swimming around the boat

[nightvision]

Hi all,<br />I know that when a skier is down you need to put an orange flag up. What about if one's children is just swimming around the boat. Does one need to keep the orange flag up? What if everyone is jumping in the water? Does one tie a flag to the boat?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: swimming around the boat

My feelings are that if you are going to swim, ya need to get into a cove or somewhere out of the mainstream of boating, dont just ask for trouble. If you see someone coming in a boat or a jet ski, you need to raise the flag. Always have a person watching if its a busy day.

 

[roscoe]

Re: swimming around the boat

In some states, it is actually illegal to swim off your boat, unless you have a divers flag displayed. Or so I'm told.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: swimming around the boat

That's a bit like asking, 'I love my family. Should I take every precaution for their safety?'

 

[Bondo]

Re: swimming around the boat

What if everyone is jumping in the water?

That's a Very Unsafe Practice,............<br /><br />It doesn't take much of a Breeze,+ The Boat will be Gone ,.............<br />Can You Swim 3 or 4mph ????<br />I've seen it happen,...... If I Hadn't Seen It,... There would have been up to 4 Corpses in the water.......... <br /><br />Always leave At Least 1 person In the Boat,.........

 

[ziggy]

Re: swimming around the boat

it's a good idea to have a orange flag up when yer in the water. it gives others a heads up. also, in NE. it is law. if someones in the water off their boat, they must have the orange flag up. other states have diffenent rules so you will need to read up on your state boating laws to find out whether it's the law where you boat at. <br /><br />as for everyone in the water. think about what bondo just had to say. also i will add that some boats are very difficult to get back into without some help. it depends on how high the stern of yer boat is as that is ususally the lowest point to get back in at.

 

[rwidman]

Re: swimming around the boat

My wife and I swim off the boat all the time and never considered using a flag. We only swim in a quiet cove in shallow water and there are usually other boats anchored nearby and other swimmers. If not, we would see other boats comming. We're never more than a few feet from our boat or in a line from the boat to the beach. Anyone comming close enough to harm us in the water would be too close to our boat for safety. We have a boarding ladder that can be deployed from the water if necessary.

 

[rwidman]

Re: swimming around the boat

It doesn't take much of a Breeze,+ The Boat will be Gone ,.............<br />Can You Swim 3 or 4mph ????<br />

Anchor?

 

[mattttt25]

Re: swimming around the boat

let's not jump to conclusions, fellas. every situation is different. where i boat, there is an island (about 3 acres large) that everyone anchors/rafts-up behind. we're talking 150 boats on a nice saturday. no one uses flags and everyone is in the water.<br /><br />on the flip side, i wouldn't find it very safe to anchor up in the chesapeake bay in 25' of water and just jump in the water.<br /><br />just use common sense and you'll be fine. if you have the flag for skiing, no harm in putting it up when anchored and swimming.

 

[jollymon]

Re: swimming around the boat

No it is not required, and I do not recommmend it. To most people the orange flags, represents someone is being towed, either on skis, tube, etc.<br /><br />As far as Ziggystardust's information, here is a qoute from the Nebraska Game and parks commisions web site<br />"Orange Flag <br /><br />Orange Flag: Whenever a waterskier, surfboarder, or any person engaged in a similar activity or associated equipment, is down in the water the operator or observer of the tow boat must display a hunter orange flag of a size not less than 12 inches square or at least 144 square inches. This flag must be visible 360 degrees"<br /><br />It says nothing about swiming by the boat. The closet I could find on thier web site, was no swim within 30 yards of a marina dock or mooring site.<br /><br />As far as the Diver Down flag, that is reserved for scuba divers or skin divers.<br /><br />Use common sense I would not swim in a channel, or in open water with out anchoring the boat. But use your brains, but have fun!!!

 

[gutshot grouper]

Re: swimming around the boat

Another ridiculous example of a law relating to display of an orange flag 12x12 inches, how many clowns are going to pay attention to a small flag?

 

[jlinder]

Re: swimming around the boat

I agree with the gutshot. If someone is looking out enough to see the flag, they would probably see the swimmer.<br /><br />We always find a small cove which typically has other boats anchored, and even then stay close to the boat. Anyone coming in is either going slow and watching out, or is incredibly reckless. A flag would do nothing.<br /><br />Bottom line is this - if you are anchored in the middle of traffic and venturing from the boat, you are being reckless - flag or no flag.<br /><br />If you find cove out of the way, anchor and stay close to the boat, a flag is not going to protect you from (very) reckless boaters.

 

[RatFish]

Re: swimming around the boat

I would not consider anchoring and swimming in any body of tidal water. Drift if you must swim. <br /><br />The same conditions Bondo describes with wind applies to water current.

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: swimming around the boat

Me and my friends go a couple miles off in the Pacific, jump off my boat, and swim around in 800Ft deep water all the time. We are still alive.<br /><br />You need an orange flag displayed when towing any object.

 

[Bondo]

Re: swimming around the boat

Originally posted by DemersChrisG:<br /> Me and my friends go a couple miles off in the Pacific, jump off my boat, and swim around in 800Ft deep water all the time. We are still alive.<br />

That's a Long Boat Ride from Rhode Island...................

 

[PAkev]

Re: swimming around the boat

I always make sure at least one adult is on the boat when the kids are in the water. <br /><br />This leaves someone for tooting the horn to approaching boats and/or get the throw ring if someone in the water should need it.<br /><br />It never fails.......although you may be on a 1000 acre lake, some other boaters find the need to get as close as possible rather than using the available real estate.

 

[rwidman]

Re: swimming around the boat

Originally posted by DemersChrisG:<br /> Me and my friends go a couple miles off in the Pacific, jump off my boat, and swim around in 800Ft deep water all the time. We are still alive.<br />

I suppose you have 5600 ft of anchor rode? <br /><br />Do you leave someone on the boat who knows how to operate it?

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: swimming around the boat

No. I have a 7200Ft. Anchor Line

 

[KRS]

Re: swimming around the boat

Don't forget... it is also law to display a white light when at anchor (in Arizona).

 

[cuzner]

Re: swimming around the boat

A little story about something simular.When diving you are required to show a dive flag. Problem is too many people don't have a clue what it means ,unfortunatly even some local law enforcement officer get p.o'd when you tell them to stay away.We did use a floating flag,had jet skiers use it as a pilon, finaly gave up on it last year when one of them stole it, while we where in the water.My personal thought....put out a flag and draw attention from a........holes who don't know what it means, and take a spin bye to check it out.<br /><br /><br /> Jim