Towing involves a vessel pulling a person and watersport equipment with a rope (or line) to skim on the surface of the water. Towing activities include:
- water skiing
- kneeboarding or aquaplaning
- parasailing (open parachute)
- wakeboarding
- riding on an inflatable inner tube, raft or biscuit.
When you are towing a person or you are near someone being towed, take extra care. Follow the rules to keep everyone safe while having fun.
It's strongly recommended that you only tow where you can keep a minimum distance from people in the water, other vessels and structures. For example, in more open and less congested areas.
Always keep a lookout for floating logs, shoals, snags or other unexpected hazards and structures in the area.
When towing on coastal waters and inland rivers, be aware of cold water, fast currents and riverbanks.
In some areas, you must not tow. This may be because of the excessive wash caused by the vessel or nearby hazards. You must follow any signs showing what activities are not allowed.
Before commencing skiing, it is recommended that skippers brief each participant on their roles and responsibilities, hand signals and procedures associated with water skiing, such as recovering and reboarding of a downed skier.
Care should also be taken to brief participants on the location and use of safety equipment on-board the vessel and measures to avoid propeller strike.
It is important skippers know and understand the following before towing a skier:
- Turns on leaving, approaching or in front of a take-off area must be made in an anti-clockwise direction, keeping to the starboard side of the waterway.
- Boats leaving a take-off area must keep out of the way of boats arriving at a take-off area. This means that boats entering the take-off area have the right of way.
- Ski ropes or skis trailing from a boat must be removed from the water before arriving at a take-off area.
- Dropped skis must not be left in the water as they present a hazard to other traffic.
- A boat must not travel within 100 metres of, or directly behind, a person who is being towed by another boat.
When underway:
- Follow the required direction of travel and remain well clear of the riverbank.
- Be alert and maintain a good lookout for other vessels, floating debris, under water hazards and downed skiers.
- Be courteous of other users and keep clear of swimmers, Shack, levy banks, slower moving vessels, paddle craft and sail craft.
- With a bit of planning, courtesy and attention to safety, all users of will be able to enjoy their day out.
