jet skis pulling tubers

jacka82942 · 07-06-2010, 02:25 PM

they're all over meredith bay. is this legal/it's at least a little dangerous

dpg · 07-07-2010, 06:12 AM

Been pulling tubes on the lake for years. Is your concern totally THEIR safety??????

ishoot308 · 07-07-2010, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacka82942

they're all over meredith bay. is this legal/it's at least a little dangerous

As long as there is a spotter on the back completely legal, safe and fun!

Dan

bigdog · 07-07-2010, 06:55 AM

Personally, I don't care one way or the other. Live Free or Die attitude here !

Some general information about the topic.....

I have not seen any NH Boating Reg. that indicates that pulling tuber, or skiers by a PWC is illegal ? If it is, can someone correct me please.

FYI....
From NH Handbook of Boating Laws
http://www.boat-ed.com/nh/handbook/ski.htm
It's the Law: Specifically for Boaters Who Tow
Nothing in there about PWC towing tubers or skiers here ?

And some more info.....
It's the Law: Specifically For Ski Craft
http://www.boat-ed.com/nh/handbook/pwc.htm

The New Hampshire law defines a "ski craft" as any motorized vessel that is less than 13 feet in length, is capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour, and has the capacity to carry 'no more than an operator and one other person'.
In my math, that means 'two people' Max on any PWC

Ironically, the picture in the last link shows a 3-seater PWC ? Huh ?
Guess the implication is there.

BD

ITD · 07-07-2010, 07:07 AM

A 3 person PWC is considered a boat under the law, not a jet ski, hence it can go anywhere a boat can go and falls under the rules for boat. Towing a tube is legal on a 3 person PWC, you need a driver, an observer and obviously a tuber. Towing 2 people is not legal. I actually think it is safer than towing a tube behind a boat, the PWC is much more maneuverable and can get back to the fallen tuber much quicker.

gtxrider · 07-07-2010, 07:12 AM

If the PWCs obey the 150' rule, have an observer, do not exceed 45MPH, have PFDs....what is the question?

Ever watch boaters pull skiers or tubers and the driver is watch the skier and not the direction of the boat? It makes no difference if the tow vehicle is a boat or PWC it is Captain Bone Head at the controls that makes the difference.

chipj29 · 07-07-2010, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacka82942

they're all over meredith bay. is this legal/it's at least a little dangerous

In NH, it must be a 3 (or 4) seat PWC. You have to have a seat for the driver, the spotter, and the skier/tuber.

ApS · 07-07-2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxrider

"...Ever watch boaters pull skiers or tubers and the driver is watching the skier and not the direction of the boat? It makes no difference if the tow vehicle is a boat or PWC it is Captain Bone Head at the controls that makes the difference..."

Last week (before "the 4th") I watched a boat towing a tuber 75' behind.

What was that following behind, at another 75' distance?

A second tuber, 150' behind the same tow boat!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog

"...Personally, I don't care one way or the other. Live Free or Die attitude here...!"

I agree. (About the "Live-Free" part, anyway!)

Rattlesnake Guy · 07-07-2010, 05:22 PM

APS,
Agree that 150 feet is not legal.

For our continuing educating credits:
Two tubers are OK if two 14 years or older spotters are on board. Three tubers is not legal in NH.

If you stick two kids in one or two tubes, you need two spotters.

Mee-n-Mac · 07-07-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipj29

In NH, it must be a 3 (or 4) seat PWC. You have to have a seat for the driver, the spotter, and the skier/tuber.

That's an important point above. You must be able to retrieve and seat your tuber(s). Even a SeaDoo LRV was "only" a 4 person PWC, thus a boat under NH laws but only able to tow 1 skier/boarder/tuber due to the above mentioned rule for 1 spotter per towed person. Even some of the small jet boats are only 4 seaters.

ApS · 07-08-2010, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

APS,
"...Agree that 150 feet is not legal..."

I hadn't reflected on its legality—just the fact that they were "in tandem", and a fall by the first tuber could result in a body-slam at 20-MPH

—or better....

chipj29 · 07-08-2010, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

APS,
Agree that 150 feet is not legal.

For our continuing educating credits:
Two tubers are OK if two 14 years or older spotters are on board. Three tubers is not legal in NH.

If you stick two kids in one or two tubes, you need two spotters.

You are correct, but not in the case of a PWC (even a large 3 or 4 seater). There are not enough seats available for the extra tubers and spotters, as mentioned above by m-n-m.

ApS · 07-24-2010, 04:59 AM

Note that a lakes region tuber suffered serious injury while being towed behind a PWC last weekend:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ad.php?t=10395

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog

"...Ironically, the picture in the last link shows a 3-seater PWC ? Huh ? Guess the implication is there..."

There several photographs "in error" in our handbooks.

Sometime around 2004, the state adopted a "generic" printer for NH handbooks [located in Texas

].

"Generic photographs" were also adopted—creating confusion.

07-06-2010, 02:25 PM	#1
jacka82942 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 67 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	jet skis pulling tubers they're all over meredith bay. is this legal/it's at least a little dangerous

07-07-2010, 06:55 AM	#4
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,450 Thanks: 345 Thanked 122 Times in 97 Posts	jet skis pulling tubers Personally, I don't care one way or the other. Live Free or Die attitude here ! Some general information about the topic..... I have not seen any NH Boating Reg. that indicates that pulling tuber, or skiers by a PWC is illegal ? If it is, can someone correct me please. FYI.... From NH Handbook of Boating Laws http://www.boat-ed.com/nh/handbook/ski.htm It's the Law: Specifically for Boaters Who Tow Nothing in there about PWC towing tubers or skiers here ? And some more info..... It's the Law: Specifically For Ski Craft http://www.boat-ed.com/nh/handbook/pwc.htm The New Hampshire law defines a "ski craft" as any motorized vessel that is less than 13 feet in length, is capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour, and has the capacity to carry 'no more than an operator and one other person'. In my math, that means 'two people' Max on any PWC Ironically, the picture in the last link shows a 3-seater PWC ? Huh ? Guess the implication is there. BD

07-07-2010, 07:12 AM	#6
gtxrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Piscataway, NJ Posts: 1,030 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 24 Posts	Legal vs. Safe If the PWCs obey the 150' rule, have an observer, do not exceed 45MPH, have PFDs....what is the question? Ever watch boaters pull skiers or tubers and the driver is watch the skier and not the direction of the boat? It makes no difference if the tow vehicle is a boat or PWC it is Captain Bone Head at the controls that makes the difference.

07-07-2010, 06:12 AM	#2
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,597 Thanks: 153 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Been pulling tubes on the lake for years. Is your concern totally THEIR safety??????

07-07-2010, 07:07 AM	#5
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,930 Thanks: 477 Thanked 693 Times in 388 Posts	A 3 person PWC is considered a boat under the law, not a jet ski, hence it can go anywhere a boat can go and falls under the rules for boat. Towing a tube is legal on a 3 person PWC, you need a driver, an observer and obviously a tuber. Towing 2 people is not legal. I actually think it is safer than towing a tube behind a boat, the PWC is much more maneuverable and can get back to the fallen tuber much quicker.

The Following User Says Thank You to gtxrider For This Useful Post:
chipj29 (07-07-2010)

07-07-2010, 05:22 PM	#9
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	APS, Agree that 150 feet is not legal. For our continuing educating credits: Two tubers are OK if two 14 years or older spotters are on board. Three tubers is not legal in NH. If you stick two kids in one or two tubes, you need two spotters.