Just moved my boat to a dock next to my house on a channel. This is a 'No Wake' zone but it seems to me the boats going by don't understand the concept of No Wake. To me if the wake rocks my boat and my dock more than a ripple it's too much. Thoughts?
bigpursuit
My waverunner has a "no wake" mode, that in my opinion, puts out too bigga bumps. I don't use it. What's the hurry?
BP, I think you have to understand that No Wake zones are kind of like speed limits. There's the letter of the law that says you have to drive 35mph in a posted 35mph zone, but then there's the spirit of the law. A big majority of people do not drive 35 in the 35 zone. They go above it by a few mph. Yes, they're breaking the law, but are they really hurting anything by doing it?
Same thing with No Wake zones. The letter of the law says that if anyone can see your wake you're going too fast. But the spirit of the law almost dictates otherwise. Most boats do not steer well at idle. The bow drifts around and the skipper is constantly making corrections to keep it headed in a somewhat straight course. If going fast enough to maintain steerage creates a small wake, then so be it. I guess you can either beatch about it all the time or learn to live with it.
My boat doesn't go slow enough to NOT create a wake. At idle (750rpm's) I'm creating a wake that would rock your boat and your dock. Does it hurt anything? Probably not. Does it offend people who believe in the letter of the law? You bet it does, but there's not much I can do about it.
It's kind of like GFBL boats or boats with loud stereos. I don't like my peace and quiet disturbed by the sound of GFBL's as they race by at warp speeds. But there's not much I can do about it so I choose to ignore it.
Same thing with No Wake zones. The letter of the law says that if anyone can see your wake you're going too fast. But the spirit of the law almost dictates otherwise. Most boats do not steer well at idle. The bow drifts around and the skipper is constantly making corrections to keep it headed in a somewhat straight course. If going fast enough to maintain steerage creates a small wake, then so be it. I guess you can either beatch about it all the time or learn to live with it.
My boat doesn't go slow enough to NOT create a wake. At idle (750rpm's) I'm creating a wake that would rock your boat and your dock. Does it hurt anything? Probably not. Does it offend people who believe in the letter of the law? You bet it does, but there's not much I can do about it.
It's kind of like GFBL boats or boats with loud stereos. I don't like my peace and quiet disturbed by the sound of GFBL's as they race by at warp speeds. But there's not much I can do about it so I choose to ignore it.
If I'm in no rush I'll just go at idle which is in the 3 to 4 mph range. If I'm trying to get some where or its a long no wake zone I usually bring the rpms up just alittle and that puts me between 5 and 6 mph. Any faster and the wake starts to grow quickly.
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In Florida "no wake speed" it is considered to the minimum speed at which you maintain control. A 40 ft gasoline boat runs at 3-4 mph, my boat idles at 6.5 kts and I frequently run a 60DA w/1100 hp MANs and it idles at about 10 kts, so there is a huge variance in actual speed.
Exactly a big diesel boat in idle will through out more wake than a ripple; some folks don't realize that
In NC, the wildlife officers told me, when your boat starts to push water with the bow, you are in violation.
Meaning, when water is parted by the bow, and starts to create a wave pushing water aside in forward motion. That is pretty slow.
I was boarded by a wildlife officer once in SC, and I had the boat in gear. He told me this was no wake speed. Problem was, we were going backwards due to the current in the channel. He didn't realize we were going backwards because he didn't look at the shore. I pointed this out to him and he still didn't acknowlege it.
Meaning, when water is parted by the bow, and starts to create a wave pushing water aside in forward motion. That is pretty slow.
I was boarded by a wildlife officer once in SC, and I had the boat in gear. He told me this was no wake speed. Problem was, we were going backwards due to the current in the channel. He didn't realize we were going backwards because he didn't look at the shore. I pointed this out to him and he still didn't acknowlege it.
The usually accepted definition of no wake is: “operate as close to dead slow as possible while maintaining steerage and control of your craft.”
This is the USS Iowa (BB61) passing through New York Harbor at no wake speed under her own power. If 887 feet and 45 thousand tons of displacement of pure firepower can travel with no wake, I'm sure the rest of us can.
http://williamgmuller.com/images/prints/uss_iowa.jpg
This is the USS Iowa (BB61) passing through New York Harbor at no wake speed under her own power. If 887 feet and 45 thousand tons of displacement of pure firepower can travel with no wake, I'm sure the rest of us can.
http://williamgmuller.com/images/prints/uss_iowa.jpg
We also have our own dock at our house and suffer the same thing. As far as the "I can't go any slower and control the boat" argument goes, my response is that it is not the boat's fault, its your lack of skill for the simple reason other boaters with the same type/model vessel can navigate through the mooring field off our dock without a ripple.
As for the argument that a big boat always throws a wake, just how do you move a big boat down a fairway and dock it in its slip without rocking the docks and the neighbors? So much for the argument low speed equals no control.
Henry
As for the argument that a big boat always throws a wake, just how do you move a big boat down a fairway and dock it in its slip without rocking the docks and the neighbors? So much for the argument low speed equals no control.
Henry
Both GFC and Frank said it best. It's different both by boat and interpretation.
Example: yesterday I proceeded down the channel at my marina to go to the pump out. You pass end of docks the whole way. My 370, in idle, still creates a small "wake" (if you can call it that) that made boats move after I went by. Point is I can't go any slower. As it is I'm shifting in and out of gear to steer. Fact is it's different by boat.
If you expect your boat to sit perfectly still at the dock, I think that's unreasonable. Plus you better talk to Mother Nature too!
I can also assure you I'm not a moron.
Mark
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Example: yesterday I proceeded down the channel at my marina to go to the pump out. You pass end of docks the whole way. My 370, in idle, still creates a small "wake" (if you can call it that) that made boats move after I went by. Point is I can't go any slower. As it is I'm shifting in and out of gear to steer. Fact is it's different by boat.
If you expect your boat to sit perfectly still at the dock, I think that's unreasonable. Plus you better talk to Mother Nature too!
I can also assure you I'm not a moron.
Mark
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As you can see, there isn't a single definition of no-wake. Some agencies, districts, etc do have a formal definition though.
Our entire lake under a no wake restriction due the rain causing the lake to be nearly 2" over the ordinary high water level. Our lake's conversation district defines no wake as "the wake moving out from a watercraft and trailing behind in a widening “V” is of insufficient size to affect other watercraft or to be detrimental to the shoreline."
Maybe your area has a published definition for no wake.
Our entire lake under a no wake restriction due the rain causing the lake to be nearly 2" over the ordinary high water level. Our lake's conversation district defines no wake as "the wake moving out from a watercraft and trailing behind in a widening “V” is of insufficient size to affect other watercraft or to be detrimental to the shoreline."
Maybe your area has a published definition for no wake.
What's a common boater's definition of "No Wake'? That's easy...it's what all the other boaters should be doing.
In our area no wake is also equated to a speed 5 mph (4.3 knots). But the definition Frank quoted is the general rule here as well - lowest speed under which control can be made. And I accept the fact that anything moving through the water makes a wake.
What we see though are a lot of folks who have a sliding scale as to what that speed is. Our dock and the neighborhood mooring field is about 900 feet from the town landing. The landing dockmaster is a town police officer who is part of the harbor patrol. When we or one of our neighbors yells at someone speeding through the mooring field, we often get the retort, "Its as slow as I can go". But then once they get in sight of the landing (and the dockmaster) they are mysteriously able to slow down to a no wake condition.
Henry
What we see though are a lot of folks who have a sliding scale as to what that speed is. Our dock and the neighborhood mooring field is about 900 feet from the town landing. The landing dockmaster is a town police officer who is part of the harbor patrol. When we or one of our neighbors yells at someone speeding through the mooring field, we often get the retort, "Its as slow as I can go". But then once they get in sight of the landing (and the dockmaster) they are mysteriously able to slow down to a no wake condition.
Henry
I guess I'm realizing my best option is to just live with things as they are and realize some people are going to make a wake bigger than I am happy with. I really don't want to be the 'Wake Police'. It also sounds like people are able to justify the wake they make so I'm not going to change it. I'm also enough of a libertarian to not want the police or coast guard out there handing out tickets.
Thanks everyone for your input.
Thanks everyone for your input.
As far as Florida goes Frank is right but in all cases it's subjective. Florida is working to better define and post as a parallel effort to the de-listing of the manatee but still it will be a subjective call by the law enforcement and, for that matter, some who have posted here. The latest from Tallahassee is to post "Minimum Speed" which will be defined in the law as the minimum speed in which vessel steerage can be maintained. The determination of "No Wake" gave the law enforcement a wide berth to cite so we are hoping they will move with the changes.
Tom
Tom
Our boat at dead idle runs at approx. 5.5 nautical mile per hour there is a small ripple off the aft of the vessel 1-2 inches and I still get people yelling at me.... I have tried the one engine in neutral and one at dead idle but loss of steering is too extreme for me to feel in "control" of my vessel. Haters can hate and kiss my ***.
To complicate Florida's situation even beyond the definitions as Tom described, The area designated as minimum speed or no wake is determined by local (county) ordinance, not the USCG. Local (county) government and personnel must erect the signage and unless it has the legend "XXX Co. ord # xxx-xx" on the sign it isn't enforceable. Once the proper signs are in place, then FWC, County sheriffs, city police and USCG will all enforce the ordinance. In areas where local citizens have put up no-wake signs, law enforcement personnel won't stop a vessel for a wake violation, but you may get stopped for reckless operation by anyone with a badge.
Bill Collector, I am like you! My tiny ripple ticks off some people, not in my marina but another I like to go eat at. It usually blow boaters, they are just being hateful. Funny thing is, when they "idle out" under power, they make more ripples than I, but I won't stoop to their level, and frankly I don't care.
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So good definitions and agree, yet one thing has not been mentioned.
???????Wait for it!
Yep good ol' common sense! Treat others like you would be treated and if you go by boats with a tsunami behind you expect an unfriendly wave! Slow down!!
Now I use to hate jet skis.....Now it those boats that create a wake wave to ride your board! I had one come within 30 feet of my boat while I was tied up at a dock with "no Wake " signage all over the place. I got in my dink ran them down and had a heat discussion with them in which I wrote there registration number and reported them to the sheriff's office. They came out and ended up towing the boat back to the dock due to multiple safety violations....
Did I say SLOW DOWN!!!!
???????Wait for it!
Yep good ol' common sense! Treat others like you would be treated and if you go by boats with a tsunami behind you expect an unfriendly wave! Slow down!!
Now I use to hate jet skis.....Now it those boats that create a wake wave to ride your board! I had one come within 30 feet of my boat while I was tied up at a dock with "no Wake " signage all over the place. I got in my dink ran them down and had a heat discussion with them in which I wrote there registration number and reported them to the sheriff's office. They came out and ended up towing the boat back to the dock due to multiple safety violations....
Did I say SLOW DOWN!!!!
In my view no wake is just that no wake.
As others have said, every boat has its own "no wake" speed. I have traveled behind Paul on Jackie J V, a 560DB. At idle, he is probably at about 7 or 8 knots and slides through the water with no wake. For me to keep up at that speed in my 330DA, I am at about 1200rpm or more, and definitely throwing a wake that would NOT qualify as no wake. So if its truly a no wake zone, I need to let him get ahead and try to catch up later when we can get on plane (and that is tough to do, since his top speed is about the same as mine, probably more).
As others have said, every boat has its own "no wake" speed. I have traveled behind Paul on Jackie J V, a 560DB. At idle, he is probably at about 7 or 8 knots and slides through the water with no wake. For me to keep up at that speed in my 330DA, I am at about 1200rpm or more, and definitely throwing a wake that would NOT qualify as no wake. So if its truly a no wake zone, I need to let him get ahead and try to catch up later when we can get on plane (and that is tough to do, since his top speed is about the same as mine, probably more).
This is all subjective to many criteria. Some signs say no wake. Others say minimum wake. Others still say 6 mph. As far as I am concerned I go as slow as I can while maintaining steering and headway. Not difficult in my little water vessel. Sometimes wind and current are issues but they shouldn't be excuses. I knew a guy who said his outboard would overheat if he didn't keep it over 1000 rpm. I guess his water motor was rotting out. He thought his wake was OK since he only had an aluminium boat. Plus if he planed off his wake got smaller right?
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