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Water Skiing Safety

Safety Site

 Water Skiing Safety

Monica Palmer, RSRC Safety Administrator

Recreational Safety takes Responsibility & Control

 

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​​Many water-skiers and boaters don't realize the potential hazards of waterskiing until it is too late. Familiarize yourself with these waterskiing safety tips:

  • Learn how to “talk” to one another. Both the skier and boat operator should learn and use proper communication hand signals.
  • Keep an eye on the skier. Texas law requires a watercraft with someone in tow to have either a mirror at least 4 inches by 4 inches or an observer at least 13 years of age. LCRA recommends using an observer to watch and assist the skier.
  • Allow extra maneuvering room when towing a skier. Avoid potential hazards and don't ski in front of another boat or in small coves where the ability to maneuver is restricted.
  • Ski in deep water and away from buoy markers. Avoid the shoreline, shallow areas and areas where there are several boats or people swimming.
  • Stop the boat motor when near a skier in the water.
  • After falling, hold up one ski so boaters can see you. A towboat should always stay close to a fallen skier.
  • Wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  • Display an orange flag on your boat. An orange flag warns other boaters that a water-skier is somewhere in the water nearby. Many boating supply retailers stock orange flags or can order them.
  • Don’t ski in the dark. Skiing is prohibited from a half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise.

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Rollup Description

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​Hand Signals


water_backtodock.gif   

Back to dock

water_skierok.gif
Skier OK

water_skierdown.gif
Skier down - watch!

water_speedup.gif
Speed up

water_slowdown.gif
Slow down

water_speedok.gif
Speed OK

water_stop.gif
Stop

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Turn left

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Turn right                      

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