Recreation
Teak surfing
The dangerous, often illegal practice of holding onto a boat's swim platform to bodysurf the wake, exposing the rider directly to lethal carbon monoxide.
Teak surfing is a term from limnology — the scientific study of inland waters. The detailed explanation below covers the definition, why the concept matters to lake water-quality interpretation, and how it intersects with the LakeGrade rubric. Reading Teak surfing alongside the LakeGrade rubric helps make the rubric's structure intuitive — each grading parameter maps directly onto an established limnological concept.
The per-lake pages on LakeQuality always show the specific Teak surfing value for that lake, so you can move from the general concept to the specific lake without leaving the site.
What It Means for Your Lake
Teak surfing (also called platform dragging or bodysurfing the wake) is hanging onto the swim platform or transom of a moving boat and letting go to ride the wake. It is extremely dangerous because the rider's head sits directly in the exhaust stream, where carbon monoxide concentrates, and within feet of the propeller. Many recent CO inhalation deaths and injuries have involved teak surfing, and several states have banned it. Proper wakesurfing, using a rope to get up at a safe distance and a boat with appropriate exhaust routing, exists in part as the safe alternative to teak surfing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is teak surfing?
The dangerous, often illegal practice of holding onto a boat's swim platform to bodysurf the wake, exposing the rider directly to lethal carbon monoxide.
Why does teak surfing matter for lake health?
Teak surfing (also called platform dragging or bodysurfing the wake) is hanging onto the swim platform or transom of a moving boat and letting go to ride the wake. It is extremely dangerous because the rider's head sits directly in the exhaust stream, where carbon monoxide concentrates, and within f...
Related Terms
The odorless, colorless gas in boat exhaust that accumulates behind the transom and poses a serious poisoning and drowning risk to riders close to the boat.
An exhaust system that injects engine fumes into the propeller wash and underwater, dramatically lowering carbon monoxide around the rider.
The area of water immediately behind the boat near the propeller where a fallen rider is at greatest risk, prompting an immediate engine shutdown.
The set of practices that keep riders away from the spinning propeller, including using only inboard boats and shutting the engine off before anyone is near the stern.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.