BOATsmart! Canada
Knowledge Base
Module 04 - Safe Boat Operation
Towed Sports
Remember to always obey the following rules when towing any person behind your boat– it’s the law:
- A spotter must be in the boat at all times. The spotter notifies the operator if there is an emergency, or a need for a change in speed and/or direction as indicated by the hand signals of the person being towed.
- The operator should never watch the person being towed.
- The towing boat must be equipped with seats for the operator, spotter, and any person being towed.
- Only personal watercraft designed to carry three or more people can be used for towing
- Any person being towed must wear an approved flotation device (a ‘ski belt’ is not considered to be an approved flotation device)
- The towing boat cannot be operated by remote control
- It is illegal to tow any person from one hour after sunset to sunrise. Towing a person after dark is a criminal offence.
When ‘dropping off’ a person being towed at the dock, do not operate parallel to the shore in shallow water. Always keep your distance and let the person swing into shore to ensure that the person being towed does not hit bottom or any underwater hazards.
Hand Signals
Both the spotter and the person being towed must understand and be able to communicate using the following standardized hand signals:
- SPEED OK
- TURN LEFT
- TURN RIGHT
- OK
- RETRIEVAL
- STOP
- SLOWER
- FASTER
- BACK TO DOCK
Get your Official Canadian
Boating License
The Official Transport Canada Boating Course, Test & License.
Get your Official Canadian
Boating License
The Official Transport Canada Boating
Course, Test & License.
