Code of Maine Rules
09 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
137 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE - GENERAL
Chapter 13 - WATERCRAFT RULES
Section 137-13-06 - Water Sports

Universal Citation: 09 ME Code Rules ยง 137-13-06

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

1. No person shall operate a watercraft on the internal waters of this State for the purpose of towing a person or persons on water skis, surfboards, aquaplanes, or similar devices in a water safety zone as defined in Title 12, Section 13001, paragraph 29, nor shall any person manipulate any watercraft, tow rope or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, surfboards, aquaplanes or similar devices may be affected or controlled in such a way so as to cause these devices, or any person on them, to approach within the water safety zone.

2. Nothing herein shall prevent the necessary launching, or leaving the shoreline, mooring or landing of the watercraft and persons engaged in water-skiing, surfboarding, or using such similar devices, provided they enter or leave the shoreline in a reasonably direct manner and so as not to endanger any persons or property and provided they do not enter or leave directly into or from another adjoining water safety zone. The Division may, upon written application from the majority of the municipal officers of a municipality wherein said waters are located, waive these provisions along undeveloped shorelines, if after inspection of the site by the Division, it is determined that such waiver would provide a greater safety factor than would be achieved by compliance with these provisions.

3. No person shall operate any watercraft on any waters of this State while towing a person or persons on water skis, surfboard or other similar devices unless there is in such watercraft a person at least 12 years of age, in addition to the operator, who is in a position to continually observe the person or persons being towed unless the watercraft is equipped with a wide-angle rearview mirror and is operating in a regulation slalom course (as defined by the Bureau of State Parks and Public Lands of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry). This part shall not apply to those devices operated by the person being towed and so constructed as to be incapable of carrying an operator or passenger in or on the devices.

4. No person shall operate any watercraft for the purpose of towing a person or persons on water skis, surfboards, or similar devices nor shall any person water ski, surfboard, or use similar devices on any waters of this State between the hours of 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise.

5. Persons engaged in watersports shall wear a USCG approved PFD. This PFD is not to be an inflatable PFD. No watercraft operator shall tow a watersports participant who is not wearing such a device.

Exceptions to the requirements of this subsection are permitted under the following conditions:

A. A skier engaged in barefoot water-skiing who wears a barefoot wetsuit designed specifically for such activity.

B. A skier engaged in trick water-skiing whose movements would be restricted or impeded by the bulk of a PFD. For purposes of this subsection, a trick water-skier is a person whose equipment and activities have all of the following characteristics:
(a) Type of Skis: for standard double trick skis, a length of no more than 46 inches and width of at least 8 inches, with no keels on the bottom; for single trick skis, a length of no more than 56 inches and width of at least 22 inches, with no keel on the bottom;

(b) Speed of tow no more than 25 miles per hour; and

(c) Tow rope no longer than 50 feet.

C. The operator of a watercraft towing a trick water-skier or barefoot water-skier shall have a PFD readily available aboard the tow watercraft for each such skier who elects not to wear such a device while skiing.

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