Red Flags

[Kate]

"Back in the day," boaters held up a red flag to warn others that a skier/tuber was in the water. These days, that warning seems to be passe. Now, if I see a boat stopped, I have to guess and hunt for a bobbing head.

Is this damn-the-warnings attitude a wider issue? Or am I just around a bunch of boaters who don't know/don't care?

[bruceb58]

In Lake Tahoe and Big Bear Lake, everyone we see uses the red flag.

[Cctvdc]

Never seen this but I think it should be standard practice.

[kas232ca]

We have noticed this as well. If we see a boat stopped (particularly a surf boat), I assume there is someone in the water nearby.

[Titaniumboy]

Our flags have always been orange?

[dsthomas]

In Mo the flags have always been orange and I feel like people are pretty good at using them. The problem is other boaters basically ignore them. What I hate is when we have a skier and a boat follows in our wake. It's very unsafe and it happens frequently.

[Kate]

"Our flags have always been orange?"

My understanding is that the flag can be either red or orange.

[Krob1114]

I haven't noticed people using them at our lake. A lot of people don't even know about the Diver Down flag either.

[Big Block Power]

In Wisconsin is not a law. Missouri it is.
I use it here because it's a great tool to keep the kids safe. I'm sure half of the Captain's here have no idea what it means. I think anytime you're towing a person it should be raised.

[mdadgar]

The flags are pretty common around here (California).

And I HATE it when another boat follows in my wake when I am towing someone (boarder, tube, etc). So dangerous, so unnecessary.

- Mark

[dustinm]

I notice the surfers are better at using them around here.
At least when someone is waving a big orange flag, it makes people think - well it should and naturally slow down or go around

[NautiWeasel]

Not sure how I missed this late last season, but it was very timely then.
My crew and I religiously used the orange skier down flag when starting or retrieving a downed skier or tuber (etc.). We also ALWAYS use the flag when we are stopped / at anchor, and we have someone around us in the water.
That was until Labor Day weekend, 2023, when we were at anchor, and multiple people in the water. I had KS Dept of Wildlife (boat cops) come to our boat, and notify me that I was actually flying the flag incorrectly. The orange flag should only be flown when you are actively pulling a person on skis/towable/board of some kind. NOT when you are at anchor, and there are people in the water. I didn't let them know that I didn't agree with that law (agree as in I didn't like it) but that I would comply.

I actually prefer that it be flown at all times if someone from your boat is in the water, but not willing to get pulled over multiple times to continue to fly it that way.

I'm sure other states are different.

[jhnmdahl]

Not sure how I missed this late last season, but it was very timely then.
My crew and I religiously used the orange skier down flag when starting or retrieving a downed skier or tuber (etc.). We also ALWAYS use the flag when we are stopped / at anchor, and we have someone around us in the water.
That was until Labor Day weekend, 2023, when we were at anchor, and multiple people in the water. I had KS Dept of Wildlife (boat cops) come to our boat, and notify me that I was actually flying the flag incorrectly. The orange flag should only be flown when you are actively pulling a person on skis/towable/board of some kind. NOT when you are at anchor, and there are people in the water. I didn't let them know that I didn't agree with that law (agree as in I didn't like it) but that I would comply.

I actually prefer that it be flown at all times if someone from your boat is in the water, but not willing to get pulled over multiple times to continue to fly it that way.

I'm sure other states are different.

Seems like it would be obvious if you were actively pulling someone - it's when you're no longer actively pulling them that they're at risk!

[NautiWeasel]

Not sure how I missed this late last season, but it was very timely then.
My crew and I religiously used the orange skier down flag when starting or retrieving a downed skier or tuber (etc.). We also ALWAYS use the flag when we are stopped / at anchor, and we have someone around us in the water.
That was until Labor Day weekend, 2023, when we were at anchor, and multiple people in the water. I had KS Dept of Wildlife (boat cops) come to our boat, and notify me that I was actually flying the flag incorrectly. The orange flag should only be flown when you are actively pulling a person on skis/towable/board of some kind. NOT when you are at anchor, and there are people in the water. I didn't let them know that I didn't agree with that law (agree as in I didn't like it) but that I would comply.

I actually prefer that it be flown at all times if someone from your boat is in the water, but not willing to get pulled over multiple times to continue to fly it that way.

I'm sure other states are different.

Seems like it would be obvious if you were actively pulling someone - it's when you're no longer actively pulling them that they're at risk!

Yep, my thoughts exactly, but I wasn't going to argue with law enforcement. That's never a good idea, or a winning option.

[Tandjmei8]

Not sure how I missed this late last season, but it was very timely then.
My crew and I religiously used the orange skier down flag when starting or retrieving a downed skier or tuber (etc.). We also ALWAYS use the flag when we are stopped / at anchor, and we have someone around us in the water.
That was until Labor Day weekend, 2023, when we were at anchor, and multiple people in the water. I had KS Dept of Wildlife (boat cops) come to our boat, and notify me that I was actually flying the flag incorrectly. The orange flag should only be flown when you are actively pulling a person on skis/towable/board of some kind. NOT when you are at anchor, and there are people in the water. I didn't let them know that I didn't agree with that law (agree as in I didn't like it) but that I would comply.

I actually prefer that it be flown at all times if someone from your boat is in the water, but not willing to get pulled over multiple times to continue to fly it that way.

I'm sure other states are different.

Seems like it would be obvious if you were actively pulling someone - it's when you're no longer actively pulling them that they're at risk!

Yep, my thoughts exactly, but I wasn't going to argue with law enforcement. That's never a good idea, or a winning option.

Good discussion. I’m actually opposite on this one. I’ve had other boaters come up to me to say that if we’re anchored and swimming, then we need to have the flag up, which is incorrect. The flag is to signal to other boaters that there is a skier down, so other boats need to look further away from the boat - scan the area. If I’m anchored and they don’t notice a 25’ boat, then I don’t think the orange flag is going to help them…they’ve already broken a lot of boating safety rules by that point.