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Water Skiing Rules

NEW JERSEY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

Copyright (c) 2005 by the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law

*** THIS FILE INCLUDES ALL REGULATIONS PUBLISHED THROUGH THE ***

*** NEW JERSEY REGISTER, VOL. 37. NO. 10, MAY 16, 2005 ***

TITLE 13. LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY

CHAPTER 82. BOATING REGULATIONS

SUBCHAPTER 3. OPERATIONAL REGULATIONS

N.J.A.C. § 13:82-3.11

§ 13:82-3.11 Lake Hopatcong, Sussex and Morris County

(a) From May 15 through September 15 of each calendar year, no person shall waterski on Saturdays, Sundays or

holidays between the hours of 11:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. in the following areas:

1. Byram Cove;

2. Between Raccoon Island and Prospect Point;

3. Between Prospect Point and Halsey Island;

4. Woodport Cove;

5. Between Halsey Island and Raccoon Island; and

6. Henderson Cove.

(b) No vessel shall pull more than two skiers at any one time on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays from May 15

through September 15 of any year except when participating in an exhibition or race sanctioned by the State Police or

the Division of Parks and Forestry.

(c) The towing vessel shall not be loaded beyond the manufacturer's recommended capacity. For purposes of this

subsection, the skier, or skiers, shall be included when determining the number of passengers in the vessel.

(d) While towing a skier, the operator of the vessel shall maintain a distance from any shore, structure, buoy, person

in the water, vessel or other object, of not less than the length of the tow line plus 100 feet.

(e) The ski boat operator shall, when a skier has fallen, or has otherwise become disconnected from the tow line,

reduce speed and return to the skier in a safe and reasonable manner.

(f) The dropping of skis for the purpose of barefoot or slalom skiing is prohibited, unless the ski is immediately

retrieved by a following vessel.

(g) No vessel shall be operated upon Lake Hopatcong between the hours of sunset and sunrise at a speed in excess

of 10 miles per hour.

(h) No vessel shall be operated upon Lake Hopatcong on Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays between May 15 and

September 15 at a speed in excess of 30 miles per hour.

(i) No vessel shall be operated at a speed in excess of five miles per hour within 100 feet of shore, any wharf, pier,

bridge, dock structure, buoy or person in the water or designated bathing area which is marked by buoys.

(j) No vessel shall be operated at such a speed that shall cause 100 percent of the hull to come out of the water.

Operation of the vessel in such a manner shall constitute, without further proof, careless operation. An exception to this

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N.J.A.C. § 13:82-3.11

requirement will be allowed for operation during authorized races sanctioned by the State Police or the Division of

Parks and Forestry, or with a race test permit issued by the State Police.

(k) When the water level reaches the Extreme High Water Level (Elevation 924.20 feet) or when the gauge at the

dam in Hopatcong State Park reads 9.5, a "Slow Speed--No Wake" condition shall exist.

HISTORY:

Amended by R.1999 d.127, effective April 19, 1999.

See: 31 New Jersey Register 113(a), 31 New Jersey Register 1069(a).

Amended by R.2001 d.62, effective February 20, 2001.

See: 32 New Jersey Register 2976(b), 33 New Jersey Register 683(a).