| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District |
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| Boating Safety Alert | Date: August 22, 2005 206-220-7257 |
COAST GUARD, MARINE LAW ENFORCMENT AGENCIES STRONGLY DISCOURAGE "TEAK SURFING"
Teak surfing, also called platform dragging, occurs when a passenger hangs onto the rear of a boat to be pulled through the water until the boat's wake builds enough height to allow body surfing. This pratice is extremely dangerous becuase surfers are within inches of the boat's propellers and the vessel's exhaust ports. Surfers typically do not wear lifejackets when engaged in the practice. National studies have found Carbon Monoxide concentrations at a small vessel's stern swim steps to be as high as 40-to 80-thousand parts per million. Concentrations as low as 200 parts per million can be fatal. Anyone exposed to a high concentrations of Carbon Monoxide will lose consciousness in a matter of minutes if not seconds. If a teak surfer has become incapacitated they could slip below the water. The Coast Guard and other marine law enforcement agencies would like to remind people of the dangers associated with teak surfing. For more information contact your local marine law enforcement agency, state boating authority, Coast Guard or U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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