Boating Tip: Towing regs

The Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook has an excellent section on towed water sports, so we thought we'd bring it to you as the weather warms up. But remember to check your local rules and regulations before you head out.

Towed water sports such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and kneeboarding are popular recreational boating activities. Vessels engaged in waterskiing often travel at high speeds, so vessel masters and crew members should arm themselves with appropriate skills and acquaint themselves with the local waterway rules. The rules are generally displayed on noticeboards at each waterway and are contained in the notices published in the Victorian Government Gazette and the Vessel Operating and Zoning Rules (VOZR).

Further information may be obtained from the relevant waterway manager (municipal council, water authority, etc) or from Transport Safety Victoria.

An up to date copy of the VOZR may be accessed on the Transport Safety Victoria’s website at www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au.

OBSERVER
The Marine Safety Regulations require that a person must not act as the master of a vessel engaged in towing a person on any State waters unless in addition to the master there is on board the vessel a person aged 12 years old or more who is in a position to observe the person being towed and communicate with the master of the vessel.

TOWING
The Marine Safety Act and the Marine Safety Regulations require that:
>> Towing is only permitted in the period from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset
>> A maximum of three persons can be towed at any one time. When towing multiple skiers it is safer to have tow lines of the same length
>> A person being towed is required to wear a type 1, 2 or 3 PFD at all times. Types 2 or 3 are recommended
>> Once back in the vessel, the person who has been towed must wear the appropriate PFD for that vessel on the waterway being used if required
>> The holder of a restricted marine licence must not act as the master of a vessel while the vessel is towing
>> The master must not cause or allow the vessel to tow a person unless the person is wearing a PFD

Speed and distance restrictions apply to the vessel as well as anything being towed.

The vessel must have carrying capacity for the master and observer. You should consider seating for any person/s being towed.

Inflatable items being towed tend to be pulled to the outside of turns as they have little grip on the water, resulting in high speeds and little directional control during turns. Multiple occupants of inflatable devices have an increased risk of injury due to collisions between occupants.

ACCESS LANES
An access lane is an area set aside for vessels engaged in towed water sports, such as water-skiing, to access the shore at unrestricted speed while towing.

Vessels may only operate in an access lane for the purpose of dropping off or picking up a water-skier or accessing a launching ramp located within the access lane.

Vessels must follow the correct direction of operation when entering or leaving the access lane – keep as far right as possible or, if the lane specifies travelling in a clockwise direction, keep as far left as possible. Vessels in an access lane must give way to vessels that are proceeding past the access lane or are currently in, or about to enter, the lane to drop off a water skier.

HAND SIGNALS
The following hand signals are commonly used to communicate when participating in towed watersports.