Please cut your wash near moorings

Let's face it, wash is wash - whatever craft causes it - and it IS an issue, particularly on moorings. In Portsmouth Hr, the speed limit is 10kts and I don't have a problem with ANY boat doing that where it is safe and where the wash is not a nuisance. However, there are a number of boats (sail AND power) based upstream in the Fareham area that create a real problem. I am moored on a midstream pontoon and the snatching and pitching caused is genuinely dangerous, particularly if cooking or working with tools.

Even when I (politely - honest!!!!) ask boats to reduce wash the response is often abuse, 2 fingers or a shouted "10 kts". I only wish the latter would read the Harbour Regulations less selectively, then they would discover that immediately below the speed limits section in Schedule 2, it says:

'9. Vessels to be navigated with care and caution

The Master of a vessel navigating the Dockyard Port shall navigate the vessel with care and caution and in such a manner as shall not cause annoyance to the occupants of any other vessel or cause damage or danger to any other vessel or to any moorings or other property'.

Amongst the MoBOs, it's RIBs and the aft cockpit sport fishing boat types - Arvor, Merry Fishers and similar, which create the biggest problem and are I suspect, operating at just the wrong speeds for their hull shapes. However, when one does go past just a little more slowly, the difference is unbelievable and usually elicits a waved acknowledgement.

I don't want to stir the unnecessary MoBo v Raggy thing, but a bit of self-policing would prevent recourse to the authorities which, in Portsmouth Hr, is only a question of time I suspect, as they have received a number of complaints. In fairness, QHM (VHF Ch 11) are pretty good at responding if they have a patrol boat in the vicinity.

So please, look behind, see the effect of your wash, and be prepared to slow down if you think you might be causing a problem. Raggies and MoBos will thank you for it.

Thank you.
 
Last weekend my experience was good and bad, first of all I was on the Itchen River doing approx 5knots when a rib came up to me and politely asked me to watch my wash as there was a rowing club race, of course I smiled and acknowledge and reduced down to 2-3knots to keep the wash down - No problem and everyone happy, how it should be.

The next day anchoured off Bembridge about 2hours before dark I thought it looks quiet I will quickly dive under the boat and clean the hull and props before getting back. Of course as soon as I am in the water a guy towing a water skier went up and down in front of me making my life hard work and dangerous, then an idiot in a black rib decided to full throttle right by me looking at me.

I just think it does not enter into there stupid minds that they are causing a problem.
 
Englander

Quite possibly Here
DSCN4818.jpg

and this is probably from the same yard ?
DSCN4828.jpg

Dragging some memories from when I was a wee lad here so might well have stuff wrong

The top picture is of the yard along upnor beach. As far as I know it was built by a man (I think I have the right name) called Laurie Blair. He built the yard to build his boat which was in fact named Englander. He sadly had to sell the boat when his business went wrong and he did not like to talk about it. Sadly he passed away a good few years ago now. There is no road access along to it. Everything had to be walked along the beach or by boat.

The boat in the second picture has definately been slipped at the yard but I don't believe she was built there.

And just so this post does not count as thread drift. When boats go past that yard exceeding six knots they can cause a lot of damage if a boat is partially hauled out. The speed limit is there for a reason.
 
Well i'm playing on the raggy side of the fence at the mo and being a fairly 'novice' one at that am not likely to be creating any noticeable wash (not without some clever camera with a serious zoom. :D )

I think Old Git's pic doesn't leave much doubt to that one on the speed issue.

On a side note, my 23ft Motorboat would create more wash at 6kts than it would at 20kts. Since at 6 it would be pushing just beyond it's hull length speed and hence burning lots of fuel and pushing lots of wash from its stern.

Mine also creates more wash going slow but nothing after about 20kts.
 
Hi Mobos.

Can I appeal to your better side and ask you lads and lassies to be a bit sympathetic, considerate etc, towards others when passing moorings at the speed that creates a large bow wave and sends moored yachts on pontoons and on bouys into an erratic dance.

It can do a huge amount of damage to topsides, fenders and lines and can also throw things around inside if those onboard are least expecting a wash.
Many thanks
oh, to those who are already considerate, I am extremely grateful,
ta
Scotty

Always happy to oblige Scottie - I used to pride myself in the fact that my old boat would do 44 kts, but if you wanted it to, it could slip in and out of harbours without so much as a ripple. No sound and no smell either. It ran on gas and the V6 engines could idle down to 400rpm - absolute silence. More fuss from a passing Swan! :)
 
So true, on the way down towards the lock and petrol berth, SWMBO was at the helm with the instuctor I was on the port side looking around and noticed a very small sailboat with I think four people in, all with funny hats.

As we passed them going, I swear at no more the two knots I gave them a friendly smile and a wave. Nothing, just kepts staring at us like we had gone by on the plane at 30 Knots. Sod em!

Don't give up guys, keep the wavin' and the smilin' goin'.

With your calm and measured ways perhaps you'll convert some of those you speak of, to be real pleasant people like you an' me.

Keep up the good work, ;-)
 
tis all about life balance.. for every high pressure numbingly boring IT job there's a pastime that offers a combination of chill time and thrills as the balancing cure... powerboating certainly fits the bill ;-)

I used to get my fix as a specimen fisherman with long periods of inactivity interspersed with an adralin rush as you fight a 50lb + fish... at least with PBing you get to chose when you get your buzz 90% of the time ;-)

think I'll rebadge my throttle with the following markings:

idle - chill
wot - thrill

an old habit, can't be in IT and not resist the temptation to rebadge the same equipment everyone else is using and declare it makes for a far superior bit of kit lol
 
Here is my slant on this subject.

I own an aft cockpit sport fishing boat of the type much despised by Goldie and I often spend a day or night on a mooring or at anchor.

Funnily enough I expect to be subjected to wash and just deal with it when I am cooking, eating, drinking or peeing, as I have discovered it is a characteristic of boats.

I certainly don't whine about it as thousands of posts on YBW over the years have done. I just deal with it by keeping an eye out for wash from potential wash makers and preparing for it if I am about to get into my tender or cook a meal.

It would help if the mostly raggie anti wash posters were capable of following a basic tenet of maritime 'law' by using a cone when motor sailing, but of course, inconveniencing people can only be a MOBO crime and it is prolly too dangerous to go forward in case a small wave hits your fragile boat.

I totally agree with the two small speed limits posted in the Menai Strait. 5 knots at Port Dinorwic and 5 knots in the marked channel into Caernarfon.

There is no other speed limit and even though I try a minimise wash close to moored boats, in the Menai Strait there are so many that would mean the entire Strait would need a speed limit.

If I can deal with wash when moored, why can't anyone else?
 
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Dear Major,
How are you these days in your new ribby thing?:cool: I have only one comment to add to your post; wash can travel for miles.

In the lovely, secluded (apart from the dozens of other anchored boats:p) and calm waters of Abermenai, one is a fair distance from the channel where mobos will often be travelling at high speed to stem the strong foul tides so wash is a common problem.

Unfortunately it arrives long after the originating vessel has passed by. This makes it very hard to anticipate or predict unless one keeps a constant watch as visibility from inside most yachts tends to be poor. I understand you are a marina man & seldom meet this problem, which is why I thought it may be useful for you to understand it.

My only other issue is when close passes are made while one is trying to furl sails. That is silly & can be very serious, but happens a lot. Rob James (husband of Naomi) went overboard & died in a similar situation.
 
Hi Sea Rush, So, going on your view, no boat should ever travel at more than 5 knots as "wash can travel for miles".

Either we allow for the fact that "wash can travel for miles" or we ban any boat going more than 5 or 8 knots.

As for my RIB. I have done turns and loops in it and I am very disappointed that there is no wake to jump, because at 33 knots, there is no wash.

But, I have discovered that speed, even when travelling 'safely' in a 'safe area', causes apoplexy to the average yottie, even when there is no wash.

PS. I use the word 'safe' knowing that a few posts will follow telling me that any speed faster than a yacht is dangerous.

I've had my say and know that it will never stop the wash argument, but I use moorings and accept that when I do I am subject to wash.
 
I've had my say and know that it will never stop the wash argument, but I use moorings and accept that when I do I am subject to wash.

Maybe that's what is needed, everybody should have a season on a mooring, rather than a pontoon behind a sea wall, and experience the fact that water has a nasty habit of moving, not just up and down with the tides, but in every direction.
 
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