SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES
Water Sports (Towing with
the Watercraft)
WARNING
Avoid personal injury! Your PWC
is not designed for and should not
be used for pulling another craft,
parasails, kites, gliders, or any de-
vice which can become airborne.
Use your watercraft only for water
sports it was designed for.
Water skiing, wakeboarding, or riding
a towed inflatable apparatus are some
of the more popular water sports. Tak-
ing part in any water sport requires
increased safety awareness by the par-
ticipant and the watercraft operator. If
you have never towed someone be-
hind your PWC before, it is a good idea
to spend some hours as an observer,
working with and learning from an ex-
perienced operator. It is also important
to be aware of the skill and experience
of the person being towed.
Everyone participating in a water sport
should observe these guidelines:
– Riding with passenger(s) or pulling
a tube, skier or wakeboarder makes
the watercraft handle differently
and requires greater skill.
– Always respect the safety and com-
fort of your passenger(s) and person
being towed on skis, wakeboard or
other water products.
– Always carry an observer when
pulling a tube, skier or wakeboarder
to observe the person being towed
and inform the operator about the
participants' hand signals. The op-
erator must focus his attention on
operating the watercraft and the
waters ahead.
– Proceed with only asmuchspeedas
required and follow the observers'
instructions.
– When pulling a tube, skier, or a wake
boarder, do not make tight sharp
turns or use the braking system
unless absolutely necessary. Re-
member that although this PWC is
manoeuvrable and has stopping ca-
pabilities, the person in tow may not
be able to avoid an obstacle, or the
PWC with which it is being towed.
– Allow only capable swimmers to
take part in any water sport.
– Always wear an approved personal
flotation device (PFD). Wearing
a properly designed PFD helps a
stunned or unconscious person stay
afloat.
– Be considerate to others you share
the water with.
– Both the operator and observer
shouldmonitorthelocationofthe
tow rope when participating in wa-
tersports. A slack tow rope can be-
come entangled with a person(s) or
objects on the PWC or in the wa-
ter, particularly when making a tight
turn or circling, and cause serious
personal injury.
– Do not tow a person in any water
sport on a short tow rope such that
the person inhales exhaust fumes
in concentration. Inhalation of con-
centrated exhaust fumes, which
contain carbon monoxide, can re-
sult in CO poisoning, personal injury
and death.
– Use a tow rope of sufficient leng
th
andsize,andmakesureitisad-
equately secured to your water-
craft. While some watercr
aft are
equipped or can be fitted with a
specially designed towing mech-
anism, avoid installi
ng a tow pole
on a PWC. It can become a hazard
should someone fall on it.
– Give immediate attention to a per-
son who has fallen
.Heorsheis
vulnerable in the water alone and
may not be seen by other boaters.
________
SAFETY INF
ORMATION
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13
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