no wake zone question

[22E6441]

A few weeks ago we cruised out of Dunnville down the Grand River and went out into Lake Erie. As we were cruising down the river we passed a marina on the right side. The river is about maybe 200 feet wide at this point, and about 50 - 75 feet from the marina shore there are white buoys marking a no wake zone. Do those buoys mean that there should be no wake between them and the marina, or anywhere in front of them? Can you fly by the marina if you're between the buoys and the opposite shore? See my attached technical drawing.......I saw boats slow down, and some others zip by.

What's the right thing to do here?

 

[lime4x4]

Re: no wake zone question

looking at your drawing the no wake zone starts when u past the bouyes to enter the marina

 

[Nandy]

Re: no wake zone question

looking at your drawing the no wake zone starts when u past the bouyes to enter the marina

I agree, but also there it has to be a distance between you and the buoys. In NC it is 100 feet if I recall right. That means that in your drawing, keeping the same bearings, your boat cannot be closer than 100 feet from the buoys. I think SC is 50 so you need to check.
If you pay attention to much ramps and you see many people hammering their pwc or boat as soon as they pass the "no wake" buoy. These people are also breaking the law. You seldom see anyone getting a ticket for this, I know I have never seen anyone getting a ticket for this.

 

[haskindm]

Re: no wake zone question

Just a reminder - speed limit or not, you are responsible for any damage caused by your wake.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: no wake zone question

Just a reminder - speed limit or not, you are responsible for any damage caused by your wake.

Off topic, but this brought to mind a few weeks ago when I took a vacation day so my son and I could go fishing without the crowds. A clueless "soccer mom" with two kids in a cabin cruiser came into the cove we were fishing, slowed to just under planing speed (bow still high in the air) and maintained that speed as she passed about 30 feet from me. I was on the front fishing deck and her wake got me wet up to my knees.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: no wake zone question

another uneducated boater, that has no idea what her boat does. all the more reason to require licensing, prior to registration of a boat.

 

[fishinhardwater]

Re: no wake zone question

new jersey now requires all persons, reguardless of age, operating a motor boat or pwc to have a boating safety certificate (state police, coast guard..) i did it 8 years ago when i was 16 so i already have mine, but this makes alot of old timers unhappy, as they have been boating for 40 or 50 years and now they have to take a class and test.

 

[marine4003]

Re: no wake zone question

PLEASE lets not turn this into another license/permit/safety course issue...that horse is done,
Anytime your near any structure (dock/marina/boat ramp ect) the best thing to do is slow enough so your boat is not throwing out a wake.....what i don't understand is why,when folks go boating to relax/fish there in such a hurry,slow down...regardless of what other boaters are doing.When passing another vessel...slow down,pulling away from a dock...go slow,its courteous and safer.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: no wake zone question

Just a reminder - speed limit or not, you are responsible for any damage caused by your wake.[/QUOTE



good point to bring up

 

[tommays]

Re: no wake zone question

Well Well

I am not putting out ANY wake with the sailboat BUT around here the no wake bouys POP-UP from private owners all over the place legal or not


I can just see a 30 mile river were people decide to put up no-wake zones on both banks the whole 30 miles laugh all you want but whats stoping them



There are ones here in Northport Bay within 100' of the CG maintained channel marker

 

[Chip73]

Re: no wake zone question

another uneducated boater, that has no idea what her boat does. all the more reason to require licensing, prior to registration of a boat.

But since that is not the case maybe she can come here and ask and hope to get an educated response. Or get blasted by a know it all providing zero contribution to the thread. Relax guy, not everyone can walk on water.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: no wake zone question

............................ BUT around here the no wake bouys POP-UP from private owners all over the place legal or not........................

Happens here as well................and it's illegal................unless the marker has DNR stickers and a state serial number.............it ain't suppose to be there...............what most individuals placing those markers don't realize is that they are responsible and liable for any damage caused by them.........................so if some one hits one, damages their boat and reports the accident the owner of the marker is at fault..............and liable for any damages.....................and god forbid someone should ski or tube into one.....

 

[Devious]

Re: no wake zone question

i'm being completely serious here. i have a jetski. i'm cruising around on the lake, then head up the river to the launch. halfway to the launch there is a bridge and "no wake" zone. i go from 30 mph to 2-3 mph. at 30 mph, at it's tallest point, i produce like a 4" wake. i know it is pathetic because i try to wakeboard behind the jetski. when i drop to 2-3 mph, i produce a 10" wake.

so, when i slow way down, i produce a larger wake. in a no wake zone, i should speed up to 40+ to make "no wake"

now, i believe the intent of the markers around the bridge is to make people go slow, so why not say "5mph zone" instead of "no wake zone"?

 

[jevery]

Re: no wake zone question

I agree, but also there it has to be a distance between you and the buoys. In NC it is 100 feet if I recall right.

I?ve been boating nearly fifty years and never heard this from another boater or in a safety course. Everyone here planes right up to the No Wake zone buoy line then drops to idle. Thought I better double check the Oklahoma handbook, but can find no mention of a buffer zone around a non-lateral marker buoy. Seems like it would be easier if in NC they?d set the buoy line 100? further out so you have a very clear boundary line ? like a speed limit sign on the road that takes effect only past the sign.

 

[tommays]

Re: no wake zone question

While you need to watch your wake THERE are other rules like going out in a seaworthy boat that can handle the NORMAL conditions for the area

I tend to think if you take a 14' boat out with 3 people to fish in a main channel were 60' boats are common well the CG should be sending YOU back IN


There are plenty of BIG boats here with BIG wakes BUT the NORMAL weather makes BIGGER waves many times a week

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: no wake zone question

now, i believe the intent of the markers around the bridge is to make people go slow, so why not say "5mph zone" instead of "no wake zone"?

"No wake" definitions can vary quite a bit. In some areas it is intended to mean you should be going as slow as possible while maintaining steering control. This can be vastly different speeds for different boats. A large boat obeying the law in a no wake zone can still be putting out a (relatively) signficant wake if that speed is required to maintain steering control. It's all relative.

Other areas define it as no white water in your wake, no appreciable wake at all and/or speed not to exceed 5mph for example.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: no wake zone question

But since that is not the case maybe she can come here and ask and hope to get an educated response. Or get blasted by a know it all providing zero contribution to the thread. Relax guy, not everyone can walk on water.

I believe TD is right. Some people think that just reducing their speed automatically makes them "slow no wake". If the person never came completely off plane (which I've seen some people do) they actually create more wake by dragging the stern deeper. A concious boater is aware what their boat is doing and can correct errors.

 

[Chip73]

Re: no wake zone question

I believe TD is right. Some people think that just reducing their speed automatically makes them "slow no wake". If the person never came completely off plane (which I've seen some people do) they actually create more wake by dragging the stern deeper. A concious boater is aware what their boat is doing and can correct errors.

I am not saying he is wrong I am saying you don't have to be an ***** about it. I wonder how much money iboats loses because new boaters come here, get belittled and crapped on and never come back. Maybe if people would show a little kindness then a new boater will become and old boater and maybe pick up a few things why they or here. Or forget that and just give them the crotchity old man attitude and they take their business else where.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: no wake zone question

I am not saying he is wrong I am saying you don't have to be an ***** about it. I wonder how much money iboats loses because new boaters come here, get belittled and crapped on and never come back. Maybe if people would show a little kindness then a new boater will become and old boater and maybe pick up a few things why they or here. Or forget that and just give them the crotchity old man attitude and they take their business else where.

Love the "crotchity old man attitude line!" It is a huge problem around here!

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: no wake zone question

I am not saying he is wrong I am saying you don't have to be an ***** about it. I wonder how much money iboats loses because new boaters come here, get belittled and crapped on and never come back. Maybe if people would show a little kindness then a new boater will become and old boater and maybe pick up a few things why they or here. Or forget that and just give them the crotchity old man attitude and they take their business else where.

You do know that he was replying to the post by 'mercressientwrench' about the "soccer mom" boater right? He wasnt ripping on '22E461' who posted the thread. I could see where the confusion would lie there. And Im only mentioning it because TD has given me some helpful info in the past.