Spotters in texas?

[Surf Wagon]

Wifey and I were alone on the boat Sunday, do we have to have a spotter in Texas or ok surf with just the two of us?

Thanks

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[Bri49er80]

In Texas you must have a spotter as well.

[Surgical_ass]

Is there an age requirement for a spotter? 7 year old good enough? Is the spotter required in addition to the mirror?

[Prospersigman]

Mirrors Required
Every motorboat towing a person must have an observer, other than the operator, 13 years of age or older OR be equipped with a rearview mirror of a size no less than four inches (4") in measurement from bottom to top and across from one side to the other.

[csm]

I’ve been pulled over several times with just me in the boat and a rider in the water. All they checked was for life jackets. Below is the Texas law.


Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must have:

An observer, other than the vessel operator, 13 years of age or older on board or…

A rearview mirror. The size of the mirror must be no less than four inches in size from bottom to top and across from side to side. It should be mounted firmly to give the vessel operator a full, complete view beyond the rear of the vessel at all times. Note: Most PWC mirrors do not meet these size standards.


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[sandm]

wish nevada had the same either/or requirement. spotter and flags are required here.

[TXSurf4]

The above info is correct if you have a correctly sized mirror you don't have to have a spotter. Sandm brought up flags and we had a discussion about that this weekend. Are we required to have the orange flag flying when there is a rider behind the boat here in Texas?

[Prospersigman]

Are we required to have the orange flag flying when there is a rider behind the boat here in Texas?

My understanding is no, you do not need to have a flying orange flag when there is a rider behind the boat.

[Broke Pilot]

The flag can also be lake specific in Texas, on Conroe, they did away with the law again temporarily. I’m sure it will be back and they won’t tell anyone until some tickets are written!

[csm]

I believe the orange flag is a “downed rider”. So when you’re circling back to pick up your fallen rider, you’re supposed to fly an orange flag. Not while they’re being towed.


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[TXSurf4]

The flag can also be lake specific in Texas, on Conroe, they did away with the law again temporarily. I’m sure it will be back and they won’t tell anyone until some tickets are written!

Ya that is pretty screwy to be Lake specific. Is there a place you can go to find out which lake is and isn't?


I believe the orange flag is a “downed rider”. So when you’re circling back to pick up your fallen rider, you’re supposed to fly an orange flag. Not while they’re being towed.


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Ya but I am not going to have someone "working" the flag. I am either going to fly it or I am not..... Speaking of are there any good options for mounting the flag on our towers?

[sandm]

Ya but I am not going to have someone "working" the flag. I am either going to fly it or I am not..... Speaking of are there any good options for mounting the flag on our towers?

read up on this one if it's law. idaho it can't be "mounted to the tower". has to be held by a spotter of "x" age.
having had them all my boating years when I moved to wisconsin they don't require flags. it was kinda odd to get used to. here in nevada now I have them again.

[1967Goat]

I realize these rules are state specific. I took a boating safety course this year put on by Colorado Parks & Wildlife. The topic of flags came up.
From the State issued boating safety guide:
Skier-Down Flag: Colorado law requires that vessels towing person(s) on water
skis or similar devices carry and use an orange or red skier-down flag, at least
12 x 12 inches in size, whenever the towed person(s) or associated equipment is
down in the water.

They specifically talked about how the flag is to be displayed ONLY when a skier is down. They said to NEVER display the skier down flag if a skier is not down in the water.

My boys are 7 & 8 so I asked about an age requirement for a spotter. The ranger told me 13. However, I read the statute and there is no restriction on age. I am going to let my boys be the spotter. If I get approached about it I am going to pull out the Colorado regs and ask that they show me where it says you my be a certain age. Nowhere I can find it.

Specific statute:
#223 - WATER SKIS, AQUAPLANES, SURFBOARDS,INNER TUBE, AND SIMILAR DEVICES1. No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this state for towing any person on water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, inner tubes, or any similar devices, unless there is in such vessel a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed, and capable of relaying messages to the operator. 2. No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing any person on water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, inner tubes, or any similar devices, nor shall any person engage in water skiing, surfboarding, or similar activity at any time between the hours from sunset to sunrise.3. Any person on water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, inner tubes, or similar devices, while being pulled or towed by a vessel, shall wear a flotation device as required in subsection 4. of section #212 - Personal Flotation Devices.4. All motorized vessels in designated water ski areas shall travel in a counter clockwise direction, except in picking up a downed skier the tow boat shall encircle the skier in such a manner as to keep him in view of the driver of the boat at all times.5. No person shall engage in water skiing, surfboarding, or similar activity within one hundred fifty feet of any harbor, swimming beach, or mooring area or any areas which are designated by posting or otherwise as being closed to water skiing except in areas designated as a ski take-off or landing area.6. Whenever a water skier, surfboarder, or person engaged in a similar activity or associated equipment is down in the water, the operator or observer of the tow boat shall display in a clearly visible manner an orange or red flag of a size not less than 12 inches square. When the towed person is actively being towed and is not down in the water, and the associated equipment has been retrieved, the flag shall not be displayed.

[sandm]

1967 i don't recall if there's an actual age listed in idaho but most states should rewrite that to say 'competent person'.

I've seen 8 year old kids that I would trust with a flag before some smashed 45 year old "adults" :) :)

[rdlangston13]

All these states that require skier down flags just add to my list of reasons never to leave TX