What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

[cptnmcluvin]

I've been boating in Virginia since the 1970s. Multiple times I've seen people claiming random areas to be "no wake" zones. Twice this season property owners have tried to wave me down while I was cruising along the center of the channel and I was much further than 100 feet from the property owners' docks. Both times the property owner seemed insistant that their property was a "no wake" zone. However, neither property had "no wake" signs or buoys indicating the area was truely a no wake zone. In both cases there were no swimmers in the water and no other obvious hazards. The guys seemed to be flipping out over nothing.

Question: What legally qualifies an area as a no wake zone? Who decides this and keeps track of it?

I'd like to know so next time I can help folks understand how it works.

Thanks a bunch!

John
Richmond, VA

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

I'll tell you that in Minnesota, most no-wake zones are marked as such with signs and/or buoys. However, there are some areas such as the St. Croix River where it is no wake for miles. You need to consult river maps to know all of the specific restrictions and boating laws.

Additionally, the chain of lakes that are immediately south of Minneapolis are designated as no-motor lakes. This is not posted anywhere but I've emailed with the Minneapolis Parks & Rec to confirm that it is no-motor. Unfortunately, even though there are no signs, people are just "supposed to know the rules." My point in telling you this is that sometimes these areas aren't marked, and yes the government has the authority to ticket you for not knowing, no matter how difficult they make it for the average boater to find out!

Of course, this doesn't rule out lunatic land owners. Sometimes people get all bent out of whack about boat wakes ruining their docks. I can understand their concerns and anger, but it's just like someone complaining about the bar or fire station down the street. These things were here before they were, and I'm sure that the river channel existed before the dock. I'll usually slow down to prevent dock damage but unless they get the regulating body to agree, they have no right to yell at people.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

... I was much further than 100 feet from the property owners' docks...

Many Lakes/Waters often have signs posted at the ramp that anything withing 100 YARDS of the shoreline is to be considered a No Wake zone.
No wake is often considered to be 5knots/6mph.

Your yardage will vary!

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

No wake is often considered to be 5knots/6mph.

Well, specifically no wake means no wake. The Water Patrol here doesn't give a rat's arske what speed you were going. They will ticket you if your boat is leaving a wake, and different boats leave different wakes at different speeds. I'd say 50% of the boats that I see in no-wake zones consider no-wake to mean not-on-plane.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

In MN, you can go to the state DNR website and look up the specific rules for a particular lake. Many have special rules. The lake I frequent has a perpetual no wake zone 150' or closer to shore, plus numerous no wake zones (mostly narrows) that are marked with buoys. Lakeshore property owners are allowed to mark the distance with a special orange round marker. Other special rules are regarding the speed limit and under what conditions trigger a lakewide no wake zone. We also have more than a few property owners who think their property line extends into the water.

 

[888]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

I'll usually slow down to prevent dock damage

Worse thing you can do is slow down.Slowing down causes bigger waves to crash ashore.

 

[cptnmcluvin]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

Thanks for all the info and stories.

I looked up the VA boating rules online. It says no wake within 50 feet of a dock, ramp, etc.

50 feet is pretty close.

There's also a clause for "slacken speed" with no distance specified. That clause seems kind of gray and undefined.

See below.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/wog/WOG-6-30-08-smaller-file.pdf

Page 20 says:

1. “No wake” is defined as the slowest possible speed required to maintain steerage
and headway.
2. It shall be unlawful to operate any motorboat greater than no wake speed when
within 50 feet or less of docks, piers, boathouses, boat ramps and people in the
water. This definition does not prohibit the pulling of a skier with a rope of less than
50 feet.

Slacken Speed:
Operators shall reduce speed to avoid endangering persons or property by the effect
of the motorboat’s wake when approaching or passing vessels under way, lying to, at
anchor, or made fast to the shore; or, when approaching or passing piers, docks, or boathouses;
or when approaching or passing persons in the water or using water skis or surfboards.

 

[Lakes84]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

Well, specifically no wake means no wake. The Water Patrol here doesn't give a rat's arske what speed you were going. They will ticket you if your boat is leaving a wake, and different boats leave different wakes at different speeds. I'd say 50% of the boats that I see in no-wake zones consider no-wake to mean not-on-plane.

We sometimes boat on the St. Croix. A beautiful river, but a lot of the folks who boat there think it belongs to them. If you drive by them at more than 2 miles an hour (and no I am not exaggerating) You will get yelled at. You pretty much have to drift through, or you get watched like a hawk, just not a good feeling and makes it difficult to relax. We pretty much stopped going there because of the "privileged ****s* that boat there. They wreck it for anyone else....and I live less than two miles from there. That's why I go 7 hours away to lake of the Woods. Nicer people! Sorry, but the attitude of some boaters seriously needs adjusted! (Not Iboaters of course)

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

Well, specifically no wake means no wake. The Water Patrol here doesn't give a rat's arske what speed you were going. They will ticket you if your boat is leaving a wake, and different boats leave different wakes at different speeds. I'd say 50% of the boats that I see in no-wake zones consider no-wake to mean not-on-plane.

In NH, where I live, "no wake" is defined as 6 MPH (or greater if necessary to maintain steerage). We can legally make a wake at "no wake" speeds, but most people don't go overboard with it. No wake speed for me is usually 5 to 5.5 MPH. It's funny to see the signs on shore that claim "no wake means IDLE speed!" when in fact it does not, at least in NH.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

We sometimes boat on the St. Croix. A beautiful river, but a lot of the folks who boat there think it belongs to them. If you drive by them at more than 2 miles an hour (and no I am not exaggerating) You will get yelled at. You pretty much have to drift through, or you get watched like a hawk, just not a good feeling and makes it difficult to relax. We pretty much stopped going there because of the "privileged ****s* that boat there. They wreck it for anyone else....and I live less than two miles from there. That's why I go 7 hours away to lake of the Woods. Nicer people! Sorry, but the attitude of some boaters seriously needs adjusted! (Not Iboaters of course)

Are you north of stillwater? Because the whole area south of stillwater to the mississippi is basically one big drag strip in between the 3 no wake areas. Or are you talking about your speed in the no wake areas?

 

[25thmustang]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

I've never paid attention to my speed in a no wake zone, I just make sure she's not throwing a wake. Being a larger boat I'm probably able to go faster before I throw any significant wake. I actually usually look at my tachs to judge no wake, 1200 or so is a good place to slip through the no wake areas.

There are designated no wake zones, but I also treat other areas as no wake. If there's a large group of smaller boats rafter or beached, I'll usually drop down to steerage no wake speeds. Throwing a wake to them is rude, and could be dangerous.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

In addition to marked areas, there is also the concept of you being responsible for any damage your boat (wake) causes. Some waterfront landowners think any wake damages their shoreline from erosion as well as just rocking their stuff some. That's why they freak out. One mean old man sits on his dock taking pictures of anyone who goes by, sometime calling the cops. the stuff on his flaoting pier is not tied down too well, either.

If you are outside 50' and causing no damage, ignore them.

I live on the water. I'd prefer not to have wakes rocking my stuff and splashing my bulkhead. Where I am it's not very busy; other people have to design their moorings and piers to deal with wakes. It's just part of living on the water, and it's worth it. So I'm not saying anything.

I also don't think people should be able to post no wake signs or bouys wherever they want. That's like living on a busy street, and changing the speed limit in front of your house.

And I may be wrong, but on a windy/choppy day, I consider "no wake" to be whatever is less than the natural waves occuring.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

Worse thing you can do is slow down.Slowing down causes bigger waves to crash ashore.

I don't think I've ever seen anything to back this statement up. It sounds like an excuse for not slowing down, when you shouldn't have been going that fast in the first place.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

I think that you are ALWAYS responsible for any damage caused by your wake. I don't think it matters if you are in a no wake zone or not.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

Worse thing you can do is slow down.Slowing down causes bigger waves to crash ashore.

Slowing down means to get completely off plane and allow the transom to rise with water coming in from astern against it. Otherwise 888 has the answer. In my Avatar I am doing 50 mph but the amplitude of my wake would qualify for no wake.

Mark

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

Yes if i got WOT my wake isn't to bad, at 18mph (wakeboard speed) it is big, at 13mph (wakesurf speed) it's HUGE....at 4mph its GONE

The wake/wave traveling away from boat could possibly be a bit faster at high speed causing it to be shorter but actually have more or similar energy as a larger wave. It will then crest and be larger when pushed up by shallow water. (similar to wind chop vs swells)

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

I don't think I've ever seen anything to back this statement up. It sounds like an excuse for not slowing down, when you shouldn't have been going that fast in the first place.

Most of the boats I've seen will throw the largest wake just before planing speed. The wake becomes smaller and smaller the faster you go because less of the hull is in the water. Granted that only applies to planing hulls, not displacement hulls. Heck, riding a jet ski at 70mph will barely cause a wake at all, but slow it down to 15mph and it'll still rock the boat/dock.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

Yes if i got WOT my wake isn't to bad, at 18mph (wakeboard speed) it is big, at 13mph (wakesurf speed) it's HUGE....at 4mph its GONE

Exactly. In a "no wake zone" You should be going 4 mph, not 50, even if Texasmark thinks he's not raising a wake!

Yes, you DO raise a bigger wake as you come off plane - which means you should get off plane, and reduce your speed below those big-wake speeds well before you are in the no-wake zone. OK, maybe I'm just jealous because I don't have lifting strakes, where I COULD get up on plane. My boat is just three 24 foot displacement hulls...

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

Worse thing you can do is slow down.Slowing down causes bigger waves to crash ashore.

The only way that your statement is correct is if you are coming off plane next to the dock/fixture that you are trying to avoid damaging. A smart/conscientious boater will come off plane prior to that point so that the wake doesn't cause damage. You should be boating through the no wake zone with no wake, not coming off plane at the finish line which would then send your wake through the no wake zone.

At my cabin I keep an old 12' Starcraft with a '63 Seahorse 5.5hp motor. I love that thing and often fish out of it. It's funny how often people slow down from plane but are still pushing tons of water with their boats. In that situation they are creating a greater wake than had the just stayed on plane. That's not an argument for staying on plane though. If you're on the river/lake/ocean and don't have the time or patience to slow down when the situation calls for it, you probably shouldn't be driving a boat. I'm sure that others will disagree, but it just shows the impatience and selfishness that is pervasive in our society....says the 36 year old

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: What legally qualifies a no wake zone?

...which means you should get off plane, and reduce your speed below those big-wake speeds well before you are in the no-wake zone.

Precisely