Passing sailing and moored boats.

[Rum_Pirate]

I acknowledge that it is not the done thing to 'rock the boat' at mooring or a sailing boat when passing.

I do slow down and chug past at about 6knts or make a bit of a detour to avoid the wake affecting other boats.

However, when I slow down and chug along (at any speed other than snail pace) my boat throws up a bigger wake than when I have it on the plane.

People don't understand this, so iI slow down or make an obvious detour.

Does anyone have the same problem.

 

[PaulGooch]

Totally understand the dilemma here mate. We're in the same situation (resisted using "boat" lol).

Do we pass on the plane with almost zero wash, appearing to many to be lager lout mobo'ists

Or, do we pass at 8 knots with a "huge" wash, but appearing to be courteous.

I now generally opt for the approach of, passing by whatever means that i know creates the less disturbance to other boaters, whether they be raggies or mobo's. I tend to dislike the "them and us" brigade and much prefer to be a boaty. If the other skipper doesn't understand that, then it's his tough luck really, he should learn about the other boats out there.

 

[BrendanS]

If in river, marina, moorings, slow down to 4knts or whatever speed gives you zero wash.
In open water keep well away on the plane, hundred of yards if possible, as it's easy to detour around behind them. (Better to go behind than in front of sailing boats in light winds). If restricted in ability to manoeuvre, either by geography or lots of boats, then common sense has to be applied

 

[AndieMac]

IMO for a moored boat, as close to zero wash as possible.

As others have said, regarding slower vessels underway, whatever causes the least amount of wash and at the furthest practicable distance.

I sometimes wonder in regards to being overtaken by a faster boat, the angst that is generated is quite possibly more to do with the fact the other boat has left them behind, and any wash caused is like putting salt in the wound.

Of course this is merely speculation and I'm sure there is a far more rational explanation

 

[jimg]

Totally understand the dilemma here mate. We're in the same situation (resisted using "boat" lol).



Or, do we pass at 8 knots with a "huge" wash, but appearing to be courteous.

So to be doing 8 knots at maximum displacement speed would mean a 35 - 36 foot waterline length, making it a 42 -45 foot boat?
And that is maximum, more likely to be 6 knots or less max for a 45 foot boat to create minimum wash?

 

[PaulGooch]

So to be doing 8 knots at maximum displacement speed would mean a 35 - 36 foot waterline length, making it a 42 -45 foot boat?
And that is maximum, more likely to be 6 knots or less max for a 45 foot boat to create minimum wash?

Maximum SOG at displacement speed is also very largely dependent on the speed and direction of the tidal flow. The formula above only calculates hull speed at SOW.

 

[colingr]

I seem to create virtually no wash up to about 5.5knots. Over that it builds quite rapidly.

It's a 21 ft boat so that ties in pretty well with the formula.

I tend to potter by at 5 knots as it's better to avoid the aggro.

Where I am you tend to get a lot of ribs from up the river going at just the right speed to create max wash, although they tend to stay out in the middle of the river.

 

[jimg]

Maximum SOG at displacement speed is also very largely dependent on the speed and direction of the tidal flow. The formula above only calculates hull speed at SOW.

Exactly!

It is not SOG that you need to worry about but the speed thru the water i.e. speed indicated by the log not a GPS.

 

[PaulGooch]

Exactly!

It is not SOG that you need to worry about but the speed thru the water i.e. speed indicated by the log not a GPS.

Not necessarily, 5 knots through the water, against a 4 knot tide will mean i'm doing 1 knot SOG, getting nowhere, but making some wash. Whereas 4 knots through the water in a 3 knot tide will mean 7 knots SOG and next to no wash.

Too many variables to use a fixed formula, i'l stick to the "whatever means that i know creates the less disturbance to other boaters" method.

 

[paultallett]

Not necessarily, 5 knots through the water, against a 4 knot tide will mean i'm doing 1 knot SOG, getting nowhere, but making some wash. Whereas 4 knots through the water in a 3 knot tide will mean 7 knots SOG and next to no wash.

Too many variables to use a fixed formula, i'l stick to the "whatever means that i know creates the less disturbance to other boaters" method.

Agree completely, bin the formula, look over your shoulder at your wash and control it with the throttle...... it's not rocket sience!!

So just to be clear...... hump speed when I see a raggie in a flat cap, and tick over when passing any boat with bikini clad ladies on board not forget a make as good an inspection of said crew........

 

[jimg]

Not necessarily, 5 knots through the water, against a 4 knot tide will mean i'm doing 1 knot SOG, getting nowhere, but making some wash. Whereas 4 knots through the water in a 3 knot tide will mean 7 knots SOG and next to no wash.

Too many variables to use a fixed formula, i'l stick to the "whatever means that i know creates the less disturbance to other boaters" method.

Hey I not suggesting you use a fixed formula, but as in your example you seem to agree that it is speed thru the water that makes the difference for wash.

At the end of the day you just have to look at what wash you are making and adjust speed accordingly.

 

[Searush]

FFS, it's not rocket science. The point is not to swamp open dinghies or throw innocent & unsuspecting bystanders to the ground (or into the water). Minimum wash is the whole point. Colregs say keep CLEAR of overtaken vessel - again pretty clear & dead simple. In open water, there should be no reason to be anywhere near other boats (unless cruising in company) but in narrow channels, harbours & sheltered water, close quarters big wash is seriously dangerous to other craft.

As already stated look behind you from time to time. None of the ignorant tossers that have caused me & my family bruises & cuts have ever looked over their shoulders to see the devastation and pain behind them.

I suppose if you have no brain, it isn't possible to use it is it?

 

[DAKA]

Its not that simply ,

I am not so sure that a boat on the plane reduces wash, it could just be that from the mobos view the wash looks smaller because it is a long way off and certainly by the time searush is knocked off his feet the offending boat will be long gone.

Its not that easy to define open waters either, I frequently find myself dodging sailing boats at tickover as a stinker comes between us @ 30 knots
Some use a simplistic view that if sails are hoisted and sailing boats demand to stand on then it is no longer a restricted channel and can be regarded as open waters and time to open up.

 

[Searush]

If you can't see a swamped dinghy or madly rocking sailboat (remember they have big sticky up masts to show how much they are rocking) at 1/4 mile astern then you shouldn't be driving your MoBo without glasses at those speeds.

As I said earlier, none of the dickheads that have caused us problems in the past have even glanced back over their shoulder. The assumption seems to be "I am travelling sooo fast that there is no-one going to catch me".

Sorry, but it IS simple, it is simple courtesy to others, it is being aware of what is going on around you, it is an important SAFETY measure. It is the same sort of behaviour as knocking old ladies over so that you can get served before them.

Sorry, but I do not see a problem in being courteous to other water users.

 

[Philiz]

I think this is getting a little over complicated. Surely this is a matter of common courtesy, do unto others as you'd have them do unto you etc.
If your wash looks too much and it's likely to effect others, slow down. If it's likey to diminish before it reaches others, fine, leave it at the same speed.
A planing boat produces less wash than it does when it's coming off the plane, or if it's travelling at that awkward uneconomical speed between planing and displacement speed. But it produces the least wash at low displacement speed, 4-6 knots.
Just be considerate, seemples!

 

[Searush]

Incidentally, in case anyone thinks I am anti-MoBo, I always acknowledge MoBos as well as Raggies when out (not all reply - of either persuasion) and I always thank MoBos that do slow down - and there are many that do. I also enjoy the company of the N Wales crowd - most of whom are MoBo'ers.

It is just that when it does happen, the consequences can be quite severe, hot water spilled, people loosing their balance and falling over, or against hard edges, I have been knocked off balance furling sails on the cabin top & was only saved from going over the side by grabbing a shroud as I went down. We have also been swamped in a hard tender - with two small children aboard - I ask you, would you like to be responsible for doing that?

So PLEASE, get to know what your boat does by observing what happens behind you. If everything in your wake is bobbing like mad - you are causing severe problems for your fellow boaters.

 

[RIN]

I think this is getting a little over complicated. Surely this is a matter of common courtesy, do unto others as you'd have them do unto you etc.
If your wash looks too much and it's likely to effect others, slow down. If it's likey to diminish before it reaches others, fine, leave it at the same speed.
A planing boat produces less wash than it does when it's coming off the plane, or if it's travelling at that awkward uneconomical speed between planing and displacement speed. But it produces the least wash at low displacement speed, 4-6 knots.
Just be considerate, seemples!

I have to agree. We moved to the top of the Hamble this year (which has more moored boats than you can shake a stick at) and have chalked up quite a number of runs up and down. By observing the effect on moored boats as we go past, we reckon that 4 knots(log) in congested areas by the bridges Foulkes and RK marine etc and up to 5 knots (log) where there is more room downstream works pretty well. With the tide that gives us 35 mins to Southampton water, against can be up to 50 mins Have taken to putting the kettle on as we get into the Hamble and having a cup of tea as we make our way up so it never becomes a bore.
6 knots with our smal LWL gives too much wash

Of course fishing boats are clearly exempt from travelling at little wash

 

[DAKA]

So PLEASE, get to know what your boat does by observing what happens behind you. If everything in your wake is bobbing like mad - you are causing severe problems for your fellow boaters.

I was attempting to agree with you , perhaps badly ?

The mobos that pass you close at 30 knots think their wash is small, looking astern at 30 knots looks like nice calm water (white but calm), the breaking wave can not be seen from the helm until about 50 m away by which time it looks small from the helm.

A planning boat produces much more wash than one at 8 knots, but when the helm looks at his 8 knots wash it looks bigger as it is closer and any boat being tossed about are only 30 m away, by the time a mobo passes someone at 30 knots they will be 100m away by the time the carnage starts and they miss it !

You falling over and cracking your noggin from 1/4 mile just looks like you have decided to lay down.

 

[AllanJ]

To plane or not to plane

First; There does seem to be a divergence of opinion (surely not in THIS forum) as to whether a planing boat produces less wash than the same boat not planing. I understood that the reason for planing was to minimise the amount of water displaced, which must surely be related (although perhaps not linearly) to the amount of wash.
Second; how much bobbing is unacceptable? Some wash is inevitable. I know that this is not an exact science, but I would appreciate guidance - my common sense may be different to yours.

 

[Dave_Seager]

Looking through the test reports on various boats it is clear that miles per gallon decrease as speed is increased. I can find no evidence that fuel consumption reduces when a boat gets on the plane.

Much of the energy from the fuel is used to move water, causing waves. Therefore, the faster a boat is going, the more fuel it uses per mile putting more energy into that mile of water and making more wash.

The only rational way to reduce wash is to slow down.