Water Skis and Surfboards

No person may operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope, or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, surfboards, or similar devices may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause other water skis, surfboards, or similar devices, or any person thereon, to collide with or strike against any object or person.

No person may manipulate any water skis, surfboard, or similar device in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of another person.

No person shall manipulate any water skis, surfboard or similar device while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance or drug, under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug, or while having an alcohol concentration in his or her blood .08 percent or more, by weight.

No person may operate a vessel towing a person on water skis, surfboard, or similar device, nor may any person engage in water skiing, surfboarding, or similar activity at any time between the hours from one (1) hour after sunset to one (1) hour before sunrise.

No person may operate a vessel towing a person on water skis, surfboard, or similar device unless:

A person at least twelve (12) years of age or older other than the operator is on board the vessel in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed; or

The vessel is equipped with a wide-angle rear view mirror mounted in a manner that permits the operator to observe the progress of the person being towed.

No person may operate a personal watercraft towing another person on water skis or other towables unless the personal watercraft has, on board, in addition to the operator, a rear-facing observer, who monitors the progress of the person or persons being towed. This rear-facing observer must be at least twelve years of age.

No person may operate a personal watercraft towing another person on water skis or other towables unless the total number of persons operating, observing and being towed does not exceed the specified number of passengers as identified by the manufacturer as the maximum safe load for the vessel.

The prohibition on engaging in these activities between the hours of from one (1) hour after sunset to one (1) before sunrise and the requirement to have an observer or wide-angle rear view mirror do not apply to a performer in a professional exhibition or to a person engaged in an activity authorized by permit under the provisions of the West Virginia Code.

No person may operate a vessel on a government-owned reservoir or other waters of this state while towing a person on water skis, surfboard, or similar device nor may any person engage in water skiing surfboarding, or similar activity on the reservoir or other waters of this state except in the unlimited speed zone.

Except as provided below, a person towed by a vessel must wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, Type II, or Type III personal floatation device.

A person engaged in barefoot waterskiing may elect, at his or her own risk, to wear a non-Coast Guard approved barefoot wetsuit designed specifically for that activity.

NOTE: FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF THE BOATING REGULATIONS, PICK UP A COPY FROM ANY DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES OR DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE.