What do you do to signal when towing someone behind your boat?

Establishing clear hand signals is crucial when towing someone behind your boat for several reasons. Communication is key in ensuring safety for both the person being towed and the boat operator. Hand signals allow the person being towed to convey their intentions or needs, such as indicating they want to slow down, stop, or return to the boat. This non-verbal form of communication is particularly effective since it can be understood even over the noise of the motor and water.

Using loud music, sounding a horn repeatedly, or lighting a flare are not effective means of communication in this context. Loud music could distract both the operator and the person being towed and does not provide meaningful signals. A horn is typically used for signaling or warning other boats, but it does not convey specific messages between the towed individual and the boat operator. Moreover, lighting a flare is meant for emergency signaling and would be inappropriate in a normal towing situation.