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
Alaska
Yes
Yes
No
Only skiers under 13 must wear a PFD
American Samoa
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
Australia
British Columbia
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
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
Hawaii
Yes
Yes
No
Idaho
Yes
Yes
Yes
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
Iowa
Yes
No
No
Kansas
No
Yes
Yes
Kentucky
Yes
Yes
No
Louisiana
Yes
Yes
No
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)
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
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
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
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
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)
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)
Rhode Island
Yes
No
No
South Carolina
Yes
Yes
No
Boat must have wide angled rear view mirrow or an observer on board.
South Dakota
No
Yes
No
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
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
Wisconsin
No
Yes
No
water skiiing within 100' of anchored boat, PWC, marked swim area