Axis Wake Research A20 - T Owed Person Safety Responsibilities; A Dditional Precautions For Towed Skier;Rider

 Mostinjuriesandfataliesthatoccuronhigh-performancerecreaonaltowboatsoccurtothepersons
beingtowed(waterskiing,kneeboarding,wakeboarding,wakesurng,tubing,etc.).Itistheresponsibility
oftheboatoperatortopayaenontoamultudeofthingswhileulizingtheboatforwatertowsports.
Thetowedpersonhaslileornocontrolovertheirpathnordotheyhavemuchinthewayofprotecon
fromimpactwithobstaclesorotherboats.Therefore,itisrecommendedthatboatoperators,observers,
andtowedpersonscommunicateeecvelyandclearlyastotheirintenonsandtheirsurroundings.The
mainresponsibiliesforeachparcipantareasfollows:
 •Operatorsshould:
•Assignapassengertobeadesignatedobserver.
• Turntheengineowheneverapersonisontheswimplaormorinthewaterneartheboat.This
isespeciallyimportantfortheareanearthebackoftheboattoavoidpropellerinjuries.
• Ensurethatitis“allclear”behindtheboatwhenstarngtheengine.Askforverbalconrmaon
orhandsignalsthatitis“allclear”behindtheboat.Then,andonlythen,starttheengine.
• Keeptheirmainfocusonmaneuveringtheboatsafelywhileavoidingotherboats,xedobjects,
theshore,andshallowwater.
• Userearviewmirrorstoallowthedrivertoglanceatthetowedperson,whilesllkeepingtheir
mainaenon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o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:
• Conrmfortheboatoperatorthatitis“allclear”behindtheboatpriortostarngtheengine.
• Watchthetowedperson.
• Beresponsibleforcommunicaonofthesignalsandstatusofthetowedpersontotheboatdriver.
• Nofytheboatoperatorofstatusandchangingcondions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agwhenthetowedpersonfalls,ifneeded.Insomestates,itisrequiredto
raisethe“fallenskier”ag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.Nofytheboatoperator
ifanyofthesecondionsareobservedtoavoidpotenalinjury.
• Remindtheboatoperatortoshutotheenginewhenpersonsareontheswimplaormorinthe
waternearthebackoftheboat.
 •Towedpersonsshould:o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.
• Wearwetsuitsorprotecveshortswhenengaginginhighenergyskiing/ridingtopreventabrasions,
hypothermia,andinjuriestoorices(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unlithasbeeninspectedbyyourauthorizedboatdealer.
• NEVERaachski/wakeboardropetoanythingbutapprovedpylonsandwakeboardtowers.Makesure
towropesareproperlyaachedtotheboattowpoints.
• Theskier/ridershouldverballyindicatethats/heissafelyclearoftheboatpriortooperatorstarngthe
boatengineorpungtheboatintogear.
• Slowlytakeupslackintowlinesbeforeaccelerang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 wrap the line around any part of the body at any me. If you fall,the line
TOWED
PERSON
SAFETY
RESPONSI-
BILITIES
ADDITIONAL
PRECAUTIONS
FOR TOWED
SKIER/RIDER
2016 Axis Wake Research Owner’s Manual . . . Page 1-30