No Wake Zones

[frantically relaxing]

Re: No Wake Zones

...The markers are placed far enough out so that people running full tilt around them shouldn't cause wakes back at the docks.

Depends-- below is our harbor. Per Google Earth, it's diagonal measurement is 830 feet, pretty close to 300 yards. Our SkipperLiner is at the end of the dock. This gives some perspective to how small 300 yards really is, this is NOT a large harbor by any means. And I can tell you from 8 years experience that the space within our harbor is not enough space for waves to dissipate. Some, but not much.

It's not in this photo, but there's a "no wake" buoy right near the middle, not far from our SkipperLiner. It amazes me how many people think that once their past that buoy they can open 'er up, especially the PWC'ers who seem impatient with having to drive slow for 2 minutes. I actually had to make a sign for the harbor owner to post that says "ENTIRE HARBOR IS A SLOW NO-WAKE ZONE". There is another no-wake buoy (also not shown) outside the harbor just beyond the dike, but it's not visible until you're into the narrow opening.

 

[Elkhornsun]

Re: No Wake Zones

There are many people that think "no wake zone" means you can't make any wake, whatsoever. The laws vary by state, but in NH, where I live, no wake zones require "headway speed" which is a maximum of 6 MPH, or minimum speed to maintain steerage. This is because some boats (typically larger boats) require more than 6 MPH to maintain control. My deep-V stern drive boat wanders quite a bit at idle speed (around 4 MPH), like they all do. If I bump the speed up to 5.2 or so, the boat is much more controllable and pleasant to operate. I am generating a small wake at that speed, but am well within the law. Additionally, if there's a strong current, sometimes one has to make a substantial wake to make headway when driving against it, and go well over 6 MPH just to steer when going with it.

That said, I suspect the no wake violators mentioned in posts above are flagrantly violation the law.

So I take it that you come into a boat slip at 6 knots and then gun the boat in reverse or use a passenger with fenders jump out and block the bow?

I have operated sailboats that needed 2-3 knots for steerage but cannot imagine a power boat with such a poor hull design that it would need 6 to have any control. It may be easier to control at higher speed but to say it cannot be controlled at a slower speed is very different.

 

[slag]

Re: No Wake Zones

Depends-- below is our harbor. Per Google Earth, it's diagonal measurement is 830 feet, pretty close to 300 yards. Our SkipperLiner is at the end of the dock. This gives some perspective to how small 300 yards really is, this is NOT a large harbor by any means. And I can tell you from 8 years experience that the space within our harbor is not enough space for waves to dissipate. Some, but not much.

It's not in this photo, but there's a "no wake" buoy right near the middle, not far from our SkipperLiner. It amazes me how many people think that once their past that buoy they can open 'er up, especially the PWC'ers who seem impatient with having to drive slow for 2 minutes. I actually had to make a sign for the harbor owner to post that says "ENTIRE HARBOR IS A SLOW NO-WAKE ZONE". There is another no-wake buoy (also not shown) outside the harbor just beyond the dike, but it's not visible until you're into the narrow opening.

If there's a bouy in the middle of the harbor and its not that far from your boat, then its in the wrong place. It should be, at a minimum, 100 yards to mitigate any wake from a boat. The bouy shouldn't be 100 yards from the ramp, but 100 yards from the closest mooring. Seems to me it's in the wrong place. Also, in a closed harbor like yours, it only makes sense to have it an entire no wake zone because of the closed nature of the area it will amplify any surface disturbance.

There's another issue here also. If jetskiiers have to idle for 2 minutes to get out of the harbor with no wake, then that's a problem if they are 2 stroke machines. In 2 minutes, a 2 stroke machine can easily carbon up if forced to idle the entire time and cause WOT problems as well. If there are other ramps close by outside the harbor and I had a 2 stroke pwc, I'd use those instead.

 

[agallant80]

Re: No Wake Zones

If I ever run across a boater who chooses to use foul language in front of my child, they will be politely asked to join me on shore to discuss. No place on the water for inconsiderate a-holes. Get 'em on shore, grab their boat keys and chuck 'em in the water, then take off.

I think your plan will be foiled by those floaty things we all have on our key chains

 

[H20Rat]

Re: No Wake Zones

There's another issue here also. If jetskiiers have to idle for 2 minutes to get out of the harbor with no wake, then that's a problem if they are 2 stroke machines. In 2 minutes, a 2 stroke machine can easily carbon up if forced to idle the entire time and cause WOT problems as well. If there are other ramps close by outside the harbor and I had a 2 stroke pwc, I'd use those instead.

Unless you have some really bad tuning issues, a 2 minute idle isn't a problem. Also, you can momentarily bump the throttle in a pwc to keep things cleared out without causing a wake. (at least thats what I do with my old seadoo, I have one marina that I sometimes idle into that takes about 15-20 minutes at no wake)

 

[Chris_94_Sprint_TX]

Re: No Wake Zones

You guys just reminded me of a story. Last year I was on the lake when this guy in a red Malibu went about 50 yards away from my boat with a skier behind him. He stopped (like right next to me) I asked if he had to ski so close to my boat, he told me to go f myself then started yelling at his kid in the water about how he is not trying hard enough and how he is not going to waist his money on a ski boat if his kid was not going to try.

I think at that point, if my kids were in the boat I would have told him I was too busy with his mom or wife and ask him if he would rather continue this discussion on shore. Most of the time probably not in their best interest but some people just need to learn the hard way sometimes.

Chris

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: No Wake Zones

I was always told passing under bridges is always to be done at minimal speed for safety reasons. It is great to see local LE writing a few tickets to those blowing through them. Sadly, they do not write enough of those. All the local bridges have a state ramp and no wake buoy. Just common sense ..........
One deputy told me "you don't have to have a brain to own a boat, just money". True-- so write more tickets.
Little River Inlet is on the SC/NC state line. It handles a lot of traffic. Today after a thunderstorm blew us off the ocean we decided to drown some bait in the inlet. It was great to see tourist/sight seeing boats loaded with passengers slow for my anchored boat. The big charter boats also slowed. They did not HAVE to. Only the headboats from 1 company in Little River acted like fools to show off to their clients. They have been aHoles for a long time so today was no surprise.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: No Wake Zones

So I take it that you come into a boat slip at 6 knots and then gun the boat in reverse or use a passenger with fenders jump out and block the bow?

I have operated sailboats that needed 2-3 knots for steerage but cannot imagine a power boat with such a poor hull design that it would need 6 to have any control. It may be easier to control at higher speed but to say it cannot be controlled at a slower speed is very different.

No, I do neither.

Many high performance boats will not idle in gear below 6 MPH (the law in NH is 6 MPH, not 6 knots). If they are not in gear, they cannot maintain steerage. The law makes provisions for this situations.