Safety
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
inherent 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 swim 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 swim 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. Changing 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.
THE
WARNINGS AND PRACTICES SET FORTH ABOVE IN THE WATERSPORTS SAFETY CODE
REPRESENT SOME COMMON RISKS ENCOUNTERED BY USERS. THE CODE DOES NOT
PURPORT TO COVER ALL INSTANCES OF RISK OR DANGER. PLEASE USE COMMON
SENSE AND GOOD JUDGMENT.
