boat wake courtesy

[chrism]

Interesting posts today... Makes me think about some of the "courtesy rules" that most of us need to brush up on every now and then.

This is ironic - I fish crowded waterways in the fall, and I have had my share of disgust at others who leave a huge wake close to your boat. Funny thing is that most of these wakes were created by people who showed courtesy and purposely slowed their boat speed as they passed others who were still fishing - which makes good sense. However, I did notice that those boats that were planing (and going very fast, some real close to me) left a much smaller wake if any at all - displacing much less water - I almost preffered this except for the speeding boat cruising only a short cast away....Now, I wonder whether I should slow down as courtesy, or stay on a plane when passing others who are anchored or drifting leaving a much smaller wake...What would you people do - slow down and make a huge wake, or plane on by leaving a much smaller, tolerable wake?

[Airwave(OH)]

Good question I too have been guilty of this. I know that if I slow down I will make bigger wake but I still get the finger for not. I just keep going instead of stopping and trying to explain it -they would not want to try to understand anyhow. I think they think I'm being inconsiderate but I'm really trying to be nice. Somebody tell em for me will ya...:)

[Dan]

I was so courteous this winter (March) There was a crowd of boat in the middle of the Saginaw River, well instead of slowing, I hugged the shore line in known 12 ft of water on plane, I could have slowed and chugged up the middle right through all the boats, but I remained along shoreline, here is the catch, I ran over a completely submerged log and chewed up my prop.
Nice guys finish last???????
Oh well I'd do the same thing again.
Dan

[minneman]

when i fish in a bunch of boats on a spot, i see many of the boats who are done fishing the area pull the electric out and tear out wide open to their next spot, or they see the bunch from way off and fly right in to the midst of boats, i try not to be noticed, putt in, putt out, the conciderate thing to do. minneman

[RiverRat]

I read an artical in the Boat/us magazine that addressed this very same issue. A boat planning past your boat will leave a smaller wake than if you should slow down. Some people in my boat will call some boaters stupid for not slowing down but I explain this principal to them. There are exceptions of course.

[Drizz]

I have the same problem in some of the small backwaters I run through. If you have to run up a long narrow slough (40 to 50 yrds wide)for a mile or more and you have people panfishing the snags along shore every 100 yrds or so, it's unrealistic to slow down to no-wake speed. I stay up on plane and hope they understand I wanna fish too and don't feel like spending my day puttin' by. But even though I understand the theory behind staying up on plane, that doesn't make me any happier when I'm in the middle of some big water and some clown flies by 50 feet away at mach2 because I happen to be fishing in a spot that is in a straight line to where he wants to be. A little courtesy goes a long way.

[mossboss]

I agree that when a boat is on plane you leave a smaller wake but, I think that common sense tells you that if you only have a small area to sneek by you bring it doen to a idle. And I mean IDLE. I hate the guy who thinks he is being nice by cruising slow but if he would look out the back of his boat he would realize that he is pulling a 5 bottom plow and creating a huge wake.

[I agree]

I agree, I too will slow my boat while still remaining on plane and pass at a prudent distance. This is the only way to do it if ther river/channel etc is open enough to do so. Other times you have no choice but to slow to a crawl and idle through the boats.
I also never run over my fish at power and i idle away from the boats and then put er up to run back and start my drift again.:-)

[Jon'eye']

I have been fishing in a pretty narrow area this Spring also, some boats race through like their going through an obstacle course, pretty scary! A lot of boaters slow down, but like you said, the waves really roll then.

A couple days ago, my wife was sitting on the platform on the front of the boat taking a picture of me holding a fish. I wasn't paying any attention to the boat slowly passing by, until their waves hit us. My wife came an inch from going over board!

I didn't blame the boaters because they were going slowly in a crowded area. I should of been paying attention to the big waves coming towards us and got ready for them.

Good Fishing!

Jon'eye'

[Dmacattak]

I know what you mean airwave, been in the same situation myself, the biggest problem we have is the pack of boats can stretch for many miles, I try and pick the biggest opening and get through as fast as I can, You can idle through if you have an hour or more to do so.lol but when your up on plane you do throw a much smaller wake than if your at something above idle speed. I guess I'd rather get the finger from those who just don't get it than get upset about it.

[steve(IL)]

Absolutely - the golden rule! Why not use the electric to get in and get out before firing up the big motor? That's what I do on our pressured waters here in Illinois.

[Boatnut]

RR,
A boat on full plane does leave a smaller wake then a boat thats plowing thru the water just off plane. However, slowing down doesnt or shouldnt mean coming just off plane, it means idle speed or "no wake speed", that is, the fastest speed you can go without making a wake. Remeber, YOU are responsible for your boats wake and ANY damage it does!
I do however think the body of water can make a differnce. When there are 3 to 4' footers on lake Erie, then a small boats wake doesnt effect you that much, but on smooth water, it makes a big differnce. I know we're all in a hurry to get to that hot spot, but show some courtesy to your fellow boaters.
my 2 cents.
Mike
Mike(boatnut)

[Dave]

Mike is right. It really doesn't matter if we all think fast is better than slow or vice/versa, the law says that YOU are responsible for any damage done to another by YOUR wake. Be courteous or you could find the Coast Guard boarding you and writing a very stiff fine.
Dave

[You are correct, and I wish-]

You are correct about boat wakes and their damage. The people I wish would really pay heed, and the water cops would bust are the dullards in their 37 foot garbage scow's that come rolling down the lake or river just as fast as they please. Never mnind those giant pieces of junk can do nothing but throw a huge wake, worse than any river barge. It is funny, when they set up a marina on the river, it is slow no wake for a half mile either way, to protect their boats, And actually that's as should be. Wakes are dangerous in a marina. But they think nothing of roaring by you while you are fishing, as if they own the water.
My 2 cents

[Airwave(OH)]

Yes there are different circumstances for all occasions and only you know what is really the right thing to do. I have know problem slowing down if warranted but for those who have never been to Erie in the summer when we say we went through a pack of boats we are talkings miles of boats. Literally thousands in a pack. I told this to a buddy of mine( Yes I have one...lol) about the packs and when he saw it he admitted that when I told him he really had no Ideal..!So like Mac said it would literally take you hrs. to get through at Idle speed. But I do try to be as courteous as I would expect my fellow boater to be.

[erik]

You're right on about the cruisers. One thing they usually have in common is the guy at the helm always holds up his hand with the beer in it waving... like you're happy to have him swamp you.

[5_speed]

i was trying to load one day on the south landing with the wind coming out of the north and i was right at the back of my trailer when this guy comes rolling in and his wake pushed me off the trailer and before i notice i was in the rocks and broke my prob, i didn;t say anything to the guy but know i hope this will happen to him, it cost me 270 bucks to replace it.

[EYE SLAYER]

If you aren't going to go slow not to create a wake keep the hammer down. Been almost swamped a couple times by fisherman and weekend boaters when fishing a shoreline and then ask how I'm doing THEN I respond with " 2 carp and 2 catfish" when actually teeming with eyes.Jokes on them and I don't even have to use a "FINGER"!!!!!!