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Page 28 - LIT-18626-12-95
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    Safety information

           z A second person should be on board as a    Rules of the road
            spotter to watch the wakeboarder or wa-  Your Yamaha boat is legally considered a
            ter-skier; in most states, it is required by  powerboat. Operation of the boat must be
            law. Let the person being pulled direct the  in accordance with the rules and regula-
            operator’s control of speed and direction  tions governing the waterway on which it
            with hand signals.  Be sure the seat is  is used.
            locked in place (see page 98) before get-  Just as there are rules that apply when you
            ting underway.                      are driving on streets and highways, there are
           z When preparing to pull a wakeboarder or  waterway rules that apply when you are oper-
            water-skier, operate the boat at the slowest  ating your boat. These rules are used interna-
            possible speed until the boat is well away  tionally, and are also enforced by the United
            from the person being pulled and slack in  States Coast Guard and local agencies. You
            the tow-rope is taken up. Make sure that  should be aware of these rules, and follow
            the rope is not looped around anything.   them whenever you encounter another vessel
            After checking that the wakeboarder or wa-  on the water.
            ter-skier is ready and that there is no traffic  Several sets of rules prevail according to
            or other obstacles, apply enough throttle to  geographic location, but are all basically the
            raise the person.                   same as the International Rules of the Road.
           z Make smooth, wide turns. The boat is ca-  The rules presented here in this owner’s/op-
            pable of very sharp turns, which could ex-  erator’s manual are condensed, and have
            ceed the  abilities of the wakeboarder  or  been  provided for  your convenience only.
            water-skier. Keep the person being towed  Consult your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
            at least 50 m (164 ft), about twice the dis-  or Department of Motor Vehicles for a com-
            tance of a standard tow-rope, away from  plete set of rules governing the waters in
            any potential hazard.               which you will be operating your boat.
           z The operators of boats and other water-  Steering and sailing rules
            craft may not be aware that you are pulling  Whenever two vessels on the water meet one
            a wakeboarder or water-skier. Together  another, one vessel has the right-of-way; it is
            with the  spotter, pay  attention to  others  called the “stand-on” vessel. The vessel that
            around you and cruise at safe speeds.  does not have the right-of-way is called the
           z Be alert to the hazard of the tow-rope han-  “give-way” or “burdened” vessel. These rules
            dle  snapping  back at the boat when the  determine which vessel has the right-of-way,
            wakeboarder or water-skier falls or is un-  and what each vessel should do.
            able to get up.                     Stand-on vessel
           See pages 8 and 121 for wakeboard tower  The vessel with the right-of-way has the duty
           use.                                 to continue its course and speed, except to
                                                avoid an immediate  collision.  When you
                                                maintain your direction and speed, the other
                                                vessel will be able to determine how best to
                                                avoid you.

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