b'B O AT I N G R E G U L AT I O N STheonlineSafeWaterSkiingCoursewillprovidetheIn Connecticut, water skiers are required by law to wear a education portion free of charge. If a student wishes to takeU.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket while engaged in water the examination, which would result in being eligible to receiveskiing. Except for those skiers who are engaged in barefoot the Connecticut Safe Water Skiing Endorsement, a fee may bewater skiing and are wearing a specifically designed barefoot imposed. wetsuit. Also, skiers who are engaged in trick water skiing and The operator of a vessel and the water skier are responsibleare wearing standard double trick skis at least eight inches wide for operating in a manner which does not harm or strike anotherand not over 46 inches long, and being towed at not more than person or vessel. Waterskiing is forbidden between 30 minutes20 mph using a tow rope longer than 50 feet. A life jacket must after sunset until sunrise or when visibility is restricted to lessstill be made readily available aboard the tow vessel for each than 100 yards. skier electing not to wear one under the above exceptions. Ski BoatsandPersonalWatercraft(PWCs)aresubjecttobelts and inflatable life jackets are not permitted.different near-shore, slow-no-wake restrictions; except for theThe maximum length of a towline measured from the tow purpose of allowing a water skier to take off or land. Boatspost to the water skiers tow handle is 100 feet. No elastic may not exceed Slow-No-Wake within 100 feet of shore andcomponent may be part of the towline. Towing of a person or PWCs may not exceed Slow-No-Wake within 200 feet of shore.persons on an inner tube without handholds is prohibited.This means, depending on the type of vessel that is being operated, aWhen a vessel is engaged in towing a water skier and at least waterbody, or portion of a waterbody may simply be too narrow to legallyone person onboard the vessel is using it for training purposes, the waterski or go fast. rigid metal tow pole, often used for barefoot skiing, The operator of the boat is required to have amayeitherberemovedfromtheboatormust responsible observer that is at least 12 years of agebe dismantled or folded and placed inside of the facing the skier to assist the operator and monitorgunwale and parallel to the center line of the boat.the progress of the water skier. The water skier, theKite-skiingandparasailingareprohibited observer, and the boat operator should practice andanywherewaterskiingisprohibitedorsubjectto use hand signals for communication.special regulations. Kite-skiers and parasailers shall CONTINUED ON PAGE 272023 Connecticut BOATERS GUIDE25'