Water-Skiing - Yamaha VX/VX Sport Owner's Manual

Safety information
EJU30940

Water-skiing

You can use the watercraft for water-skiing if
it has the seating capacity to carry the opera-
tor, a rearward-facing spotter, and the water-
skier when he or she is not skiing.
The watercraft must also have a cleat de-
signed to pull a ski rope; do not attach the
rope to any other location.
1 Cleat
It is the watercraft operator's responsibility to
be alert to the safety of the water-skier and
others. Know and follow all state and local wa-
ter-skiing regulations in effect for the waters in
which you will be operating.
The operator should be comfortable carrying
passengers before attempting to pull a skier.
The following are some important consider-
ations for minimizing risks while water-skiing.
The skier should wear an approved PFD,
G
preferably a brightly colored one so boat
operators can see the skier.
The skier should wear protective clothing.
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Severe internal injuries can occur if water is
forced into body cavities as a result of falling
into the water. Normal swimwear does not
adequately protect against forceful water
entry into the rectum or vagina. The skier
should wear a wetsuit bottom or clothing
that provides equivalent protection.
A second person should be on board as a
G
spotter to watch the skier; in most states it
17
is required by law. Let the skier direct the
operator's control of speed and direction
with hand signals.
The spotter should sit astride the rear of the
seat and hold onto the handgrip with both
feet firmly on the floor of the footwell for
proper balance while facing to the rear to
watch the skier's hand signals and condi-
tion.
1 Handgrip
1 Handgrip
Your control while pulling a water-skier is
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affected by the skier's ability, as well as wa-
ter and weather conditions.
When preparing to pull a skier, operate the
G
watercraft at the slowest possible speed
until the watercraft is well away from the ski-
er and slack in the ski rope is taken up.