New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

[LippCJ7]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

Having a flag on your boat is part of our safety equipment check here in Colorado, I have a spare flag as well, but this flag is not just for "skier down" it is to be used at anytime there is a swimmer on the water. Seems odd that it is not universal but then again you know what they say about common sense not being so common...

 

[jkust]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

Nahhh, I think you guys need this. Do you have the local authority's phone number?

Sure I believe the number is 312-698-3670. They are so hyperfocussed on invasive species right now, I don't think they'll listen.

 

[QC]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

They are so hyperfocussed on invasive species right now

So that's what they call Californians now? Maybe we should change one of our names for Minnesotaogians from Snowbirds to the same

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

Interesting I think I found a new thread idea.....

 

[BonairII]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

I'm glad I brought up the fact that I purchased a flag. Lots of good info.

On the instructions, it states to suction cup it to the windshield....which I assumed meant to fly the flag while towing the kids on tube. Now, I'll just have the spotter wave the flag when a rider goes down.


I'll fly the flag a bit higher(maybe off the bimini frame) when the kids are swimming and goofing around.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

yeah here the flag is for swimmers in the water, so once you toss a kid off the tube flag goes up, once they are on the tube its safe to put the flag down, or your in the middle of the lake and taking a break with swimmers in the water, once everyone is out of the water flag goes down.

As always check your local regs as clearly by this thread we have figured out regs are not universal as some of us thought previously!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

"ANY turn should be made in an aggresive(not reckless!)manner "

Amen to that. I might say "exaggerated" rather than aggressive but we're saying the same thing. I do this when playing chicken with those who don't know "port to port" which is half of them. Also at night to give a clear indication by the running lights ("Show him your red!")

As for the flags, interesting how customs vary by location. Never seen one in 50+ years, and I think they'd get as much respect as the black "at anchor" ball that no one has ever displayed, or even owns, except dredges.

 

[QC]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

If I hadn't been involved in this thread, and I boated in a no Flag state, I would think you were all morons. "Where's your flippin' flag?" Weird.

 

[dazk14]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

Since we're on the topic of different regs. in different states...

In Connecticut, bungee tow ropes are not legal. I believe the OP indicated that was the type of tow rope he had.

 

[yorab]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

Seems odd that it is not universal but then again you know what they say about common sense not being so common...

"It don't make much sense that common sense don't make no sense no more" --John Prine

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

"It don't make much sense that common sense don't make no sense no more" --John Prine

Another John Prine fan. Now THAT'S awesome!!!!!!

 

[Mason78]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

When I'm driving, I find that it is important to resist the urge to be constantly turning around and looking at the tuber. I chose my spotters carefully and then trust them to pay attention. I like to keep my eyes on the water so that I don't become a hazard for someone else.

 

[Mason78]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

In my experience, PWC (jetski) operators are the most common hazard for a tuber/skier. Once I was pulling my wife and 6 year old on the tube and two PWC operators began following me to jump the wake. I got really angry, and when I attempted to speak with them about it ended in a confrontation at the marina.

I'm not sure what to do in this situation. I don't want to just "stop" because if the PWC is not paying attention they may run into the skier. I usually slowly throttle back and get my family into the boat.

 

[hostage]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

Living in the state where waterskiing and thus tow sports were invented, where we all own boats and ski, I can say i've never seen this in 38 years of boating. I've been scuba diving since I could hold the regulator in my mouth and so the Divers Flag is familiar but never seen a skiier down flag. I think other boaters would question what the heck you are doing waving a flag in the boat.

I was thinking the same thing as you, granted my boating experience is not as long as yours. There is the coast guard white and blue dive flag, which many people wont recognize.

IMHO the flag is worst than no flag, instead of getting back to your tubers, you are spending time to fix a flag? It is a bad idea to take your eyes of the swimmers.

 

[QC]

Re: New to tubing....how to keep "rider down" safe when floating in water.

IMHO the flag is worst than no flag, instead of getting back to your tubers, you are spending time to fix a flag? It is a bad idea to take your eyes of the swimmers.

You have this wrong. The observer holds the flag in his/her lap while the skier/tuber is underway. If the skier falls, or drops off, the observer typically yells "down" and immediately holds the flag up in the air. The only time we use it in a fixed holder is when we are all swimming. The swimming deal is not law in CA, but since all of us boaters are aware that an orange flag means people in the water it definitely helps with awareness. This system actually works well for precisely the OPs concern Just remember, all of us here know what the flag means: stuff in da wawa near the boat . . .