The short version
- Every tow has three jobs: a driver who watches ahead, an observer who watches only the rider, and a rider who signals. Many states legally require the observer.
- Learn the seven standard hand signals before anyone gets in the water: faster, slower, OK, stop, turn, back to dock, and I'm OK.
- Use the right rope for the activity, inspect it every time, never use bungee as a towline, and never wrap a rope around any part of your body.
- Turn the engine off, not just to neutral, whenever someone is near the stern, the swim platform or the ladder. That protects against both the propeller and carbon monoxide.
- Keep a 200 ft buffer, tow only in daylight, and put every rider in a non-inflatable USCG-approved life jacket.
Tow sports go wrong in predictable ways. A rope tightens around a hand. A driver turns around to watch a fall and runs toward a dock. A boat idles back toward a swimmer with the prop turning. Someone hangs on the swim platform breathing exhaust. Nearly every one of those accidents is prevented by a short pre-launch briefing and a few habits that become automatic. This guide covers the roles, the signals and the rope and engine rules that make towing safe for tubers, skiers, wakeboarders and wakesurfers alike.
Three roles: driver, observer, rider
| Role | Job | Never |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Watches the path ahead and all around. Controls speed smoothly. Responds to the observer. | Turns around to watch the rider. Lets go of the throttle hand. Sits on a seat back or gunwale. |
| Observer | Watches only the rider, relays signals, calls out falls instantly, raises the skier-down flag. | Gets distracted by phones, music or other passengers. |
| Rider | Signals clearly, lets go when falling, shows they're OK, stays visible in the water. | Wraps the rope around any body part. Gives unclear signals. |
The observer isn't optional in many places. Pennsylvania requires a competent observer in addition to the operator. Maryland and California both require an observer at least 12 years old. BoatUS's guidance sums up the observer's job well: their only job is watching the skier, receiving signals and alerting the operator to a fall. Mirrors help the driver, but they don't replace a person.
WSIA suggests the driver keep the right hand on the throttle at all times and the left hand on the wheel at about ten o'clock, alternating their eyes between the mirror and the path ahead. Clip the engine cut-off switch lanyard to the driver whenever the engine is running.
The standard hand signals
Agree on these before every session, even with experienced riders. Different families and lakes use slightly different signals, and the dock is the place to sort that out, not the middle of the lake. These are the signals taught by BoatUS and state boating agencies like Maryland DNR:
| Signal | Meaning | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb up | Speed up | Rider |
| Thumb down | Slow down | Rider |
| OK sign (thumb and finger circle) | Speed and path are good, or "understood" | Rider, observer |
| Hand slashed across the throat | Stop / cut the motor | Rider, driver, observer |
| Arm circled overhead, then pointing | Turn the boat that way | Rider, driver |
| Pat on top of the head | Return to the dock | Rider |
| Hands clasped over the head (after a fall) | I'm OK | Rider in the water |
For the start, the rider calls "hit it" when ready. WSIA recommends against using "go" as the start call. Stick to one clear phrase everyone knows. A rider in the water who doesn't signal OK is treated as a rider in trouble. The boat returns immediately.
Rope rules
- Right rope, right job. Tube ropes are rated by number of riders and breaking strength. Ski ropes have some stretch. Wakeboard ropes are low-stretch. Wakesurf ropes are short and thick with a small handle. WSIA advises against using a ski rope for tubing and against any elastic or bungee rope as a towline.
- Inspect before every use. Replace any rope that's frayed, knotted, unraveling or faded by sun.
- Same length for multiple skiers. Unequal ropes cause collisions.
- Take up slack slowly. The driver accelerates only when the rope is tight and the rider has signaled. Accelerating on a slack rope risks entanglement.
- Never wrap it. No rope around a hand, wrist, arm or foot, and no limbs through the handle. When falling, let go. When wakesurfing, toss the rope away from you.
- Know the legal lengths. Rules vary by state. Pennsylvania requires tow ropes longer than 20 ft and no more than 80 ft (with exceptions for wakesurfing, kitesurfing and parasailing). Maryland caps ski ropes at 75 ft, or 100 ft for barefoot.
- Stow it. Coil and disconnect ropes when not in use. A trailing rope can wrap the prop.
If a rope wraps the propeller, turn the engine off, remove the key and keep it with you before anyone goes near the stern. WSIA recommends carrying a knife and a mask aboard for this job. Mind the sharp prop edges.
Shop the gear: Life Jackets & Safety · Tow Ropes & Wake Gear
Driving: space, patterns and speed
- Buffer zone: WSIA recommends 200 ft of clear water on all sides of the boat. Maryland requires the towing boat to stay at least 100 ft from shore, piers, bridges, people in the water and other vessels. BoatUS recommends 300 ft from other vessels.
- Remember the glide: A rider who lets go can glide 100 ft or more. Never whip a rider toward a dock, shore or another boat.
- Patterns: On quiet water, a "dogbone" pattern (long straight runs with turns at each end) works. On busier water, use a wide racetrack pattern going the same direction as the traffic. Follow local rules.
- Turns: Check both sides and behind before turning, and slow down for inexperienced riders. A tube or skier swinging around a turn goes much faster than the boat.
- Speeds: WSIA's rough guides are about 8 mph for small kids on tubes and no more than 20 mph for adult tubers, about 18–23 mph for adult wakeboarders, about 20–24 mph for combo skis, and about 10–11 mph for wakesurfing.
- Daylight only: Many states, including Pennsylvania, California and Maryland, ban towing between sunset and sunrise.
Picking up a fallen rider
- The observer calls "down!" and points at the rider continuously until pickup.
- Display a red or orange skier-down flag where your state requires it. It warns other boats there's someone in the water.
- Circle back slowly, keeping the rider on the driver's side so the driver can see them.
- Shift to neutral when approaching. Turn the engine off when the rider is near the boat, handing up gear or climbing the ladder. WSIA warns that a bumped throttle in neutral can still engage the gear.
- Never back up toward a person in the water.
- The rider holds a ski or board up while waiting, so other boats can see them.
Propellers and carbon monoxide
The stern of a running boat has two invisible hazards: a spinning prop and engine exhaust. The rules for both are the same. Engine off when people are near the back of the boat.
- Before starting the engine, confirm nobody is in the water near the stern.
- No platform riding. Never sit on the swim platform, transom or ladder while the engine runs, and never "drag" or "teak surf" (hold onto the platform while the boat moves). The U.S. Coast Guard calls teak surfing never a safe activity. Pennsylvania makes it illegal to tow anyone hanging from a swim platform or ladder.
- Know the symptoms. Carbon monoxide can build up around the stern even without an exhaust smell. The Coast Guard advises treating seasickness-like symptoms (headache, dizziness, nausea) as possible CO poisoning: move the person to fresh air and get medical help.
- Wakesurfing puts a rider close to the stern at low speed. Only wakesurf behind a boat whose manufacturer approves it, and keep the rider well behind the platform. Some states, including Pennsylvania, prohibit wakesurfing behind outboard, sterndrive and jet boats. See our wakesurf guide.
Life jackets and the pre-launch briefing
Every rider wears a properly fitted, USCG-approved life jacket. Inflatable life jackets aren't approved for towed sports, and Pennsylvania states plainly that they're not acceptable for anyone being towed. Choose an inherently buoyant vest labeled for watersports. See our life jacket guide.
Run this two-minute briefing at the dock before the first pull of the day:
- Who's driving, who's observing, and who rides in what order.
- Hand signals reviewed, including "hit it" and "I'm OK."
- Rope checked, attached to the correct towing point, and paying out cleanly.
- Life jackets fitted and buckled. Cut-off lanyard on the driver.
- Skier-down flag at hand. Engine-off rule for anyone near the stern.
- The riding area scouted for shallows, swimmers, fishing boats and no-wake zones.
For a printable version of the broader checklist, see our water safety checklist. WSIA also recommends that operators take a NASBLA-approved boating safety course, and many states require one.
Shop the gear: Boating & Dock · Towables
FAQ
Is an observer legally required when towing a skier or tuber?
In many states, yes. Pennsylvania requires a competent observer in addition to the operator, and Maryland and California require an observer at least 12 years old. Check your state's boating regulations. Even where it isn't required, it's the single biggest safety improvement you can make.
What does the skier-down flag mean?
A red or orange flag raised on the towing boat signals that a rider is in the water or gear is nearby. Other boats should slow down and keep watch. Some states require it.
Why turn the engine off instead of just putting it in neutral?
A propeller in neutral can still turn if the throttle gets bumped, and the exhaust keeps producing carbon monoxide around the stern. Turning the engine off removes both hazards while people are near the back of the boat.
Can we tow after sunset if the boat has lights?
Usually not. Many states, including California, Maryland and Pennsylvania, prohibit towing between sunset and sunrise regardless of lighting.