Floats are a no-brainer for anyone with experience with towing watersports. When the rider falls, the rope lands in the water. If it doesn't have floats, it's going to sink. As a result of the rope sinking and you turning the boat or ski around, there's a chance the props with tangle and mangle the line, or the jets will suck it up into the engine. Floats keep the rope on the surface, preventing damage while making for easy identification when collecting the rope and rider.