Waked again!

[jmarty10]

Well with all the rain in southern wisconsin the river I boat on is a no wake. I have a sterndrive boat/bowrider. 4.3l. Was wondering how many people would use their boat just to cruise around 5 mph or about 1,000-1,500 rpm for 2-3 hours just to get out? Anybody worry about cruising at this speed for a long time given this type of engine?

 

[TMoNeE]

Re: Waked again!

my father in law has a 185 bayline with the 4.3 and a trolling plate and cruises around at about 1.5 mph for 12 hours at a time trolling for fish. I wouldnt worry about it

 

[nlain]

Re: Waked again!

I would worry more about hitting submerged floating junk.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Waked again!

jmarty, which river you on?

Those were really some storms yesterday and I wouldn't be suprised to see many of the lakes also closed to No Wake because of it. I know I heard the Fox is at flood level already and wasn't supposed to crest until tonight. Haven't heard anything about the Rock.

Personally I would wait a couple days to let it all clear up and get the junk out.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Waked again!

I troll at 1.9 mph in the river. No speed limit there, but the fish bite best at this speed. Too slow for the I/O, so I use a 9.9 kicker.

I grew up on the Erie Canal. 5 mph speed limit. Nostalgia for me, but also my launch ramp is 1 block from my house. We launch close to home, then motor 6 miles down the canal to the river. Been doing it for 40 years, with outboards and I/Os. No problem. When we get to the river we kick her up a bit....lol.

 

[oops!]

Re: Waked again!

i regularly cruise at no wake for hours. ive done it with a 4.3 and a 5.7 no worries (alpha's)

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Waked again!

bonzd - the fox is the problem. I'm down on the lower fox river in Illinois. When new muenster floods they push the water south which closes our river. Third time this year!

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Waked again!

4.3 MPI here, and I cruise quite a bit at slow speeds. I also buzz around on plane just to keep the cobwebs clear, but the motor seems content to purr along slowly. No problems in the 5 years I've been doing that.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Waked again!

bonzd - the fox is the problem. I'm down on the lower fox river in Illinois. When new muenster floods they push the water south which closes our river. Third time this year!

I know the area very well. All that water is coming all the way down from Burlington and at times all the way down from Waukesha then goes all the way down to Elgin Illinois and beyond. I grew up in McHenry on the Fox and am now in Twin Lakes. From what I hear Silver Lake is closed also!

Why I say I'd stay off is because there is a lot of undeveloped farm land north of HWY 50 and when it floods all that debris is knocked lose by the high water currant and then comes floating down.

Do you normally head south to the Chain?

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Waked again!

Also remember to keep your blower on while at low engine speeds...says so in the mercruiser manual!

I also troll around for extended peroids...although need a trolling plate...just scared to attach one to my shining new boat.


Ian

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Waked again!

bonz - we are down by the rte 62 bridge and head north up to the locks/upper river/chain. I agree about watching debris but I will be going slow and staying in the middle. The kick in the pants is Sunday is supposed to be beautiful and its the annual fireworks party on the lower river by rte 62. Sucks.

What bodies of water do yo boat on in SE Wisconsin. When river is shut down I hit Lake Delavan. Dont do Lake Geneva because its so hard to get on during weekend.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Waked again!

yeap, know that area also. Spent a couple years there in C'ville way back in the late 70's. It's a long river isn't it? Haven't been through the McHenry locks sense then either. Now I mostly just stay on the Lower Twin and Powers. Agreed on Geneva!

Not to get off track but who do you contact down there to get a Chain sticker?

Oh, and just so you know SE Wisconsin had record rainfalls in some areas yesterday so it will probably be a couple days before it makes it way down to you.