What is considered NO WAKE?

[kmk_7110]

I was out on the river all day today, and in my state there is a law: No wake withing 50 feet of a non running boat or something of that order. There is no place on this river that is over 50 feet. My buddy and I are in our boats near each other, stopped drifting the structure and the pontoon boats fly past and create major wake that goes in my boat not to bad but his gets a good amount in it. One of the wakers was a jet ski driven by out city's finest. He's the darn sheriff he should know a lot better, but I let it go because a cop on your bad side is usually not a good thing. The thing is usually its out of state people and we let it roll of our backs and forget about it but these people are all from Wisconsin, they bought the boat and the registration and I figure the registration means you know the rules of the water you plan to use the boat on, but not anymore.

 

[Coors]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

No wake is the slowest you can go, but still maintain steerage.
If you still put out a wake, tough.
Maintaining steerage is the key word.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

Around here its 5 mph or less. Check your local laws regarding "no wake" zones.

 

[licketdsplit756]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

if your going faster then the current then your making wake. thats what are local dnr tells us on the river

 

[tommays]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

Does this mean NOBODY can use the river if people anchor every 500 ' ?


It sounds likes you want to turn it into a 5 MPH canal system


Tommays

 

[Expidia]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

Around the Adirondacks in upstate NY most no wake zones are posted with floats that say 5 MPH on them.

I do notice that each boat type hull throws off a different wake, but 5 or below mph is a pretty good rule of thumb.

Any slower and you lose decent steering ability IMO.

The biggest problem is it seems 90% of boat owners don't know that they are responsible for their own wake and they can get sued if their wakes do shoreline damage or worse swamp another boat.

Seems it's always some fat slob, with his huge boat that flies by me about 30 feet away when there is not another boat in sight on the lake. You yell back at them and they just give you the finger as they continue to speed off.

Law enforcement on our lakes is a total joke. How many "expired flares" on board do they think ever killed anybody as compared to their total lack of enforcement for reckless drivers on our lakes when other boaters get to close to smaller boats, canoes and kayaks at high speeds?

Doesn't matter how slow you go sometimes even less than 5 mph and you can expect some home owners on the shores feel the need to run out anyway and start do'in the wave at you up and down! I'm always hoping to see one of them bend over and they can't get back up . . . hahahaha!

 

[kmk_7110]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

Does this mean NOBODY can use the river if people anchor every 500 ' ?


It sounds likes you want to turn it into a 5 MPH canal system


Tommays

No it means you slow down for smaller boats so we don't get sunk because of the wake.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

No it means you slow down for smaller boats so we don't get sunk because of the wake.

Personally, I think they should make a law that says you have to buy a bigger boat!!
--Stan

 

[CATransplant]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

Does this mean NOBODY can use the river if people anchor every 500 ' ?


It sounds likes you want to turn it into a 5 MPH canal system


Tommays

Nah. It just means that you're responsible for your wake. If you swamp some guy in a fishing boat with your wake, you're responsible. If you blow by a nice couple in a canoe paddling down the river near the shoreline, you're responsible.

All a guy has to do is follow the rules of boating and be considerate of others, who also have a perfect right to be on the water. If a river's too narrow for boats to run wide open down it without endangering other boaters, then it's time to find a new place to boat.

Your desires do not outweigh the safety of other boaters. It's that simple.

 

[logartist]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

I personally would not use a powerboat on a river whatsoever, unless its a huge waterway like the Mississippi or something. Its worth the drive to a lake not to have to worry about hurting anyone or damaging proprty. I've been swamped by larger craft before and it is not only annoying, but ruins yer stuff and is dangerous.

I agree, if the river ain't large enough to powerboat on without disturbing others, might as well go boat somewhere else. I prefer wide open spaces and speed. Big water is better. Our local river is trolling only, no jet craft, and I think that's perfect. I'm not disrespecting PWC owners, those things are fun...but they and other fast craft belong in open water.

 

[kmk_7110]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

The worst part is the river connects to a big lake that many of these boats are headed to. There is a bar/restaraunt/campground upriver before it gets to shallow to move without being planned out or going no wake and then its a bit to shallow. This is where they are usually headed. I love that place myself because it is my docking location. I guess I'll just have to live with the wakes and start taking pictures and reporting.

 

[tommays]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

"It just means that you're responsible for your wake"

That would kind of be MY point


If it is really 50' wide HOW can it be used at all above 5 MPH there will always be traffic thats is affected buy boat wakes


I think your also reading the wake laws to suit you view point

It is a problem down here with people illegally anchoring and drift fishing in narrow ICW channels


With my MEGA 19' boat, in which i am in heavy traffic with private boats up to 150' with most in the 35' to 60' range

I always have to slow down to for there wakes or i would get injured or damage my boat

I can not really expect them to NOT to use there boats in a 10 mile wide bay because there wake will in fact travel miles

And then there is the fact that a good bit of the time the wave action is worse than any boat wake



When we travel to LAKES like Lake George with large (over 100' tour boats)i can assure you they have run at one speed for the last 100 years

Fast with a massive bow wave that you have to watch out FOR







Tommays

 

[woodrat]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

I live on a big river that is miles wide in my neighborhood and I still see yahoos blasting by small boats way too close and way too fast. It's mostly not a factor of not being aware, it mostly seems to be a matter of people not giving a ****...

You can't legislate considerate behavior. Those who understand it don't need the rules and those who need the rules wouldn't follow them anyway.

 

[tommays]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

We had so much trouble my friend bought this lake and ALL the surrounding land

NOW the real kicker was still having to get a lawyer over problems with fisherman who though they should be able to use his private property


Tommays

 

[woodrat]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

That's great for those with the dough to buy their own private body of water. The rest of us peasants still have to learn to share the public waterways without endangering each others' lives and property.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

We had so much trouble my friend bought this lake and ALL the surrounding land

NOW the real kicker was still having to get a lawyer over problems with fisherman who though they should be able to use his private property


Tommays

Wow, the arrogance!! I'm glad to see that some states legislate the right to maintain access for the unwashed masses. I personally agree that the water bodies belong to everyone and no one should be able to buy all the land and keep everyone else out. There's always someone with more money. Would like to see your friend gripe when the next person up the money chain boots his @ss out.

 

[beerfilter]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

Personally, I think they should make a law that says you have to buy a bigger boat!!
--Stan

Actually,I'm in the market.
Should I be expecting your personal check to pay for an appropriate tow vehicle?

 

[beerfilter]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

We had so much trouble my friend bought this lake and ALL the surrounding land

NOW the real kicker was still having to get a lawyer over problems with fisherman who though they should be able to use his private property


Tommays

Going a bit OT,but since you brought it up....

One of my favorite trout streams is no longer stocked due to the lack of public access to a PUBLIC resource.
Many wanna-be country dwellers bought up large portions of the lands bordering this creek,and,shut off most access in order to have thier own PRIVATE stream that was stocked for the PUBLIC.
Thank god the TWRA finally got wise to these jackasses.

Of course,nature had other plans.
Seems there are still plenty of trout in the stream(6-12"+),despite NOT having been stocked in over 5 years.
They are not as plentiful,and,spookier,fewer big trout,too.

Most of the Wannabes no longer bother with trout fishing now,since it takes something other than whole-kernel corn to catch them.

But,if you can find an access point,andthe Wannabes see you on the water,they will still act as if you are on THIER property.
These are the kind of snakes that I take along a .454 revolver for!

 

[kmk_7110]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

The biggest boats are pontoons of about 24 feet this is very inland waterway. I just found the rulebook and it says 100ft.

 

[beerfilter]

Re: What is considered NO WAKE?

I always slow down to minimum speed when passing anchored/stationary vessels.
This is courtesy.
There are the incosiderate/uneducated slobs who hammer thier rigs with total disregard for the safety of others.

Most of my favorite areas are well away from the water-splashing gas-wasters and jet-fleas,as running these places at speed would be SUICIDE.
I only have to deal with these morons around the ramps,as they seem unwilling to show thier asses without an audience,and stick within a quarter-mile of their launch point.

Many of these people should not have a Drivers licence,much less,be allowed to operate a boat.
Most places have little/no requirements for training,and,few resources for enforcement.
So,you get the typical parade of fools on your local water,and,the resultant accidents and fatalities.