Fla. Stat. 327.37
Water skis, parasails, aquaplanes, kiteboarding, kitesurfing, and moored ballooning regulated


(1)(a)

A person may not operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person on water skis, or an aquaplane, or similar device unless there is in such vessel a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed, or the vessel is equipped with a wide-angle rear view mirror mounted in such manner as to permit the operator of the vessel to observe the progress of the person being towed. This subsection does not apply to class A motorboats operated by the person being towed and designed to be incapable of carrying the operator in the motorboat.A person may not operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person attached to a parasail or similar device unless there is a person in the vessel, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed. A wide-angle rear view mirror is not acceptable for this purpose.

(1)(a)

A person may not operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person on water skis, or an aquaplane, or similar device unless there is in such vessel a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed, or the vessel is equipped with a wide-angle rear view mirror mounted in such manner as to permit the operator of the vessel to observe the progress of the person being towed. This subsection does not apply to class A motorboats operated by the person being towed and designed to be incapable of carrying the operator in the motorboat.

(b)

A person may not operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person attached to a parasail or similar device unless there is a person in the vessel, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed. A wide-angle rear view mirror is not acceptable for this purpose.

(2)(a)

A person may not engage in water skiing, parasailing, aquaplaning, or any similar activity at any time between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.A person may not engage in water skiing, parasailing, aquaplaning, or any similar activity unless such person is wearing a noninflatable personal flotation device currently approved by the United States Coast Guard and used in accordance with the United States Coast Guard approval label.

(2)(a)

A person may not engage in water skiing, parasailing, aquaplaning, or any similar activity at any time between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.

(b)

A person may not engage in water skiing, parasailing, aquaplaning, or any similar activity unless such person is wearing a noninflatable personal flotation device currently approved by the United States Coast Guard and used in accordance with the United States Coast Guard approval label.

(3)

The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition or a person preparing to participate or participating in an official regatta, boat race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition held pursuant to s. 327.48.

(4)

A person may not operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope, or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, parasail, aquaplane, innertube, sled, or similar device may be affected or controlled, in such a way as to cause the water skis, parasail, aquaplane, innertube, sled, or similar device or any person thereon to collide or strike against or be likely to collide or strike against any vessel, bridge, wharf, pier, dock, buoy, platform, piling, channel marker, or other object, except slalom buoys, ski jumps, or like objects used normally in competitive or recreational skiing.

(5)

A person may not operate any vessel towing a parasail or engage in parasailing or moored ballooning within 100 feet of the marked channel of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway or within 2 miles of the boundary of any airport unless otherwise permitted under federal law.

(6)

A person may not engage in kiteboarding or kitesurfing within an area that extends 1 mile in a direct line along the centerline of an airport runway and that has a width measuring one-half mile unless otherwise permitted under federal law.

Source: Section 327.37 — Water skis, parasails, aquaplanes, kiteboarding, kitesurfing, and moored ballooning regulated, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0327.­37 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

327.01
Short title
327.02
Definitions
327.04
Rules
327.30
Collisions, accidents, and casualties
327.31
Transmittal of information
327.32
Vessel declared dangerous instrumentality
327.33
Reckless or careless operation of vessel
327.34
Incapacity of operator
327.35
Boating under the influence
327.36
Mandatory adjudication
327.37
Water skis, parasails, aquaplanes, kiteboarding, kitesurfing, and moored ballooning regulated
327.38
Skiing prohibited while intoxicated or under influence of drugs
327.39
Personal watercraft regulated
327.40
Uniform waterway markers
327.41
Uniform waterway regulatory markers
327.42
Mooring to or damaging of uniform waterway markers prohibited
327.43
Silver Glen Run and Silver Glen Springs
327.44
Interference with navigation
327.45
Protection zones for springs
327.46
Boating-restricted areas
327.47
Competitive grant programs
327.48
Regattas, races, marine parades, tournaments, or exhibitions
327.49
Testing vessels and vessel motors
327.50
Vessel safety regulations
327.52
Maximum loading and horsepower
327.53
Marine sanitation
327.54
Liveries
327.56
Safety and marine sanitation equipment inspections
327.58
Jurisdiction
327.59
Marina evacuations
327.60
Local regulations
327.65
Muffling devices
327.66
Carriage of gasoline on vessels
327.70
Enforcement of this chapter and chapter 328
327.71
Exemption
327.72
Penalties
327.73
Noncriminal infractions
327.74
Uniform boating citations
327.301
Written reports of accidents
327.302
Accident report forms
327.331
Divers
327.352
Tests for alcohol, chemical substances, or controlled substances
327.353
Blood test for impairment or intoxication in cases of death or serious bodily injury
327.354
Presumption of impairment
327.355
Operation of vessels by persons under 21 years of age who have consumed alcoholic beverages
327.359
Refusal to submit to testing
327.371
Human-powered vessels regulated
327.375
Commercial parasailing
327.391
Airboats regulated
327.395
Boating safety education
327.461
Safety zones, security zones, regulated navigation areas, and naval vessel protection zones
327.462
Temporary protection zones for spaceflight launches and recovery of spaceflight assets
327.463
Special hazards
327.521
No-discharge zones
327.731
Mandatory education for violators
327.803
Boating Advisory Council
327.804
Compilation of statistics on boating accidents and violations
327.4107
Vessels at risk of becoming derelict on waters of this state
327.4108
Anchoring of vessels in anchoring limitation areas
327.4109
Anchoring or mooring prohibited
327.35215
Penalty for failure to submit to test

Current through Fall 2025

§ 327.37. Water skis, parasails, aquaplanes, kiteboarding, kitesurfing, & moored ballooning regulated's source at flsenate​.gov