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Boating Community Backed Wakesurfing Legislation Becomes Law in Tennessee

| General Government Relations

Last week, representatives from the recreational boating industry – including NMMA, the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA), HeyDay, Indmar Marine Engines, and MasterCraft – joined Tennessee Governor Bill Lee for an official signing ceremony of the industry-backed model wakesurfing and wakeboarding legislation. The new law entered into force on July 1, 2022, and marks the first state to adopt the industry’s model legislation.

Sponsored by Senator Ken Yager and Representative Dennis Powers, the bill enhances safety requirements for those engaging in wakesurfing and wakeboarding by:

  • Requiring operators to stay at least 200 feet away from all shorelines, docks, piers, or other structures. This means that a channel needs to be at least 400 feet in total width to be considered an appropriate area for these activities.
  • Riders engaging in towed watersports must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  • Prohibits wakesurfing and wakeboarding between the hours of sunset and sunrise.
  • Prohibits wakesurfing from a boat with an exposed (beyond boarding platform) propeller.
  • Prohibits wakesurfing and wakeboarding on a body of water less than fifty (50) acres in size.

“We appreciate the leadership of Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly in passing this legislation,” said Lee Gatts, director of government affairs for WSIA. “This commonsense legislation enhances safety and maintains the ability for every user group to share the states’ waterways while alleviating environmental impact concerns.”

“This is a big victory for all Tennesseans who enjoy being on the water as is the product of our partnership with WSIA, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, and many other boating community stakeholders,” said Ben Murray, NMMA manager of Southeast policy and engagement. “We thank Governor Lee, Senator Yager, and Representative Powers for making Tennessee the first state with this important legislation on its books and look forward to working with our industry partners to add more states to the list in the days ahead.”

For additional information or questions, please contact Lee Gatts at [email protected] or Ben Murray at [email protected].

Photo Caption (Left to Right): Ben Murray (NMMA), Senator Ken Yager, Keisha Bentley Spicer (HeyDay), Collett Mazula (MasterCraft), Natalie Carrera (Indmar Marine Engines), and Lee Gatts (WSIA) join Governor Bill Lee (seated) as he signs the industry model legislation into law.