Are You Responsible for Your Wake?

[rondds]

you are responsible to the extent that the law dictates you are. then there's common sense too. the stupid kayaker in the ICW for example. you could say "Tough S*#T bro - you're on my turf now." that will probably get you in trouble legally and definitely civilly. if you THINK you should be slowing down, you SHOULD be slowing down. whether for a rented jonboat or a windsurfer.

i pass a marina (FC3's marina to be exact) every time i come back in for the day. there are no - wake buoys in place, which means, when you pass frank's marina and stay outside the buoys, you are allowed to throw a wake. out of courtesy and respect (and to save gas :grin, i slow down as i pass frank's place. and i've been doing this even before i knew frank.

courtesy first, common sense next, and the law if all else fails. unfortunately, that is why laws exist. because of the vast numbers of dumb-asses that have neither of the above.

 

[osd9]

Ron:

I agree with (almost) everything you said above.....the one minor tweek....I would put common sense in front of courtesy........

 

[billandamy]

Ron:

I agree with (almost) everything you said above.....the one minor tweek....I would put common sense in front of courtesy........

I like things in alphabetical order too.

 

[Gunn]

courtesy first, common sense next, and the law if all else fails. unfortunately, that is why laws exist. because of the vast numbers of dumb-asses that have neither of the above.

Well said. My messages never quite convey the way I want them to. :smt001

 

[rondds]

dominic is gonna take away my green square now! :smt089

 

[osd9]

Nahhh!!!....I just sent some Jersey love your way....quick....Duck!!!!

 

[rondds]

ok i'm gonna get biblical on y'all. laws are really an extension of ethics. if everyone had ethics, there'd be no need for laws. ethics stem from judeo christian values, one of which is courtesy (ie: love thy brother, do unto others, etc. etc.). so, henceforth and hitherto, i'd still put courtesy first.

(big italian family and 8 years of catholic secondary and higher education hammered into my head, all at work here) :smt021

 

[osd9]

....(big italian family and 8 years of catholic secondary and higher education hammered into my head, all at work here)

Large Italian family here too....father was the oldest of 12 brothers and sisters....our family reunions are just rediculous with all the cousins and cousins kids.....and I spent 13 years in the Catholic School system K-8 plus 4 Years H.S. (put my daughter through the same misery....:grin...And for those same reasons......common sense first.....but I'll be courteous and 'respect' (now there's a word for ya....:thumbsup your opinion...I'll throw more love your way too....

 

[rondds]

well, since you put it that way

 

[tawcat]

I voted yes mainly because this a pet peeve of mine. Just yesterday while anchored and rafted with a much smaller SR, one of the jerks in our group gathering, remnants from the day before Aquapalooza, pulling away went WOT with a 270 Sundeck. A$$hole! We bounced around like ping pong balls in a washing machine!

I just think it common courtesy to render as much room as possible to avoid shaking up rafted or anchored boats for that matter. If I can't give wide berth, I slow down, regardless if I'm in open water, in a no wake zone, or a quiet cove.

I do however, agree, that every boater should purchase the recommended size fenders for their boat or even one size larger. And don't forget the line used to tie up with. Had some folks this weekend tying up with clothesline, cheaper is never better! JMHO

 

[osd9]

......I just think it common courtesy to render as much room as possible to avoid shaking up rafted or anchored boats for that matter. .....

hey....that's a 'tweener'.....right between common sense and courtesy....:grin:


Saturday, when I was setting my anchor in Tices (a local anchorage area in Barnegat Bay), while I still had my motors on and confirming the anchor set, two idiots on big PWCs come 'mushing' through the anchorage. Two quick blasts on the air horns and a few explicitives slowed down the second rider. They then passed me by and ran into another guy just behind me who was trying to raft to another boat and one of the PWCers ran into the anchored guys anchor line. They exchanged a few more explicitives.....even a little more 'strongly' than I had....:wow:

 

[charlieft]

I don't think you would be legally responsible, but you would still be a JERK!

 

[wickeral]

Having been a Marine Police Officer for 26 years I'm compelled to offer this. Were I to witness a reckless act anywhere such as a large avoidable Wake/Wash which caused significant damage I'd certainly entertain a charge of Reckless Endangerment based on the fact that people were on board. In the event of personal injury the charges could go anywhere according to the extent of the injury. Also, Civil Courts handle this type of situation more often than not, seeing as there is never a Cop around when you need him!

 

[SeaRide]

Well this evening I decided to go for a Sea Doo run. Temp was around 85, no wind to speak of and the lake was flat. As I splashed the Sea Doo, I noticed a wakeboard boat was busy doing its thing running up and down the cove a max. wake speed. Anyway, I blast off on my GTX 4-TEC, idle through the no wake zone and head for the open water. The lake is flat. Had a great time running around.

As I cross through the no wake zone on my return, I notice a canbote hot on the tail of the wakeboarder shaking his fist (probably not a good way to make your point). Once I cleared the last no wake marker, I power up and see the wakeboarders and the canboter having a screaming match regarding wakes and endangering wake boarders. Apparently the canboter owns propertly along the cove and something on his dock or CB was damaged. Well, maybe his jet ski sized bumpers were the problem. On the other hand, the wakeboarders have to know that their wakes rock the heck out of the docks and two hours of constant running is eventually going to piss off someone. Quite frankly this may have been a case when the wakeboarders could have been out in open water where their wake would have been of no consequence.

 

[billandamy]

Apparently the canboter owns propertly along the cove and something on his dock or CB was damaged. Well, maybe his jet ski sized bumpers were the problem. On the other hand, the wakeboarders have to know that their wakes rock the heck out of the docks and two hours of constant running is eventually going to piss off someone. Quite frankly this may have been a case when the wakeboarders could have been out in open water where their wake would have been of no consequence.

Living on the water does not give you the right to say people can or cannot pass by your docks. You do not own the water, your property line ends at the water line...at least in CT.

My parents have lived on a river for 25+ years, and they have docks etc. Sucks when people go by and create wakes, but as far as I know, and in my experience, doesnt matter if a boat tied to the dock gets banged up a bit in wakes created by passing boats. It seems this way anyway...all of the neighbors just grin and bear it.

 

[SeaRide]

You can put me in the grin and bear category as well. You are right. Living on the water does not give you the right to say who can or cannot pass by your property. However, you are responsible for damage caused by your wake in SC. That being said I think it is also the responsiblity of property owners to make sure that their docks are maintained and their boats are moored in such a manner that their boats are not susceptible to wake damage. Also as a boat owner, you need to be aware of whether or not you are rocking the docks excessively. Common courtesy goes a long way and you also need to know when you have worn out your welcome. That's why I spread my wake around the lake rather than using our local cove every time we go tubing or skiing. I certainly do not want our cove to become a no wake zone. However, it will be if enough property owners complain.

 

[billandamy]

You can put me in the grin and bear category as well. You are right. Living on the water does not give you the right to say who can or cannot pass by your property. However, you are responsible for damage caused by your wake in SC. That being said I think it is also the responsiblity of property owners to make sure that their docks are maintained and their boats are moored in such a manner that their boats are not susceptible to wake damage. Also as a boat owner, you need to be aware of whether or not you are rocking the docks excessively. Common courtesy goes a long way and you also need to know when you have worn out your welcome. That's why I spread my wake around the lake rather than using our local cove every time we go tubing or skiing. I certainly do not want our cove to become a no wake zone. However, it will be if enough property owners complain.

We do the same when we wakeboard (spread the love), and fortunately one of the best spots to board on the lake I am on has little to no homes on that part, and the few are kind of in little coves. But we do go up and down the entire lake.

See, this is where I differ with some of the laws regarding wakes damaging property. If you live on the river (even my parents as an example) it should be up to the owner of the dock/boat to properly tie a boat down enough that really any wake will be absorbed. We always used lots of fenders, tied the boat up on at least 2 cleats, and then besides used the big nylon poles (I simply cant remember what they are called right now:smt013!) to keep the boat away from the dock.

That extra 4 minutes of tying up made it so that no matter what, our boat was secure and safe from wakes.

I totally understand that we should all observe common courtesy and agree, however there will be times when boats go by and are either idiotic, or simply dont realize how much of a wake they just put out going by.

 

[rondds]

what's a canbote? (seriously, i dont know)

 

[billandamy]

what's a canbote? (seriously, i dont know)

Think of 2 soda cans on their sides connected by a deck...

but it does vary from region to region I think, because I have also heard of those aluminum bass boats referred to as can boaters too.:huh:

 

[rondds]

ah, a toon! got it...