Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Requirements Specific to Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
In addition to adhering to all boating laws, personal watercraft
(PWC) operators have requirements specific to their vessel.
- Every person on board a PWC must wear a U.S.
Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD that
is in good and serviceable condition.
- If the PWC is equipped by the manufacturer with an ignition
safety switch, the lanyard must
be attached to the person, clothing, or PFD of the operator.
- PWCs may not be operated between sunset and sunrise.
- PWC operators must always face forward.
- PWCs must operate at “no
wake speed” when within 100 feet of docks, boat ramps,
swimmers, bridge structures, moored or anchored vessels, sewage
pump-out facilities, or nonmotorized vessels.
- There are age and boater
education requirements for operators of personal watercraft.
- PWCs must be operated in a responsible manner. For example,
it is illegal to:
- Jump the wake of another vessel at an unsafe distance
from the vessel creating the wake
- Weave through congested waterway traffic
Towing a Person with a Vessel
Legally
Vessel operators towing a person(s) on water skis, aquaplanes,
surfboards, inner tubes, or any similar devices must also obey
these laws.
- Operators must have a wide-angle rearview mirror properly
placed to provide a maximum view of the person or persons being
towed, or a second person at least 12 years old to act as an
observer.
- Vessels towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device
must carry on board a bright orange or red skier-down flag and
display it whenever the towed person(s) is in the water preparing
to be towed or awaiting pick up by the towing vessel. The flag
must be displayed so that it is visible from all directions.
- Vessels may not tow a person(s) on water skis or any other
devices from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before
sunrise.
- PWCs may not be used to tow a person on water skis, kneeboards,
inflatable crafts, or any other device unless the PWC is designed
to accommodate more than one person and, that
by doing so it does not exceed the PWC’s own capacity rating.
- Everyone engaged in water-skiing—the operator, the observer,
and the towed person(s)—must conduct themselves in a safe
manner. It is illegal to cause the towed device or person to
collide with any object or person. It is also illegal to water-ski
or manipulate any other towed device while under the influence
of alcohol, a controlled substance, or any other drug, or combination.
- Although not required by Kansas law, it is recommended that
anyone towed behind a vessel wear a U.S. Coast
Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD that is in good
and serviceable condition.
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