Your wake can cause severe damage

[SnaxMuppet]

OK, I have resisted posting about my recent injury but I feel that I need to say something as the more I think about it the more angry I get.

As motor boaters we ALL need to be aware that our wake is dangerous.

My broken foot and sprained ankle was caused directly by some plonker driving their boat in such a way as to generate a HUGE wake which then literally threw my boat against a quay wall and my foot was in the way. They went charging off downsteam unaware of the damage they caused. It is an absolute miracle that our boat (and PaulGray and Anne's boat) survived.

Now I know that many motor boaters are aware of their wake and are careful not to upset or endanger others but there is a sizable number that just don't care and some even think it funny!

I am not talking about speed limits here. In some ways speed limits are partly to blame! People see a speed limit and think that it is OK to drive their boat up to that speed regardless of the wake. THIS IS NEVER TRUE. It is a maximum speed but if your wake is at all significant at slower speeds then you should slow to a speed that does not create a sizable wake. You will never know what damage you wake is causing so DON'T CREATE ONE.

Even in open water your wake can be very dangerous. I have recently crewed a delivery of a 23m Princess from Plymouth to Kotka, Finland and the skipper seemed to take great delight in driving at 20kts near smaller boats, especially yachts, and it made me very angry! Needless to say I will not be working with that skipper any more.

So, if, like me, you are already aware of your wake and don't create one in rivers, ports etc or near small boats in open water then great... keep up the good work. If not then PLEASE... look at your wake and if you are creating anything of a wake at all SLOW DOWN regardless of the speed limit.

I just want to finish this whinge by recognising that sometimes, as with my boat, the speed limit is very inconvenient in that I can either do 5kts with no wake or 15kts with no wake once FULLY on the plane... anything in between creates a big enough wake for me to be concerned about. Should you do the 15kts and break the speed limit or stick to the 5kts? As far as I am concerned that is your choice and not for me to say as I really don't care if you are caught and fined or not BUT I do care if you create a damaging wake... DON'T DO IT! It could have been you

 

[peterb26]

Well said Arny.

And I hope you are returned to full health in the not too distant future.

 

[capnjack]

Glad to hear you are mending Arny and sorry to hear about your accident.

What you have written makes a great deal of sense to me and I am sure the same to many others as well. It comes across as "intelligent precaution" to the well informed, but I am sure there are some yobby knob heads who will think it anal.

I wish you well and a speedy full recovery.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

I ought to point out that you don't need a big boat to create a big wake... the boat that got me was a 20-25ft ish sports boat!

 

[Gludy]

All totally valid and sensible stuff - hope you get better soon.

 

[volvopaul]

Hope the leg mends quick, maybe you should have gone after him and got a personal injury claim against him, thoughts of a new boat eh! if you like a peacefull time then dont bother going to majorca, ive just had 10 days of bouncing up and down, not particularly with swmbo either, the wash for other boats if a fact of life and must be quite acceptable between the spaniards and uk boaters out there, good luck.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Wise words Arny - and ones that I already adhere to.

 

[jimg]

Well said, and sorry to hear about your injury.
I have to say I am embarrassed sometimes being a motorboater.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

[ QUOTE ]
Well said, and sorry to hear about your injury.
I have to say I am embarrassed sometimes being a motorboater.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too... which is a pity because we all get tarred with the same brush and yet most motor boaters are sensible and do not cause a problem... as always... it is the minority but it only takes one inconsiderate mobo'er to demolish the good deeds of the rest of us.

 

[Sneds]

Have to agree, watch your wash!

 

[pissativlypossed]

Hi Paul,

Sorry to hear that you sustained a serious injury, I miss read your previous post and thought it was your friend that had been injured.
If you feel you wan't to go boating this week (the forecast is good for a change) but can't manage the pontoons, I will be only to happy to assist you getting to your boat and helping in any way. I have suffered mobilty problems and know how frustrating it can be.

Just PM me.

 

[Boathook]

Being a "raggy" I agree with your words. There are times though that I wish I could create wash to return "favours" to certain boaters !!

 

[aquaholic]

[ QUOTE ]
There are times though that I wish I could create wash to return "favours" to certain boaters !!

[/ QUOTE ]

No problem, just get a black widow catapault and some ground up fish bait !! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I AM JOKING !!

 

[John_d_Smith]

I totally agree with you, it's not just in harbour either. I regularly see cruisers both on and off the plane approaching the chain ferry at Poole creating considerable wash, and passing close by other boats both sail and power. They have to slow down at the ferry to 10kts anyway so it makes little or no difference. I presume it's a bit like comming off the motorway and 40 mph seems slow but a look over their shoulder would show them just how much discomfort they are putting others through.

 

[mjkinch1]

You know its the same everywhere - to the forumites who have recently moored up in Pollensa bay including me, all get hit by large wakes, and mainly from British registered boats. We went so far over at one time when we got hit side on, stuff went everywhere and swmbo fell backwards and had a nasty bump.

Even in the most beautiful anchorages it just makes my blood boil when boats come in at speed, or pass close, SWMBO has to say 'calm down dear' but it is so unneccesary.

So totally agree and end of rant......... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Its_Only_Money]

Numpties not limited to wake damage, last trip out I had some idiot on the fuel pontoon at Bucklers Hard use my 5.4 rib as a fender....then he charged off downriver causing max wash possible....but I suspect he´ll never read these forums... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Hope you recover soon!

 

[deborahann]

well there are certainly some plonkers at poole, we have had to complain to the harbour master, after being repeatedly smashed into the harbour wall.

and "thanks" to the plonker at Exmouth who despite seeing me on the bathing platform, & being waved by me to in a please slow down way, continued on, and completely soaked me.

hope you get better soon.

 

[Oen]

Your avatar troubles me...

Have we met?

 

[Sneds]

Perhaps it was in a prevous life? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
SWMBO wants to know if you really look that that?

 

[DAKA]

Sorry to hear of your problems and agree with your comments, unfortunately 'the revenge' factor does cause the never ending circle, he probably gets fed up with boats knocking him about while fishing so gets revenge on boats in the harbour.

It is a shame you didn't get his details, a civil court case for damages (£10 000ish) for an ankle plus £5000 for legal fees would highlight the problem (assuming the courts didn't take the view you were a daft sod for using your leg as a fender /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif).