American Boat Operators' Course
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Colorado Boat Operators' Course
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WATER SKIING

  • No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, towrope, or other device by which the direction, speed, or location of water skis, an aquaplane, a surfboard, an innertube, or any similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause such device or any person thereon to collide with or strike against any object or person.
  • No person shall operate, manipulate, or ride water skis, an aquaplane, a surfboard, an innertube, or any similar device towed behind a vessel in a careless or imprudent manner without due regard for other traffic and all other attendant circumstances on the water.
  • The operator shall require each person who is surfing or being towed on water skis, aquaplane, innertube or similar device, to wear a properly fitting flotation device. A Type I, Type II or Type III is recommended, but a ski belt (preferably with at least 2 straps and buckles), water sports jacket or foam wetsuit jacket will be accepted if there is an extra personal flotation device aboard for each person as required above.
  • No person shall operate, manipulate, or ride water skis, an aquaplane, a surfboard, an innertube, or any similar device while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or any other drug, or any combination thereof, which renders him incapable of the safe operation of such device.
  • No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this state for towing any person on water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, innertubes, or any similar devices, unless there is in such vessel a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed, and capable of relaying messages to the operator.
  • All motorized vessels in designated water ski areas shall travel in a counter clockwise direction, except in picking up a downed skier the tow boat shall encircle the skier in such a manner as to keep him in view of the driver of the boat at all times.
  • No person shall engage in water skiing, surfboarding, or similar activity within one hundred fifty feet of any harbor, swimming beach, or mooring area or any areas which are designated by posting or otherwise as being closed to water skiing except in areas designated as a ski take-off or landing area.
  • Whenever a water skier, surfboarder, or person engaged in a similar activity or associated equipment is down in the water, the operator or observer of the tow boat shall display in a clearly visible manner an orange or red flag of a size not less than 12 inches square. When the towed person is actively being towed and is not down in the water, and the associated equipment has been retrieved, the flag shall not be displayed.
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