The advantages include better balance, ease in getting up on the ski from the water, hands-on assistance, and easy communication for reassurance and instruction. A harness helps potential skiers who may not have sufficient grasp strength or two hands for holding onto the ski-boom or tow handle. A standard wind-surfer harness is adapted for these water skiers, whether sitting or standing, with a web tape from the harness wrapped loosely around the boom or handle and held in place with one hand. Since this tape is fastened to the center of the harness, pulling centers on the chest, providing balance. Skiers holding the tape on the handle can release it at any time.
Little adaptation is needed for most sailors with limb deficiency.
Most canoe stores also sell flat seat back rests which help with support. A short-legged beach chair resting on the canoe bottom and leaning against the thwart provides a quite stable seat for those who need more support. Canoeists with the use of only one hand have very successfully used their residual arm or chin to hold the top of the paddle. Often, they can paddle with surprising strength. Kayaking is very popular with campers who have single or dual deficiency.