State |
Does your state require a skier to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD? |
Are self-propelled skis allowed to be used in your state? |
Does your state require the use of a skier down flag? |
Describe any other water skiing restrictions in your state. |
Alabama |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Alaska |
Yes | Yes | No | Only skiers under 13 must wear a PFD |
American Samoa |
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Arizona |
No | Yes | Yes | Both the operator of the towing vessel and the skier must operate in a safe manner. A reasonable distance from other vessels, people, and property must be maintained so as not to cause danger to the life or property of others. State law makes the person being towed (the skier) responsible for careless, reckless, or negligent action; disregard for the safety of any person or property; violation of any regulatory marker or buoy. |
Arkansas |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Australia |
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British Columbia |
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California |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Other vessels must excercise caution when ski flag is exhibited |
Colorado |
no | no | yes | Motorized vessels is a designated ski area must travel in a clockwise direction. |
Connecticut |
Yes | No | No | must use hand signals |
Delaware |
Yes | Yes | No | channnels and ouside indian river inlet to bouy number 1 |
District of Columbia |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Florida |
Yes | Yes | No | Skiing while intoxicated is prohibited. Skiing too close to a person, a vessel, fixed objects or other similar hazards is also prohibited. |
Georgia |
Yes | Yes | No | Must not be within 100 feet of shore, boats, persons, obstacles in the water. |
Guam |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Hawaii |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Idaho |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Illinois |
No | Yes | No | There has to be room on boat for skier. The boat must also have a lifejacket for the skier. |
Indiana |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Iowa |
Yes | No | No |
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Kansas |
No | Yes | Yes |
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Kentucky |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Louisiana |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Maine |
Yes | Yes | No | May not water ski in a water safety zone unless directly picking up or dropping off a skier. It is the watercraft operators responsibility not to endanger any person or property. |
Manitoba (Canada) |
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Maryland |
Yes |
| No | Must be 100 feet from everything unless taking off from the shore. |
Massachusetts |
Yes | Yes | No | * boarding ladder must be on board * spotter must be at least 12 yoa |
Michigan |
No | No | No |
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Minnesota |
No | Yes | No | Max tow rope length of 150 feet unless given a permit by the county sheriff |
Mississippi |
No | Yes | Yes | If PFD not worn, it must be in boat |
Missouri |
No | Yes | Yes | A person may not manipulate waterskis while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. |
Montana |
Yes | Yes | No |
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Nebraska |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Observer must be at least 12 years old and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. |
Nevada |
Yes | yes | Yes |
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New Hampshire |
Yes | Yes | No | Must remain 150 feet from shore once their up on ski's. |
New Jersey |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Can not ski w/i 200' of wharf, dock, marina, pier, bridge, structure, abutment, or person in water w/i 100' of craft, shore, nav aid or mooring must have competent observer on board towline 35' to 75' only ski not permitted sunset to sunrise all skiers must wear USCG type I,II,III, or V hybred PFD ski boat must display orange signal pennant, triangle shape not less than 12"x12", 4' above highest structure of vessel while; A pulling/retrieving skier B while skier is in water C while towline is in water |
New Mexico |
Yes | No | Yes | illegal to ski within 150' of any public dock, mooring line, launch ramp, boat, fisherman, swimmer or any person not engaged in the same activity. |
New York |
Yes | Yes | No | observer is required and must be at least 10 yrs of age |
North Carolina |
No | Yes | No | If pulled by PWC skier must wear PFD. PWC must be equipt with mirrors or observer. |
North Dakota |
Yes | No | No |
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Northern Mariana Islands |
Yes | No | No | None |
Ohio |
Yes | Yes, but only on federal waters | No | Can not operate under the influence of alcohol and or drugs of abuse. Confined to "Open" or "Ski" zones on State Park Lakes |
Oklahoma |
Yes | Yes | No | Vessels used to tow another person must be designed to accomodate two or more persons. PWC's without a proper observer must be equipped with 2 efficient wide angle convex rear view mirrors. No person may operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope or other device to cause a person to collide or strike any object or other person. |
Ontario (Canada) |
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Oregon |
No | Yes | Yes | teak surfing prohibited |
Pennsylvania |
Yes | No | No | there are too many to lis6t |
Puerto Rico |
Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
Quebec (Canada) |
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Rhode Island |
Yes | No | No |
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South Carolina |
Yes | Yes | No | Boat must have wide angled rear view mirrow or an observer on board. |
South Dakota |
No | Yes | No |
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Tennessee |
No | Yes | No | nighttime |
Texas |
No | Yes | No | Skier down flag required by some local jurisdictions. |
Utah |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Can't be towed with 20 feet of the vessel if in a non-standing position |
Vermont |
Yes | Yes | No | There is an exception to the observer law but it is very specific in nature. Used by professional skiers only. |
Virgin Islands |
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Virginia |
Yes | Yes | No | Must wear PFD if no dedicated observer other than the boat operator |
Washington |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Local regulations may limit hours and direction of skiing activities. |
West Virginia |
Yes | No | No |
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Wisconsin |
No | Yes | No | water skiiing within 100' of anchored boat, PWC, marked swim area |
Wyoming |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
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