Water Sports Responsibility Code

WATERSPORTS RESPONSIBILITY CODE

Watersports are fun and challenging, but they involve inherent risks of injury or death. To increase your enjoyment of the sport and to reduce your risks, always use common sense and follow these rules: Before you start:

• Familiarize yourself with all applicable laws, the risks inherent in the sport, and the proper use of your equipment.
• Know the waterways. Keep track of swimming areas, no-wake zones and shallow water areas. Do not pull riders near the shore, docks, pilings, or other watercraft.
• Always have a person other than the boat driver assigned to face backwards and watch the person being towed.
• Before you start, make sure the skier, observer and driver agree on hand signals, including "start," "stop," "faster" and "slower."
• Never start until the skier signals he is ready.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning from engine exhaust can cause injury or death. Do not sit on the boat transom or swim platform while the engine is running; this may lead to excessive CO exposure which can cause injury or death. If you can smell engine exhaust while in the boat, do not stay in that position. Notify the driver. Never "platform drag" by holding onto the swim platform or otherwise be dragged directly behind the boat. An improperly tuned engine may produce excessive exhaust. Have your engine checked and corrected by a mechanic. Changes in boat speed or direction can reduce or increase exhaust exposure. Consult your boat Owners Manual and the United States Coast Guard website: "www.uscgboating.org" for more information on how to protect yourself and others from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Stay in control and within your abilities. Remember to use your hand signals; the driver and observer may not be able to hear your voice.
• Never 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 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.
• Always turn ignition off when anyone is near your boat's propeller.
• Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard type III (PFD) life vest. Your boat must have one for each passenger and skier, plus and additional throwable PFD for emergencies.
• Read the owners manual for both your boat and your Ski Tube.
• Never operate watercraft, ski or ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Inspect all equipment including bindings, fins, tube and attachment point, tow rope, and all flotation devices. Do not use if damaged.
• Rope should be attached to the watercraft only in an approved fashion using hardware designed for towing. Refer to your watercraft manual for instructions on proper tow rope attachment.
• Tow ropes stretch during use. If a rope breaks or is suddenly released, it can snap back into the watercraft. Warn all riders, skiers and occupants of the danger of rope recoil.
• When in the boat, keep clear of the tow rope to avoid injury. Passengers can be hit or entangled by the rope.
• Inspect tow rope and its attachments before each use. Replace the tow rope if you see any signs of excessive deterioration, including discoloration, broken filaments, unraveling or other obvious signs of wear.
• Only use rope specifically designed for water sports.
• Keep persons and ropes away from the propeller when engine is running, even if in neutral. If the rope becomes entangled in propeller, SHUT OFF ENGINE AND REMOVE IGNITION KEY BEFORE RETRIEVING ROPE.

• Land or dock starts increase the risk of injury or death. USE THIS PRODUCT ONLY IN THE WATER.
• Always remove any slack in the rope between boat and skier/rider before starting. Sudden shock may cause injury to skier/rider, rope failure or snap-back injuries.
• Do not ski or ride in shallow water, near shore, pilings, docks, rafts, swimmers, other boats or obstacles.
• The driver and skier/rider must watch for obstacles and maintain room to stop or turn.
• Always ski or ride in control at speeds appropriate for your ability. Do not ski or ride over ramps or jumps without prior instruction.
• Falling and the injuries that may result are inherent risks of the sport.
• Use a red flag to signal to others that a skier/rider is in the water.
• Driver must use extra caution when approaching a fallen skier/rider. Observer should keep eye contact on fallen skier/rider at all times.
• Put the boat in neutral when near a fallen skier/rider. Turn the engine off when people are getting into or out of the boat, or when in the water near the boat.
• Do not operate watercraft, ski or ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

THE WARNINGS AND PRACTICES SET FORTH ABOVE IN THE WATERSPORTS SAFETY CODE REPRESENT COMMON RISKS ENCOUNTERED BY USERS. THIS CODE DOES NOT COVER ALL INSTANCES OF RISK OR DANGER. USE COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGMENT.

Please contact us if you have any questions on the proper selection, function, or safe use of this product.