Cabin Cruiser Operators - "WAKE UP!...no, WAKE DOWN"!

jrc · 05-31-2007, 09:09 AM

What would a law or rule that would address your concerns look like?

The old saying "you are responsible for your wake" is a not really enough. If it's true, it's a civil liability issue. Someone would have to prove specific damage caused by negligent operation of a specific boat, that's a pretty high hurdle.

BTW calling people "operator" versus "captain" isn't really an insult. There are very few licensed captains on the lake. The few that I have met, tend to be big boat/ship ocean trained professionals and have absolutley no concern for their wake, except for no wake zones and 150' from shore. Recreational boaters who started small and worked their way up, know first hand what a big wake feels like and tend to have concern for what they in their wake.

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05-31-2007, 09:09 AM	#11
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	What would a law or rule that would address your concerns look like? The old saying "you are responsible for your wake" is a not really enough. If it's true, it's a civil liability issue. Someone would have to prove specific damage caused by negligent operation of a specific boat, that's a pretty high hurdle. BTW calling people "operator" versus "captain" isn't really an insult. There are very few licensed captains on the lake. The few that I have met, tend to be big boat/ship ocean trained professionals and have absolutley no concern for their wake, except for no wake zones and 150' from shore. Recreational boaters who started small and worked their way up, know first hand what a big wake feels like and tend to have concern for what they in their wake.