Tips for Staying Safe on Your Wake Boat

If you’ve never owned a wake boat before, you may not realize just how powerful these boats are. While they’re perfect for reaching top speeds or turning up huge wakes, they often require an experienced driver and a keen eye to keep everyone in the water safe. For tips on how to safely drive your new wake boat, as well as safety pointers for waterskiing, be sure to read through our article below. 

Drive Safely 

Much like a car, it’s important to drive your boat safely to avoid accidents or injuring nearby people. Always pay close attention to your surroundings and keep an eye out for swimmers and other boaters. If you’re in an area with posted speed limits or safety signs, be sure to follow their instructions carefully. They often include important information regarding relevant conditions, water depth, and even nearby wildlife. 

Retrieving a Rider

When waterskiing, it’s common for riders to fall or slip into the water and need to be retrieved. If you are driving a wake boat to retrieve a rider, be sure to first put up your safety flag to notify other boaters there is a person in the water. Then, reduce your speed to almost a complete stop before making a wide turn back toward the rider. Do not pull up directly next to the rider and instead allow them to swim toward the boat. Once they’re aboard you’re free to remove your safety flag, pull up your ladder, and head back out into the open water. 

Safety Gear 

One of the most important pieces of safety gear you can purchase is a life jacket. Whether you’re driving your wake boat or waterskiing behind it, you’ll want to make sure you have a life jacket on at all times. Another helpful piece of gear is a helmet. While you don’t need to wear one while driving your boat, if you’re out in the water we advise wearing a helmet to protect you in case of an accident. 

On the hunt for quality safety gear or wake boat accessories? Look no further than Gordy’s Marine! We proudly serve the nearby cities of Madison & Janesville, Wisconsin, as well as Waukegan, Illinois, and have an amazing inventory of boating accessories available for you to choose from. Visit any of our convenient locations across Wisconsin and Illinois, or visit our helpful website to learn more about the many helpful boating services we offer.