WATERSPORTS SAFETY CODE
Watersports are fun and challenging but involve inherent risks of injury or death.
To increase your enjoyment of the sport and to reduce your risks, use common
sense and follow these rules:
Before you start:
• Familiarize yourself with all applicable federal, state and local laws, the risks inher-
ent in the sport and the proper use of the equipment.
• Know the waterways.
• Always have a person other than the driver as an observer.
• Skier/rider, observer and driver must agree on hand signals.
• Never start out until skier/rider signals he/she is ready.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning from engine exhaust may cause injury or death.
Do not sit on the boat transom or boarding platform while the engine is running.
These activities may lead to excessive CO exposure which may cause injury or death.
If you can smell engine exhaust while in the boat, do not stay seated in that position
for prolonged periods. Never “Platform Drag” by holding onto the boarding platform
or be dragged directly behind the boat. An improperly tuned engine will produce
excessive exhaust. Have your engine checked and corrected by a mechanic. Chang-
ing boat speed or direction relative to the wind can reduce or increase boat exhaust
from accumulating near the boat and rider. Consult your boat Owners Manual, or the
United States Coast Guard’s website: www.uscgboating.org for more information on
how to help protect others and yourself from the dangers of CO poisoning
• Use caution and common sense.
• Do not exceed the weight guidelines of your boat. Only use water ballast and people
for additional weight. Do not allow passengers to hang outside the boat or sit on the
gunwales outside the normal seating area of the boat. Uneven weight distribution or
additional weight may affect the handling of the boat. Never allow water to overflow
the gunwales of your boat.
