Poole Hbr Motorboat Wakes

[smee]

I went out on an IP24 displacement motorboat on Sunday evening in Poole Harbour. Twice within an hour I had to contend with wake from motorboats in excess of 3ft as they plowed along oblivious to the effects they were causing.

On the first occasion the wake was caused by an Elling (not exactly an anonymous boat like a Princess or Sunseeker) which decided to ignore the rules of the road and speed in front of me ignoring the "if to starboard red appear it is your duty to keep clear" rule (one that is the easiest to remember!!) and leave the IP24 climbing its mountanous wake while one passenger looked back (quite possibly laughing). The second by a Princess dashing up the harbour leaving moored yachts and moving boats bouncing all over the place as it went.

Now what if for a moment we thought of the worst case scenario caused by these two boats: say someone in the boat fell and cracked their skull on a thwart for instance, the owner of the offending boat could be sued for negligence I would imagine. And that is just one possibility that could result from the wake left by some of these selfish boats. People in yachts can be hurt by the booms swinging, or people burnt by tea they may be pouring, or people could fall down companionways.

Obviously the motorboaters on this site are well informed, conscientious seafarers, but perhaps they could help to educate the others.

Has anyone had accidents as a result of motorboat wakes?

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[BrendanS]

Re:New forum

I reckon it's about time Kim set up a new forum where raggies and stinkies can complain about wake, PWC's, ignorance of rules of the road etc.

It's starting to get like Solent Radio checks in here and scuttlebutt

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[lanason]

Re:New forum

I agree and I was going to say its a shame we dont know the names of these boats as when I go to Poole in a few weeks I could have fun "jumping the wakes" /forums/images/icons/wink.gif


<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>More Pics of Kelisha</A> /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[duncan]

yes a Nimbus 31 caused us to lose a kettle - however I consider it my problem to a very great degree because I didn't see him coming up behind and, because we were in a very narrow, 20yd, wide channel between buoys he passed me fairly close. However he was only doing 10 knots, was creating less wake than the police boat or many commercials. The yacht in front had a wine bottle spilt and was not happy.
If this had happened in the no wake zones - max 6 knots but less if you are making a wake at that speed! - , which are significant, then the boot would be on the other foot and I would have considered it his fault entirely.
Out to see I have had tackle boxes, bait trays et al sent flying by boat wakes in the middle of nowhere (I have no sympathy for people fishing in the channels) as well and blame autopilots and lazy helms - although there is a certain inevitability about boats honing in on you too if you are the only thing out there! I know 'cos I find myself doing it too.

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[whisper]

This Summer's crop of pillocks have arrived in the Salcombe Estuary as well now. Just a few minutes ago I was enjoying this forum with the balcony door open and all hell was let loose outside as a heavily laden RIB went past. It's just after high water and so all the boats against the wall are close to the top of it. When up to 2ft high waves are thoughtlessly created then damage can occur as it can cause some of the boats to bounce onto the top. That was the noise I've just heard.
The helmsman in this case was almost certainly going at less than 8knts but the stern was deep in the water and the wake was big. He was totally oblivious to the problem he was causing and didn't look behind at all in the couple of hundred yards that I was able to watch him.
There was a dinghy race in Salcombe this morning and watching some of the sportsboat and ribsters negotiating it was hilarious.


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[Observer]

Hope that wasn't me - I was in Poole on Saturday. Thinking, as it happened, that the 10kts limit is really too high. 10kts in any mobo hull >30' ish is moving a lot of water.


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[duncan]

no it wasn't you, it was last year, but maybe I did see you though - all white rather than the blue hulled version?
The 10 knots is designed for the purpose of safety in the main channel area; the 6 knot (NO wake) areas are designed for brewing up etc - note jetskis are banned from those areas completely and they cover a good amount of space.
I accept that theose boats (sail and power) that have moorings off the main channel do suffer badly from wakes, and have to time getting in and out of the dingy too, but the answer is to leave their mooring and motor/sail to the quite area rather than ............
Life's too short

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[Observer]

Yes - white hull with blue canvas. I'd have been pottering up to Salterns about 1500 or around Town Quay about 1700 inwards and 1900 outwards. Rafted up number three out to some yachts on Town Quay When I went to leave there were three more outside me. Bit of a squeeze getting out but everybody very pleasant and helpful.



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