§ 270-D:3 — Motorboats Towing Water Skiers and Aquaplanes

New Hampshire § 270-D:3

• Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
• Title XXII: NAVIGATION; HARBORS; COAST SURVEY
• Ch. 270-D: BOATING AND WATER SAFETY ON NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC WATERS

Text

I. (a) No person shall operate a motorboat while towing water skiers, aquaplanes, or similar devices, or while engaged in wake surfing, unless another person is present in the motorboat who is physically able to observe and assist the person or appurtenance being towed or wake surfing. The observer shall be 13 years of age or older.
(b) For water skiers only, an observer shall not be required if the motorboat is a tow boat that has been approved by the American Water Ski Association and operated by a person at least 18 years of age. The motorboat shall be equipped with a wide-angle mirror having a viewing surface of at least 48 square inches and operated within a slalom course approved by the American Water Ski Association. The course shall have a valid state police permit.
II. The operator of the motorboat shall be responsible for compliance with the navigation requirements under this subdivision for both the vessel and the person or appurtenance being towed or wake surfing. In addition, any person being towed by or wake surfing behind a motorboat shall comply with all navigation rules.
III. No more than 6 persons may be towed at any time on one or more inflatable tubes and no more than 2 persons may be towed on water skis, aquaplanes, or other devices from the same motorboat at the same time. When 3 or more persons are being towed on any device, 2 observers, in addition to the operator, shall be in the towing vessel. For inflatables, only one observer is required when towing only one inflatable with less than 3 people, and 2 observers for 2 inflatables with up to 6 people, but no more than 2 inflatables may be towed at a time. Such observers shall be 13 years of age or older. Notwithstanding this paragraph, more than 2 skiers may be towed if a special permit is issued by the director.
IV. Except in connection with water events and exhibitions authorized by the director, no towing of water skiers, aquaplanes or similar devices shall be conducted during the period between sunset and sunrise. In addition, no person shall operate a boat engaged in wake surfing during the period between sunset and sunrise.
V. No person shall be towed on water skis or other appurtenances unless the person is wearing a Coast Guard approved type 1, 2, or 3 PFD, except when directly participating or competing in an American Water Ski Association approved event or exhibition, authorized by a special permit issued by the director of state police.
VI. No person shall engage in wake surfing unless such person is wearing a Coast Guard approved PFD.
VII. No person shall operate a motorboat propelled by an outboard motor, inboard/outboard motor, or water jet while a person is wake surfing in or on the wake of such motorboat, unless the propulsion system is designed by the manufacturer for that activity.

Legislative History

1990, 171:1. 1994, 200:1, eff. May 24, 1994. 2011, 224:270, eff. July 1, 2011. 2012, 168:1, eff. June 7, 2012. 2015, 26:1, eff. July 6, 2015. 2021, 129:2, eff. Sept. 21, 2021. 2024, 70:1, eff. Aug. 13, 2024.