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UF2T17E0.book Page 18 Thursday, June 22, 2017 3:15 PM

Safety information

er’s or water-skier’s ability, as well as water EJU30962 Rules of the Road
and weather conditions.
Your Yamaha watercraft is legally consid-
 When preparing to pull a wakeboarder or
ered a powerboat. Operation of the water-
water-skier, operate the watercraft at the
craft must be in accordance with the rules
slowest possible speed until the watercraft
and regulations governing the waterway
is well away from the person being pulled
on which it is used.
and slack in the ski rope is taken up. Make
Just as there are rules that apply when you
sure that the rope is not looped around
are driving on streets and highways, there are
anything.
waterway rules that apply when you are oper-
After checking that the wakeboarder or wa-
ating your watercraft. These rules are used
ter-skier is ready and that there is no traffic
internationally, and are also enforced by the
or other obstacles, apply enough throttle to
United States Coast Guard and local agen-
raise the person.
cies. You should be aware of these rules, and
 Make smooth, wide turns. The watercraft is
follow them whenever you encounter another
capable of very sharp turns, which could
vessel on the water.
exceed the abilities of the wakeboarder or
Several sets of rules prevail according to
water-skier. Keep the person being towed
geographic location, but are all basically the
at least 50 m (164 ft), about twice the dis-
same as the International Rules of the Road.
tance of a standard ski rope, away from
The rules presented here in this owner’s/op-
any potential hazard.
erator’s manual are condensed, and have
 The operators of boats and other water-
been provided for your convenience only.
craft may not be aware that you are pulling
Consult your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
a wakeboarder or water-skier. Together
or Department of Motor Vehicles for a com-
with the spotter, pay attention to others
plete set of rules governing the waters in
around you and cruise at safe speeds.
which you will be operating your watercraft.
 Be alert to the hazard of the ski rope handle
Steering and sailing rules
snapping back at the watercraft when the
Whenever two vessels on the water meet one
wakeboarder or water-skier falls or is un-
another, one vessel has the right-of-way; it is
able to get up.
called the “stand-on” vessel. The vessel that
 Towing heavy or bulky objects other than
does not have the right-of-way is called the
wakeboarders or water-skiers, such as an-
“give-way” or “burdened” vessel. These rules
other boat or watercraft, can cause loss of
determine which vessel has the right-of-way,
steering control and create a hazardous
and what each vessel should do.
condition. If you must tow another boat in
Stand-on vessel
an emergency situation, operate slowly
The vessel with the right-of-way has the duty
and cautiously.
to continue its course and speed, except to
avoid an immediate collision. When you
maintain your direction and speed, the other
vessel will be able to determine how best to
avoid you.
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