Axis
Owners
Manual
2019
Page 39
• DO NOT tow with multiple skier/riders with dierent 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 (1) individual. Please consult the remainder of this manual and warning labels on
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 ying or
towing other boats.
• Many states require the use of “skier down” ags. Check your local lake and state
requirements. Having the observer raise a skier down ag when your towed watersport
participant falls down or o 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 counter-clockwise 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 (such as shore power connections)
it is unsafe to swim as stray electrical currents may exist which can cause you to drown.
Tow lines come in dierent lengths and strengths for dierent activities.
Make sure any line you are using is suited for skiing or riding and that it is in
good condition.
• Never use a tow line that is frayed, knotted, unraveling or discolored
from use or being left in the sun. If a line breaks while in use it can recoil
at the skier/rider being towed or into the watercraft where it might strike
passengers. Replace tow lines with any sign of damage.
• Never use a tow line with elastic or bungee material to pull skiers or riders.
• Tow line should be attached to the watercraft in an approved fashion
with hardware designed for towing. Refer to your watercraft manual for
instructions on proper tow line attachment.
• Always route tow lines away from the propeller, even when idling. Shut o
the engine if your boat starts to cross a oating tow line.
• If a tow line should become entangled in a propeller, shut o engine, remove the key and put
it in your pocket before retrieving the line.
• Tow lines should be neatly coiled and stowed in the boat when not in use.
Falling and injuries are common in water skiing and other towed
watersports. Keep tow speeds in a comfortable range given the rules of the
activity and the skill level of participants.
• Display a red or orange skier/rider down ag to alert other vessels that a
skier/rider is down. In some states, it is required to raise the “fallen skier”
ag when the skier has fallen.
• Turn the boat and slowly circle toward the person in the water to return the
tow line handle or towed device to that person.
• Always keep the fallen skier/rider in view and preferably on the operator’s
side of the watercraft.
• Put the watercraft in neutral whenever you are near a fallen skier/rider.
• Shut o the engine when retrieving someone from the water or if the
person in the water gets too close to the boat. Do not trust neutral gear
with an idling engine. Someone may accidentally or prematurely shift the gear, or the
linkages may be out of adjustment and the propeller may still be slowly spinning.
tow
line
guidelines
fallen
skier
or
rider
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