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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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