Connecticut Boating Safety Course

TOWED WATER SPORTS IN CONNECTICUT

• All persons engaged in towing activities are required to wear a PFD - not an inflatable PFD.
• Skiing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription narcotics and illegal drugs is forbidden.
• When towing an individual there must also be an observer who is at least 12 years old, facing the skier on the vessel besides the operator to monitor the person being towed. Rear view mirrors may not be used in place of an observer.
• Tow ropes must not be greater than 100 feet in length unless authorized by a marine-event permit.
• Water skiing is prohibited from ½ hour after sunset to sunrise (sunset to sunrise on a PWC) and whenever visibility is restricted to less than 100 yards with a boat.
• Towing activities are prohibited during periods of reduced visibility; whenever visibility is limited to 100 yards.
• The operator of the boat may not manipulate or control the boat so as to cause the person(s) being towed to collide with any object or person.
• Towing a person on an inner tube without hand-holds is prohibited, as are self-propelled water skis or surfboards, and remote control devices that pull water skiers.