Boat Wake Question

[DaNinja]

Re: Boat Wake Question

I didn't see this posted by any of the fellow LOTO boaters.
This happened June 2 around 10pm.
Pretty relevant to the OP's scenarios.
http://lakeexpo.com/articles/2010/06/02/top_news/07.txt

Whose fault was that?

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Boat Wake Question

I didn't take time to read all pages of the discussion. So here's mtcw:

Regardless of the type of vessel, ocean liner or dingy, one must gauge the environment before attempting with any sort of vessel. Just as an ocean liner would not attempt a creek, a dingy should attempt an ocean. An organized crew boating event would section off water, I would think. However, attempting an open river tempts a ill-fated experience outside a no-wake zone.

Nevertheless, I would attempt to put as much distance between us when passing; but I would not be inclined to break my plane. Common sense would take over if I thought it would endanger the other boater, and I would slow down to the extent necessary to ensure their safety and probably whisper a few expletives to the other boater.

imho...wellsc1

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Boat Wake Question

I didn't take time to read all pages of the discussion. So here's mtcw:

Regardless of the type of vessel, ocean liner or dingy, one must gauge the environment before attempting with any sort of vessel. Just as an ocean liner would not attempt a creek, a dingy should attempt an ocean. An organized crew boating event would section off water, I would think. However, attempting an open river tempts a ill-fated experience outside a no-wake zone.

Nevertheless, I would attempt to put as much distance between us when passing; but I would not be inclined to break my plane. Common sense would take over if I thought it would endanger the other boater, and I would slow down to the extent necessary to ensure their safety and probably whisper a few expletives to the other boater.

imho...wellsc1

So what are your opinions about my post just prior to yours?
I think it will be the same as mine, based on this post.

 

[spudshaft]

Re: Boat Wake Question

25th Mustang -- I also have a 89 Mustang. I've had it since 1993, and I like that you consider yours the 25th. I added the 25th emblem to my dash as well.

I try to be courteous regardless of what the law/custom is. I know that here a sportfisher is not uncommon in the river (big wake). I tend to try to stay behind them because they throw off a nightmare of a wake, and if I pass them they tend to re-pass me. Lots of traffic is a PITA, so I try to go to middle of nowhere places when I can.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Boat Wake Question

the CT has many widths, but it can be a very busy river...from commerical to pleasure and sport...there is a fine line between mking way and causing issues...some boats throw huge wakes especially if they are going slow!!!!

some other boats throw monster wakes if going fast...

when i am on plane a cruisng speed, my wake it half of what it will be at 10 mph and bow up!!!!

you got to look at what the other boat is...open shallow freeboard..slow down and go wide.AND slow down...

other close bow boats can tkae a big wake..it is just uncomfortable...but that is the choice they make.....it isnt DANGEROUS when your wake hits them...

but not being an idiot ...is always the best play!!

-Cruising down river you come face to face with a smaller boat. Lets say a small fishing boat. He's on plane, running down river. Would you slow up to pass this smaller boat, or continue as you were, and rely on him making a smart decision crossing your wake?

go as wide as possible and watch as your wake hits his area, to make sure all is well

-Cruising down river you come up on a smaller boat, who is going in your direction but is travelling slower than you. Would you overtake this boat and make them change course and deal with your wake, or would you slow and follow behind to avoid the consequences?

I would not follow if we are in open water not regulated by wake rules....id again go wide and folow the rules of the road

-Cruising down river and you come up on a kyak, or a group of them. Or even a crew team. Would you slow up and try to navigate by them with no wake, or keep on plane and let the smaller craft deal with the wake?

id slow a little for kayaks, and go wide..and Id really slow for a crew team

-Cruising down river and you see a smaller fishing boat off near shore. A few people on board fishing. Would you slow off plane, creep by, and after your wake has crossed them speed back up?

depends on how far away they are...they know they have to deal with boats going up and down the river.... they cant do nothing when a 300 yard tanker comes by and sucks the water all out from under them..and then trows it all back at them!!!!

-Cruising down river and you come to an area with a nice beach. There are a couple of boats anchored off, and people playing on the sand. Would you come off plane and slide by, or keep at your current speed and let the beach combers live with what your wake does?

no alteration at all in this situation for me...

bob

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Boat Wake Question

25th Mustang -- I also have a 89 Mustang. I've had it since 1993, and I like that you consider yours the 25th. I added the 25th emblem to my dash as well.

I try to be courteous regardless of what the law/custom is. I know that here a sportfisher is not uncommon in the river (big wake). I tend to try to stay behind them because they throw off a nightmare of a wake, and if I pass them they tend to re-pass me. Lots of traffic is a PITA, so I try to go to middle of nowhere places when I can.

My car had some 25th anniversary markings on it, and when I repainted I kept a couple of small details.

The CT River does have different widths, and a lot of different areas. The closer to the sound you get the better off with room, but I'm located well up river from that point.

I see a lot of these scenarios right near my marina, due to the fact that the true no wake zone starts at one bridge, but some people use the first bridge as the marker. Makes for some interesting boat passing in that stretch.

 

[jollymon]

Re: Boat Wake Question

While many of you consider it discourteous not to come off plane around smaller vessels, you still need to have some common sense.

I have a 27' Express cruiser. I also baot on the Delaware River. I am 30 miles from Philadelphia. It takes me about 1 our to get there. If I had to come off plane, to no wake, every smaller boat I encountered, either passing, Ancored, or in a head on situation,instead of an hour, it would take me at least two hours.

I do try to be respectful of other boaters, such as moving as far away as I can, if I see a small vessel with small kids, I normally try to reduce my wake as much as possible, but I am not going to come off plane for ever boat that is smaller then me in, nor do I expect for the bigger boats then me, to come off plane, when they are coming up on me, I adjust my speed to handle their wake.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Boat Wake Question

Took the boat out last night for a river cruiser, and actually encountered a few scenarios I mentioned here.

The first one was coming around a bend in the river. At the far end was two or three smaller bow riders on my port side, anchored to the beach. They were sitting, hanging out, having a nice time on the water. There was a no wake zone a ways past them, but they were anchored in a non no wake area. I pulled the boat down off plane, and just treated them as my marker for the no wake zone to begin. It more than doubled the size of the no wake zone, by me doing this.

Later in the cruiser on the way back down river I was coming through another no wake zone heading for my marker. Just off shore there was a small center console fishing. He was well out of the no wake area, but I figured I would use him as my marker and keep no wake past him. After getting through the true no wake zone, I realized he was a lot further up than I originally thought. I stayed true to my word and kept a no wake past him, and even felt good about it. He had a small terrier like dog up on the bow. I would have felt terrible throwing the dog overboard.

As I came back through the area from the first scenario, the guys were still anchored at the beach. I made sure to slide by them before coming onto plane.

What I realized last night, was although these scenarios can be considered an inconvenience, I'm on the boat to have a good time, be with family and friends and enjoy the great weather. I was able to do all those things, even with going slower for longer periods of time. I liked knowing (or at least thinking) the other boaters appreciated me going slow and not tossing them around.

Here are a few photos from the journey, and they might also help show the wake situation behind the boat.

What I considered No Wake Speed:

Bow still digging, but close to plane:

Throwing a wake on plane:

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Boat Wake Question

What I realized last night, was although these scenarios can be considered an inconvenience, I'm on the boat to have a good time, be with family and friends and enjoy the great weather. I was able to do all those things, even with going slower for longer periods of time. I liked knowing (or at least thinking) the other boaters appreciated me going slow and not tossing them around.

I couldn't agree more.

Boating is fun, and should be for everyone. Wake or no wake, if you are making it harder for other people to have fun you shouldn't be doing it.

Coincidentally, I broke down at the boat ramp over the weekend, and spent an hour trying to fix it tied up to the outboard side of the ramp dock (you couldn't load here due to high water). I then spent another hour waiting to get my boat out of the water, and was shocked at the number of people that powerloaded the boat and threw a huge wake at the boat ramp with lots of other boats in close proximity. My kids were playing in the water by my boat (again, it was a protected area where boats couldn't get into), and people were throwing up wakes high enough that my boat was bouncing up and down a foot and a half and my kids were having a hard time keeping their head above water.

Without debating powerloading, I was just shocked at the fact that these people could even think of doing this with half a dozen other boats tied up less than 30 feet away. The rooster tail from the prop was probably 6' tall. It makes it a lot harder for me to have fun if I am worried about my family's safety and property damage.