The thrill of adrenaline is in the air. Your crew is pumped for a great day on the water. Everything is perfect, or is it? Chances are you are so rushed to take off that you have forgotten something. Prior to leaving the dock before waterskiing or wakeboarding, take a moment to anticipate what you may need on your trip and use the following checklist as a guide.
View Part I of the boating checklist if you've not already seen it.
Binding Lubricant
If you have a piece of water sports equipment that requires some binding lubrication to help you insert your feet you don't want to forget your slippery stuff. Don't forget your binding lubricant and end up being tempted to use sunscreen instead as it is bad for the environment.
Towropes
Do you have ropes of different lengths for different water sports? Or do you have one you can adjust? Remember, beginning skiers need a longer rope. And wakeboarders need a different rope than water-skiers.
Sunscreen and Sunglasses
Sun reflecting off the water and a boat's surface can intensify your sun exposure. Be sure to apply a sunscreen with a 30 SPF minimum. And be sure to wear your sunglasses to protect your eyes and a hat if possible.
Tools
Boats are funny things. They tend to break down, and more often than cars. Be sure to have an adequate tool kit on board to help fix minor issues.
Navigation Guides
A compass and/or a GPS system are good tools for navigation purposes. It's easy to get lost out on a lake when all of the shoreline looks the same.
Binoculars
Binoculars can come in handy when looking for a dropped ski. They are also great for indentifying distress situations.
Beverages
Keep an ample stock of beverages on board, preferably water. Dehydration comes easily with a lot of activity in the heat. If you choose to drink alcohol, do not attempt to waterski or drive the boat. It only makes sense, right?
More on Tides
If you ski or boat in an area affected by the tides be sure to check a tide chart before you depart so you won't end up getting stranded during a low tide or not being able to pass under a bridge at high tide. Keep a tide table in the boat.