport equipment tow points may break
during use, causing you to coast into obstacles or fall with
the risk of being struck by another vessel.
• Inspect the boat tow points before use. If there is any
evidence of corrosion or other damage, do not use until it
has been inspected by your authorized Malibu Boat dealer.
• NEVER attach ski/wakeboard rope to anything but approved
pylons and wakeboard towers. Make sure tow ropes are
properly attached to the boat tow points.
• The skier/rider should verbally indicate that (s)he is safely
clear of the boat prior to operator starting the boat engine
or putting the boat into gear.
• Slowly take up slack in tow lines before accelerating to
watersports speeds. Jerking the slack out of a tow line can
cause high forces on the rope and towing equipment. This
may cause the rope or equipment to break and the rope
to snap back at occupants of your boat and at the towed
person.
• Never put your arm, head or any other part of your body
through the handle/bridle of the ski or wakeboarding line,
nor warp the line around any part of the body at any time. If
you fall, the line will tighten and forcefully constrict around
your body part and may result in amputation.
• DO NOT ski near swimming areas, beaches, personal
watercraft, or other vessels/boats.
• Never attempt land or dock starts. These activities will
increase your risk of injury or death.
• DO NOT jump from a boat that is moving at any speed, nor
enter or exit the water when the engine is running.
• DO NOT “back up” to anyone in the water, they will be in
danger of hitting the spinning propeller which can cause
severe injury or death.
• DO NOT follow directly behind another boat or skier/
rider without leaving an adequate safe distance in case
that towed person falls into the water. You will need ample
time and distance to maneuver your boat away from that
person in the water and to avoid their tow boat which will be
circling back to retrieve their downed person.
• DO NOT participate in towed watersports at night. It is
illegal and other boats will not be able to see you, nor will
they anticipate or expect your presence behind the towing
boat. Furthermore, once you fall, they will not see you
swimming.
• DO NOT tow with multiple skier/riders with different length
ropes.
• DO NOT ski in limited visibility conditions.
• NEVER climb, sit, or stand on a wakeboard tower. The
wakeboard tower is intended for towing only as noted. It
is designed to pull a limited number of individual(s), and in
some cases only one person. Please consult the remainder
of this manual and warning labels on the tower for details.
The wakeboard tower approved for use on your boat should
be used only for water skis, wakeboards, or recreational
towables, and not for parasailing, kite flying, or towing other
boats.
• Many states require the use of “skier down” flags. Check
your local lake and state requirements. Having the observer
raise a skier down flag when your towed watersport
participant falls or off the towed device will alert boats
around you to the fact that someone is in the water nearby
and that they should avoid the area.
• Many lakes have recommended tow patterns. Other boats
may expect that you know the local customs and practices.
It is common that the tow pattern is counterclockwise
around the lake, but there are exceptions. Check for local
recommendations or requirements.
• NEVER lift or trailer the boat with water in the bilge or in
ballast tanks. Lift or trailer per manufacturer’s instructions.
• Around marina docks where electrical current is present