| Water-skiing includes conventional water-skiing, as well as anyone towed behind a boat on aquaplanes, kneeboards, inner tubes, air mattresses, parasails, kite skis or any similar device. Participants in all of these types of activities are required to wear a life jacket. Persons engaged in barefoot, jump or trick skiing may elect to wear, at their own risk, a wetsuit designed specifically for that activity. A USCG-approved life jacket must be carried in the boat for each skier electing to wear the special water-ski wetsuit. Inflatable life jackets are not acceptable for anyone towed behind a boat. |
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In addition to the operator, a competent observer must be in the boat in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed. A competent observer is a person who has the ability to assess when a skier is in trouble, knows and understands the water-skiing hand signals and is capable of helping a skier.
- To prevent propeller-related accidents, turn off your engine before picking up any skier.
- Skiing is prohibited between sunset and sunrise.
- Skiers are also considered passengers and count in the boat’s total capacity.
- Personal watercraft are not permitted to tow more than one skier.
- Skiers may start from the shore or dock if boat traffic permits. Skiers may not return to the shore or dock under power.
- Installation of ski ramps and jumps requires a permit from the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Mooring or drifting within 100 feet of a ski ramp or jump while it is in use is prohibited.
- Kite skiing and parasailing are permitted only on waters where unrestricted skiing is permitted.
- It is legal to tow more than one skier except when locally prohibited. Ski tow ropes may not exceed the following lengths:
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| Conventional water-ski- 80 feet |
Parasails- 300 feet |
| Nonreleasable kite ski- 50 feet |
Releasable kite ski- 500 feet |
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- It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any speed with a person or persons sitting, riding or hanging on a swim platform (teak surfing) or swim ladder attached to the motorboat, except when launching, retrieving, docking or anchoring the motorboat.
- It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any speed when towing a person on water skis or other devices using a tow rope of 20 feet or less.
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