Boat Wake Question

[25thmustang]

I'm making this post to start some general discussion. I value all opinions so feel free to include yours.

My boat is kept on a river. The river is littered with no wake zones. In between these no wake zones, as one would expect, we have areas you can do any speed (although I believe there might be a 40-45 mph limit). My question pertains to these areas and boat wakes.

Now I know in the end you are responsible for your wake, and this takes precedence. How would you navigate these type of waters.

Here are a few scenarios, let me know what you might do.

-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?

-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?

-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?

-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?

-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?

I understand each and every situation would be handeled differently. These types of scenarios will most likely come up every single outing with my boat. Being on a river, there is tons of traffic and other boaters. I feel I am kind enough and smart enough to do as the situation calls for, but I would love to hear other opinions.

Thanks and enjoy the discussion as it unfolds.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Boat Wake Question

HUH ?

Never been on a river, they make em big enough for boats?

 

[commander315]

Re: Boat Wake Question

Ok, here we go..
1. So could slow down a bit to soften your wake if you want..but its personal choice
2. Just how wide is said river? It depends, you could overtake depending on the situation
3. Kayaks could deal with the wake. However, a crew team you should be more aware of. I was on a crew team and trying to navigate a big wake is no fun.
4. No
5. Just keep on plane

I had to navigate the Pt. Pleasant Canal a few times in NJ. Just wide enough for two boats to pass side by side. It is hell in there, especially if your running a boat like mine. If your running in a wide river (Which One?) Everythings totally different.

 

[Rscardina]

Re: Boat Wake Question

my logic is simple..show courtesy when you can. If you are in a no wake zone then its no wake..so no point in passing anyone.. once past that..then all bets are off..

i dont suggest swamping a small boat to be cool or a tough guy but lets face it..they knw what they got when they purchased the smalle r boat..i thinks its expected ..

when passing or crossing..i obide by water rules.. if I am heading in one direction and the boat is intersecting on my right then ill either throttle up or slow down..dependiing on how fast they are going..

if i am behind and need to pass, ill pass on the left or right depending on where i need to go..

in most situations i do my best not to be the A-hole...sometimes you cant prevent that and often times its the individual on the other boat who has the issue.

i run into this with sail boats..a lot.. they are tacking left and right..so i do whats best in the present scenario..

I know there is boat etiquette that states when , where and how to pass...but what i have seen is most people either dont know or dont care to know..

PS..those questions look like they are out of some test or something?..

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Boat Wake Question

To give you an idea....

The photo below was taken from one side of the river, and you can see how far away the other side is. Factor in a narrow channel, and you have a situation where you will always know where your wake goes, and what your wake does.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Boat Wake Question

It's the Connecticut River, and there is a good 15-20 mile stretch of it that I would have to navigate to get to more open water.

No questions from a test, just off the top of my head. I just know how things have been on this river in the past, and now having a boat I might be concerned with the wake being thrown, it's interesting to hear opinions.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Boat Wake Question

As said, it depends on the river and the situation. In general, if one knows anything about boating they should know how their wake will affect others and act appropriately. I love fishing out of my 12' boat in a channel between bays. I can't tell you how maddening it is when guys cruise by on plane in there bigger boats. I've taken on significant amounts of water even when I've been able to turn my bow into the wake. Boats like this don't have bilges and now I have to sit in a couple inches of water all day. They wave as if they're doing me a favor. I know that they are clueless but it doesn't ease my anger.

When I'm in my big boat and go past others, if I have no way to get around in a manner that won't rock them then I get off plane and putter past. You get a lot more friendly waves from people that way than middle fingers. Treat others as you'd like to be treated in the same situation.

If you have the ability to pass but it would create hardship for another vessel, be calm and be happy to be on the water.

 

[jfadool]

Re: Boat Wake Question

Just be courteous, its usually easy to tell what should be done.

But please don't wake out crew boats, they are very long, tippy, un-maneuverable, and expensive.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Boat Wake Question

HUH ?

Never been on a river, they make em big enough for boats?

I boat on the Delaware River , near Philadelphia...very wide river. Deepest I have seen on fish finder are in the mid 50' range...we have REAL rivers here on the east coast....lolol

 

[Lrider]

Re: Boat Wake Question

Was kidding,

50" is pretty shallow here in the pacific, where I fish is 600 to 1200 feet, someday I will get an anchor rope long enough

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Boat Wake Question

I think part of it depends on the size of the boat. In my little 21' boat I don't worry too much about wake. I make less wake on plane than off, and if I am around other people I keep speed down.

 

[Dan19720]

Re: Boat Wake Question

When I am on the Christiana river in Delaware, in the few spots where you can get up to speed, I slow down if there is a crew boat (usually a few) or a jon boat fishing.

On the C&D Canal, I stay up on plane. I run a 18 foot deep V, and I have only had 1 person on the canal anger me. He had a 40 foot or so cruiser. An old one. The kind of boat that does not plane. He left at least 4 or 5 foot wake behind him, and it bounced of the rocks for quite a distance behind him. Made for a rougher ride than a storm on the edge of the Chesapeake.

Needless to say, everyone was yelling at him to slow down on the VHF.

 

[likalar]

Re: Boat Wake Question

Years ago I ran a 34' planing boat on the Sacramento Delta river system. Then we had a 44' displacement hull boat that made a huge stern wave. I also used very small boats in the same area, and always hated the big ones that were operated like they owned the world. "Treat others as you would like to be treated" was our way of thinking. So we always made the effort not to ruin someone's weekend with our big wake. Sure, we slowed down often, and the friendly waves were appreciated. A bigger boat brings bigger responsibilities. Unfortunately, some people think their big boat excuses them from using common sense toward their fellow man. Common courtesy will guide you, and yes, it will take you longer to get to your destination. Thanks for asking; I wish more people were as considerate as you. Best wishes!

Larry

 

[jelli]

Re: Boat Wake Question

from someone that has a small boat 17 ft jon that fishes on a lake/river i can honestly say that allmost all boaters on the river are very mindfull of small boats. now on the lake above the same river its the opposite even where its wide big boats will get to close and not slow sometimes i believe thay think its funny. i have started carrying a small bilg pump with me for when thay throw ther wake over my bow. when im underway i dont mind as much as i can control where i go over ther wake and how fast but at anchor i have been swamped a few times and cut off while under way a time or two its something i have to live with as a small boater but i do wish that people would be more considerate of little boats just my 2 pieces

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Boat Wake Question

I'm making this post to start some general discussion. I value all opinions so feel free to include yours.

My boat is kept on a river. The river is littered with no wake zones. In between these no wake zones, as one would expect, we have areas you can do any speed (although I believe there might be a 40-45 mph limit). My question pertains to these areas and boat wakes.

Now I know in the end you are responsible for your wake, and this takes precedence. How would you navigate these type of waters.

Here are a few scenarios, let me know what you might do.

-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?

Continue as you are. Slowing down will only give him a taller wake to try to get over.

-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?

Overtake him but make sure he sees you and is ready for you to go by. Once again the slower you go by him the worse it's going to be for him. Especially true if you have a really big boat.

-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?

Off plane and idle by. Especially if there are kids on them. Unless its a very wide river then just go to the other side and turn slightly towards them as you go by. This will throw the largest part of the wake away from them.

-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?

Once again depends on how wide the river is there. If it's narrow you need to drop off plane but if its wide you can go to the other side and go by on plane.

-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?

People that choose to beach in a busy part of the river are being inconsiderate to the people trying to navigate the river imo. I usually go as wide as I can but stay on plane. I always imagine them saying to themselves "This river is too busy to beach like this. Let's find another place to park next time."

I understand each and every situation would be handeled differently. These types of scenarios will most likely come up every single outing with my boat. Being on a river, there is tons of traffic and other boaters. I feel I am kind enough and smart enough to do as the situation calls for, but I would love to hear other opinions.

Thanks and enjoy the discussion as it unfolds.

Keep in mind that as you say all rivers are different. I have one I run in that is fairly wide and that's the one I envision when I answer the questions above. In the one that's really narrow you have to slow down anytime you encounter someone else on it.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Boat Wake Question

To give you an idea....

The photo below was taken from one side of the river, and you can see how far away the other side is. Factor in a narrow channel, and you have a situation where you will always know where your wake goes, and what your wake does.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/25thmustang/Cruisers Inc/IMG_2977.jpg

IMO that is a very wide river. I'd just go to the other side as far as safely possible then turn back towards what you're trying to pass. Most of the wake will go to the outside. If it has a very narrow channell that's even more of a reason for people to not be fishing near it or to be in it with very small boats.

 

[smclear]

Re: Boat Wake Question

One question, how fast does the river run? In all your questions, you start by saying you are going downstream. If the river current is fast enough, slowing down to idle speed may mean a loss of control of your boat. And, you would have the "right of way" over any boat coming upstream. That doesn't mean you have full right to disregard your wake. Just a point on right-of-way.

Also, as was mentioned earlier, boats have less wake at speed than at idle. That plays into how I adjust my speed in most situations.

when passing or crossing..i obide by water rules.. if I am heading in one direction and the boat is intersecting on my right then ill either throttle up or slow down..dependiing on how fast they are going..

If the boat is intersecting from the right, they have the right of way and you should adjust your course and pass to their stern. Throttling up, is in my opinion, a violation of the intent of the law. That all depends on the distance between you though.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat Wake Question

A lot of people, in a effort to be courteous, slow down, and thus make a bigger wake. Some of the people who don't slow down know this but are seen as jerks.

Overtaking another boat has its own rules. But obviously you can't overtake a boat going 15 mph by dropping to "no wake."

People who beach on a narrow stretch assume the risk of wakes, and to some degree, the same holds true for fishermen. While I give fishermen either a slow-down and/or wide berth, I may feel less considerate of a guy who chooses to anchor or drift a small boat right next to the channel when there is plenty of room elsewhere.

Funny, no one suggests showing courtesy to a jet ski....

Some kayaks and even small boats want some wake to play with.

 

[Philster]

Re: Boat Wake Question

When I am on the Christiana river in Delaware, in the few spots where you can get up to speed, I slow down if there is a crew boat (usually a few) or a jon boat fishing.

On the C&D Canal, I stay up on plane. I run a 18 foot deep V, and I have only had 1 person on the canal anger me. He had a 40 foot or so cruiser. An old one. The kind of boat that does not plane. He left at least 4 or 5 foot wake behind him, and it bounced of the rocks for quite a distance behind him. Made for a rougher ride than a storm on the edge of the Chesapeake.

Needless to say, everyone was yelling at him to slow down on the VHF.

Did you mean the Christina (thru Wilmington past some nice urban areas, and connects to Delaware River? My buddy lives on the Christina and rows there. I would love to buzz down it and roll him!

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Boat Wake Question

Also, as was mentioned earlier, boats have less wake at speed than at idle.

This doesn't hold true for all boats. Unless my boats at the point before plane where it's pushing a lot of water, it's throwing a smaller wake then on plane or higher.

In these situations, to be courteous would be to come completely off plane, off the plowing speed and drop back to slightly more than an idle. As stated before though, even having to do this many times in the course of your cruise, is better than sitting at work .

As far as I said down river vs. up river, I didn't so much mean it for the direction heading, it was more to say driving on the river... although I can see how that could be confusing and possibly change answers.

If anyone has other scenarios, post them up.

BTW I didn't mention jet skis, as they seem to want the biggest wake you can throw.