What Wake

mquiet

mquiet

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2009
1,500
North carolina
Boat Info
1999 480 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Caterpillar 3196
Here's one for debate. The other week I was behind a snailbote and we were both heading north to catch a bridge. We discuss in the radio that if I pass, I could catch the bridge which allows more time for him to arrive and also make the bridge. We agree, but I tell him I need to dig in some and there will me a wake...he replies no problem we know how to handle. Ok, plan is set...I go. South bound center console flat bottom sees me and my maneuver continues along at 20+mph. He gives me he finger and hammers through the wake, no wide or in tight, but off about 20ft which gives him 4-5 waves to go through. He was not monitoring the radio so he had no idea what we were doing. I feel like it's my fault although his boat was fine, but I made him upset. What do y'all think?


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Just a case of someone not understanding all of the facts. I wouldn't lose sleep over that one. Giving the finger is a bit extreme. Years back I cut an arteriole on my foot and it was spurting blood. I pressure wrapped it and headed home to suture it up with complete disregard for the wake zones. I did get yelled at but I'm pretty sure if those boaters new the circumstances they would have understood.
 
I think that as long as you see white water coming off his bow (meaning he is running fast enough that his bow has risen and he is in control) then he has no reason to complain about your wake. The theory is that he has the ability to slow down to mitigate the effects of your wake. You are still responsible for any damage your wake causes, but the enter console guy would have a hard time proving you are at fault when he was at least partially negligent because he failed to slow down.

I wasn't there and can't tell all the details from your description, but approaching a bridge in a large boat at planing speeds is dangerous. There may be some 85 year old grandfather and his 10 yo grandson fishing just behind the bridge piers in a flat bottom boat where you cannot see him and he cannot see you. It is always best to be at no wake speeds when approaching a bridge or anything that blocks your line of sight behind it.
 
That brings up a great question. If you had a person with a potential life threatening situation. Would you power right to the help regardless if you were in a no wake zone or not? I have a 33 ft cruiser and will throw a decent roller. I wonder how people would take it if you did that to save a friend that could lose his life? I hope I never face with that decision.
 
Frank, like always a valid point. We were about 1 mile from the bridge, hence my maneuver to get in front then slow down so the sailboat could control go full speed and catch up to me while I was approaching a the bridge at idle. My slow speed would give him time to catch up.


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I have been number 1 many times for various reasons... Sometimes, it was my fault, but most of the time it was a guy fishing in the middle of a narrow channel. Each situation is different, and as in driving, everyone only sees things through their own eyes... Just consider that you are number 1, and thank the guy who tells you so...
 
Capn Ron said:
That brings up a great question. If you had a person with a potential life threatening situation. Would you power right to the help regardless if you were in a no wake zone or not? I have a 33 ft cruiser and will throw a decent roller. I wonder how people would take it if you did that to save a friend that could lose his life? I hope I never face with that decision.
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I absolutely would make like an ambulance and use speed prudently, staying wide of structures/boats as much as possible, slowing on approach to low/no visibility places like bridge supports/piers/docks where other vessels might appear unexpectedly, etc. I'd deal with true consequences--like wake damage to structures/boats and/or fines for reckless operation--after the threat to life was addressed. I'd deal with offended sensibilities after the fact if needed. People in cars aren't necessarily excused legally from speeding tickets when they're racing to a hospital, and certainly are held responsible for accidents they may cause, but the general public seems to be forgiving in such circumstances, especially when no harm comes to others.

A friend's jet boat started taking on water where several folks were rafted, but was still operational. He high tailed it toward the launch, with a chase boat trailing in case he didn't make it or other problems arose; both went through the LONG no wake zone at decent speed and got a lot of honks and hollers, but he was able to nose his boat up the ramp and save it from submerging completely. Others in the raft up had called ahead so there was help waiting at the ramp; they were able to borrow a portable pump and remove enough water to trailer it....and eventually word got back to the ticked off slip neighbors that it was a boat emergency, not a drunken idiot thumbing his nose at regulations.
 
mquiet said:
I feel like it's my fault although his boat was fine, but I made him upset. What do y'all think?
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Click to expand...

I wasn't there but from what you said, I would say that if you saw the small boat coming you should have waited till he passed. If he showed up half
way through the pass, you should have got on the radio and told the sail boat that you were going to slow down until little boat got by. Seeing your
bow settle down into the water would signal that you were making an effort and may have saved you from the hand gesture. 5' waves are a pretty sizable wake. But again, I wasn't there. Sounds like it all turned out ok
 
Thanks My Sons. He showed up as I was just forward of the port side. If I slow, my wake becomes larger and the swells would also tighten. I guess it is just a good story to discuss amongst us all and give thoughts and perspectives.


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I usually try to err on the side of caution even when technically I may have the right of way or within a zone without a speed limit. I'd rather avoid conflict.
Someone giving me the finger would really make my blood boil which is why it's a good idea to ignore it.
I usually tell people who are aboard and novice boaters that they need to assume that half the boats on the water are being operated by someone who has had a few adult beverages, and the other half are probably being operated by someone who has no clue about what they are doing, and some of them fall in to both categories. None of them are much of a stretch around here, especially on weekends.
I'd rather be incident free than right:
 
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ok - you were on the radio - announcing intentions.

I wasn't there, so don't understand everything, but it sounds like you did it by the book.

The center console was underway - so they had the ability to turn into your wake - much different than if they were anchored.

Frank brought up a good point - what about the other side of the bridge - but sounds like this was well in advance of the bridge. So not an issue.

I would agree with what you did... just my 2 cents.

Mark
 
Many years ago BOAT/US's marine insurance publication run an article that, if I recall correctly, might be meaningful here. A powerboat captain signaled a sailboat that he wanted to pass in the channel. I think the response that he received in return was obscene, but I might not be remembering that correctly. Recall that he repeated his signal and received either no return signal or an obscene one, which isn't one of the options listed in the rules of the road.

So he passed because he didn't want to spend all day in the ditch doing 3 knots. When he passed, his wake rocked the sailboat causing cheese and red wine to spill on his upholstery and carpets. The sailboat owner filed a complaint and suit stipulating that the powerboat captain was at fault because "you are responsible for the damage your wake causes." The final ruling was that the sailboat owner was at fault because his boat was not made ready to operate in a seaway and he should have known and anticipated that his boat would be rocked by wakes.

Law is a funny thing and maritime law is even more arcane, but, like the other Frank, I don't see where you did anything wrong. Little Boat Boy could have maneuvered in order to minimize the effect of your wake on his boatette.

Best regards,
Frank
 
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