Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

[tyler_bee]

Hello,

I have a lake close by that the kids like to swim at. I used to have a smaller boat that I would just beach and the kids would swim off the shore.

Now I'm thinking about anchoring maby 20-30 ft off of shore. Is it a misuse of the skier down flag to use it at that time?

I thought about putting it up on a small pole from the center console of my skiff. Just to give passing boats a little heads up, or cause them to think a bit.

I see so many wake violations at this lake. Some people cruise by just a bit to close for my comfort.

Thanks!

 

[atx111]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

Yes, put it up. I have mine up everytime we're anchored and someone floating around out of the boat.

 

[breastman569]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

you can never be to safe! anytime there is anyone in the water skiing or not my flag is always up.

 

[security6]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

Hello,

I have a lake close by that the kids like to swim at. I used to have a smaller boat that I would just beach and the kids would swim off the shore.

Now I'm thinking about anchoring maby 20-30 ft off of shore. Is it a misuse of the skier down flag to use it at that time?

I thought about putting it up on a small pole from the center console of my skiff. Just to give passing boats a little heads up, or cause them to think a bit.

I see so many wake violations at this lake. Some people cruise by just a bit to close for my comfort.

Thanks!

The answer to your question depends on where you live, which you don't tell us. Not every state requires (or has laws regarding) a skier down flag.

 

[tyler_bee]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

I Live in CA and I know it's required for Skiing.

I realize it was a good idea - guess I was also wondering if there was another flag specifically that should be used, or just the solid orange.

For example, a diver flag would, in my mind, be inappropriate to use.

Thanks for the responses! (=

 

[shrew]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

You can't make a wake within 100 -150ft. (depending on local laws) from shore, a swimming area, or another boat . If you anchor out 20-30 feet, any boat on plane would need to be 100-150 ft (depending on local laws) from the boat. Obviously this wouldn't stop someone making headway speed. However, I doubt anyone would cut between the shore and an anchored boat out 20-30 feet from shore unless they were coming to the same place to beach or anchor. If so, I still doubt a boat would normally cut between your boat and the shore. If the kids swim between the boat and the shore I would think you would be fine. You may need to keep an eye on slow, oncoming boat traffic just to be safe though.

I couldn't say about the 'skier down' flag, but if the boat is anchored it's tough to ski. What ramifications there would be for misuse of the flag would be better directed at the local LEO's for your area. At the very least, a diver down flag would be slightly more appropriate, though without anyone diving, not much more appropriate.

Just my .02

 

[Thad]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

Around here, I doubt 5% of the boaters would even know what that flag meant. Heck, I would probably end up with MORE boats coming near me to ask if I needed help.

I think it should be required to be displayed at any time there are people in the water, in all states. But then we would just have another thing to complain about people not doing. So, sounds like a good thing to me.

 

[tyler_bee]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

I couldn't say about the 'skier down' flag, but if the boat is anchored it's tough to ski. What ramifications there would be for misuse of the flag would be better directed at the local LEO's for your area. At the very least, a diver down flag would be slightly more appropriate, though without anyone diving, not much more appropriate.
Just my .02

lol - yeah, thats kinda what I was struggling with.

 

[Thad]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

You can't make a wake within 100 -150ft. (depending on local laws) from shore, a swimming area, or another boat . If you anchor out 20-30 feet, any boat on plane would need to be 100-150 ft (depending on local laws) from the boat. Obviously this wouldn't stop someone making headway speed. However, I doubt anyone would cut between the shore and an anchored boat out 20-30 feet from shore unless they were coming to the same place to beach or anchor. If so, I still doubt a boat would normally cut between your boat and the shore. If the kids swim between the boat and the shore I would think you would be fine. You may need to keep an eye on slow, oncoming boat traffic just to be safe though.

Just my .02

I invite you to the Rock River here in my town. It might be enough to make you sell your boat

 

[shrew]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

Around here, I doubt 5% of the boaters would even know what that flag meant. Heck, I would probably end up with MORE boats coming near me to ask if I needed help.

I think it should be required to be displayed at any time there are people in the water, in all states. But then we would just have another thing to complain about people not doing. So, sounds like a good thing to me.

I agree with all of the above. Currently there are only 13 states which require a skier down flag. I've never even seen or heard of one until this thread and as it turns out, the only state east of NE or ND is NJ which require it. I would assume that most people in the other 37 states wouldn't even know what one is.

 

[shrew]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

i invite you to the rock river here in my town. It might be enough to make you sell your boat

lol

 

[SantaCruzin]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

We live in nothern CA. anytime we stop the boat to jump in, our flag goes up. Dont know what the exact law is, but we feel a little safer with our little ones in the water and the flag up. We suction cup ours to the window when we're stopped for more than a few min. It's just a good "heads up" for other boaters. I seriously doubt anyone would complain about safety while you're out having fun! Do what you need to do to keep your family safe, right?

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

The flag always goes up, when we swim !!! Had a boat and a wakeboarder both get within, 40' of us last time out !!!!!

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

We don't have such a thing in FL. Never heard of that till now. Thank God just one more intrusion from the government. In Florida you will get a ticket if you are obviously flying a diver down flag just to keep other boats away. Making boat wake??? That would not work down here very well.

Very few places here are "diveable" in fresh water because of the visibility, but the ones that are do not allow that type of boat traffic. And are monitored very well.

If you are anchored and have people in the water you must have a flag up. From shore not the case. Actually if they were just swimming and you were beached that would warrant a ticket. I know of a few occasions where a boat ran up divers at sea and had a warning shot fired across the bow. Here is why

http://www.spearfishingplanet.com/f42/east-coast-spearo-bad-dive-accident-11090/

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

Very few places here are "diveable" in fresh water because of the visibility, but the ones that are do not allow that type of boat traffic. And are monitored very well.

Same goes up here, there are no bodies of water that recreational divers can use. Don't get too complacent though, you still may see diver down flags. Search and rescue still dives for recovery operations... The ONLY time I've ever seen a diver flag means bad news... body recovery.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

The only places I let my wife and kids swim is at the No Wake Zones most of the time 100ft from the Shore. I don't hang a flag because of very little boat traffic. We have bright Life vest on anyway.

 

[Philster]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

My understanding is that the orange flag is to be displayed when towing a skier, tuber, etc. I started using one last year in NJ when tubing, as instructed by the marina where I purchased the tube. These are the same folks teaching boating safety classes and being hounded by local police because they also rent boats, skis, waverunners, etc. They gist of the issue is towing someone behind the boat (not limited to skiers).

NJ

SL 17. Water Ski Regulations
All operators of power vessels towing a person on water skis or similar devices must keep a
distance of at least 200 feet of any wharf, marina, dock, pier, bridge, structure, abutment, or
persons in the water and a distance of at least 100 feet from any other craft, shore, and aid to
navigation or mooring.
A person towing another person on water skis must be accompanied by a third person onboard
to act as an observer. The use of wide-angle mirrors in New Jersey is not acceptable. 8
Towlines must be between 35 and 75 feet long.
Water skiing is prohibited from sunset to sunrise.
Skiers must wear a USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V PFD at all times.
Ski boats must carry an orange or red ski flag. It must be displayed a minimum of 4 feet
above the highest part of the boat, and be at least 12 inches on each edge of the triangle. It
must be displayed during each of the following activities only:
? While pulling or retrieving a skier;
? While a skier is in the water; or
? While a towline is in the water.

My comments: Ergo, not to be used when swimming.

 

[zagger]

Re: Skier down flag while the kids are just swimming?

Honestly the only flag pertaining to free swimmers would be the big blue/white flag. Diver down and ski flag have specific purpose which does not include swimming. Download California ABC boating book. The problem is that most of the boaters will not know what the blue/white flag is, heck in San Diego they will probably think it is Chargers fan and will come over to party defeating the purpose of the flag. The orange being most recognizable color would IMHO invoke the best response from other boaters. Having said that I say fly it, can't hurt and might save someone and worst case scenario a leo will explain why you should not display it. Don't think anyone would be sighted for being extra safe.