Wakeboard Safety
Although wakeboarding does not require being pulled at a high velocity like water-skiing, it can still present some dangers. Just one obstacle, bad movement, or missing gear can result in some severe injuries. Here are some wakeboard safety tips you should consider before dominating the wakes on your next boating adventure.
Club Royale is your number one boat dealer in Waterford, MI, providing services to those in Rochester, MI, as well. Visit us today!
Safety Gear
No matter how well you can swim or have mastered the wakeboarding techniques, wear a life jacket and a helmet. Wakeboarding requires you to be pulled at a decent speed, and you might hit the water with great impact if you lose control. When this happens, even the most experienced swimmers run the risk of staying underwater due to unconsciousness.
Wearing a helmet protects your head from severe injury, and a life jacket lets you stay afloat, giving time for rescuers to come to your aid. Finally, it’s important to have a signal flag. This is important for signaling to other boaters that they need to look out for a swimmer in the water and slow down.
Swimming Skills
While a life jacket and a helmet keep you from drowning, there might be instances where swimming is required. Therefore, having some basic swimming skills is really important. Whether you need to get out of the way of an oncoming boat after you’ve fallen or need to swim to the shore after your wakeboard boat has a life-threatening problem, knowing how to swim is crucial.
Drive Safe
As the captain of the wakeboard boat, be courteous to other boats. Not all boaters are out on the water to have a thrilling ride. On a busy day, expect to be surrounded by both slow and fast-moving boats, and it is important to respect other boater’s space and velocity to create a safe atmosphere for everyone.
Speed Limits & Safety Signs
Before starting your boat and getting it moving around the body of water, be aware of speed limits and safety signs. These signs contain important information such as water depth, wildlife around the area, warnings, and so on.
The Two People Rule
At least two people should be in the boat when someone is wakeboarding. The driver should pay full attention to where he is driving while the other passenger keeps an eye on the person wakeboarding. It’s a matter of team communication.
The Towline
You should always check the status of the towline before you get started. Make sure it’s not tangled in the propeller or wrapped around the rider. The driver should only begin accelerating once the rider is holding the handle and has given the signal to proceed.
Recovering The Rider
Whenever the person wakeboarding falls into the water, the driver should start reducing speed, and not quickly turn to recover them without knowing where the rider has fallen. Slow the boat to a near stop, spot the rider, and head toward them. Stop the wakeboard boat once you’re at a safe distance and allow them to swim towards the boat.
We hope these tips were helpful. Stop by Club Royale in Waterford, MI, for all your wakeboarding needs. We have a large selection of boats for wakeboarding, and we proudly serve Rochester, too!