Rule for swimmers in the water?

[Boatinginthedesert]

What is the rule for the orange flag for swimmers in the water?

I believe it to be: When someone from your boat is in the water, flag is displayed.
When the skier, tuber, wakeboarder, get up and going, flag is NOT displayed.
When the skier, tuber, wakeboarder, faceplants and hits the water, flag is displayed.

Is this correct?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

Depends on where you live - check your local regs. There are no flag requirements in my state for swimming/tubing/skiing.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

Sounds to me as though you have stated the rules perfectly for Colorado, of course common sense plays into this as well such as if you are tied up with other boaters and none of your crew is in the water but others from other boats are I would put mine up too.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

A quick google search and i found...

http://www.lasvegasboatrepair.com/7lakemead.html

 

[JEBar]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

I don't believe there is any such requirement in NC

Jim

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

In NJ we use a 1' pennant-shaped orange flag to signal we are towing someone on a raft, skiis, tube etc. You also need to display it when towing the raft or tube, when no one is riding.

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

I don't believe there is any such requirement in NC

Jim

i too am in NC and havent heard or seen any orange flags

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

The Flag is a MOSTLY West of the Mississippi thing!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

The Flag is a MOSTLY West of the Mississippi thing!

We havn't got any particular requirements for which side of the river you are standing on here

I do remember having to buy and run a flag when we went to Lake of the Ozarks a few years ago.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

Only problem with following the proper flag protocol is the percentage of boaters around you that have no idea what you are trying to, uh, say.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

In Texas, divers have the red flag with the white diagonal.

If you and your family and friends are in the water, you be the protective authority as you have no earthly idea as to the intregrity, soberness, ability to see, concentration, distractions, or anything else of a boat approaching your cherished ones. When I used to take my family out water skiing, as soon as I dropped one, I immediately 360'd the boat and put it adjacent to them. If I saw a boat bearing down, I would get between the boat and them. If some fool hearted S>O>B though he was cute and motored too close to my tows while up and going, I would turn away and if necessary shut it down putting my boat between cherished ones and the puke!!!!!

Mark

 

[QC]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

I am a Colorado River/Lakes boater. We have to consider laws in CA, AZ, NV and UT. The common misunderstanding is that the flag should be used for swimmers. It is NOT a requirement although most of us do it just to let people know there is something in the water. I believe technically a LEO could ticket you for using a flag when you are not in the process or act of towing a water plane (ski, wakeboard, tube etc.) He/she would have to be the biggest jerk in the world, or be responding to you being the biggest jerk in the world, but still interesting to note.

I instruct my people that it is to let other boaters know that you have something in the water, a skier, ski, ski rope etc. They are never used when the skier or tube is on plane. Since we all understand it here, flying it while swimming lets other boaters know there is someone/something in the water. Very common, but not required.

 

[Tagerman]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

No flag rules in TN but I fly a diver down red flag with white diagonal from the boat instead of my VOL navy flag when I have swimmers in...I feel like if you don't realize that the diver down flag means passengers in the water you shouldn't be on the lake, river, or ocean!

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

i too am in NC and havent heard or seen any orange flags

Hi neighbor <charlotte native

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

In Kansas, the flag only needs to be displayed when a towed person is in the water. If you're just floating in the middle of the lake and people are swimming, no flag is needed. I found out first hand when the ranger came by and I frantically threw the flag up hoping to not get in trouble. He proceeded over and told me the Kansas law. I like having it up anyways as it draws attention.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

Sounds to me as though you have stated the rules perfectly for Colorado

Yup. Now I understand why some people behave differently - I never thought the rules would be different, from state to state.

How bizarre.

 

[ZacUSNYR]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

Recent boater safety course I took here in NY made no mention of that - just for divers.

If someone has an orange flag up here chances are you'd have people stopping by asking if you need help.

 

[oops!]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

a buddy of mine carried a diver down flag for swimmers....

i just think its a good idea.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

Based on the varied responses based on region, I guess the closest thing to a universal flag, would be the diver down flag...with maybe a hurricane flag, and an alpha flag thrown in for good measure, right?

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Rule for swimmers in the water?

Based on the varied responses based on region, I guess the closest thing to a universal flag, would be the diver down flag...with maybe a hurricane flag, and an alpha flag thrown in for good measure, right?

I'd go with the "Oscar" pennant. It's flown during "Man Overboard" situations at sea and warns other ships that radical departures from course/speed may be needed...so stand clear.