Headway Speed- "No Wake" Definition

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by jeffk

While I appreciate very much the Marine Patrol reminder, it seems like enforcement of this law is based on the whimsical nature of an individual boat and the wind and current of the day, something that is impossible for an individual patrol officer, on the spot, to know. That reduces the law mostly to an officer's opinion of "I know excessive wake when I see it". It also creates a difficult defence for a boater. How can I prove that the current was such, and the wind was that, and enumerate all the characteristics of my boat that "required" me to travel at the speed I was to maintain steerage?

Further, are you going to take up court time and legal costs to fight what might be an unreasonable but essentially trivial ticket?

I also suspect that enforcement may be limited to egregious situations as to not make the law a nuisance to boaters, similar to the leeway most officers extend for speeding in cars.

I know this has been discussed and opinions are all over the place. Just my opinion.

I think I have to respectfully disagree.

I have seen what I believe to be countless abusers of no-wake zones and its not too hard to tell who is working to keep their boat under control and who is just looking to blow through the zone and hammer the throttle at the first chance.

And I feel that I must also state that I dont see it as a trivial matter. When other boats are around, pushing their speed up to as much as they can get away with creates a tense situation and potential danger to others.

Its hard enough in some areas to navigate no wake zones, but having others cranking up their speed for no reason makes it that much harder.

Others will disagree, but this is my observation and experience.

[Woodsy]

The real issue here is there should be an exception to the Weirs Channel.....

Some boats can go thru there at 2MPH, while others need 3-4MPH minimum to safely maintain steerage. Throw in a spring current and a wind coupled with inexperienced rental boats and it turns into a clusterF real quickly.

IMHO, a 5 mph speed limit in the channel could alleviate all of the backup and aggravation. Just set up one of those speed limit signs with a radar attached!

Woodsy

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

The real issue here is there should be an exception to the Weirs Channel.....

Some boats can go thru there at 2MPH, while others need 3-4MPH minimum to safely maintain steerage. Throw in a spring current and a wind coupled with inexperienced rental boats and it turns into a clusterF real quickly.

IMHO, a 5 mph speed limit in the channel could alleviate all of the backup and aggravation. Just set up one of those speed limit signs with a radar attached!

Woodsy

Agreed, but the objective part is precisely what was removed from the old law; seems crazy. "6 MPH or blah blah, steerage, blah blah", was a great law since no boat produces a damaging wake at 6 MPH and these days GPS is so ubiquitous, there's no excuse for not knowing one's speed. I used to set my speed at exactly 6 MPH GPS in long NWZs and never had an issue with Marine Patrol. Guessing that won't work on Winnipesaukee now.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by Dave R

no boat produces a damaging wake at 6 MPH

I hope the Captain will correct me if I'm wrong--It is only when you are producing a wake that judgement comes in. If you are not producing a wake, you are not going to get a ticket

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

I hope the Captain will correct me if I'm wrong--It is only when you are producing a wake that judgement comes in. If you are not producing a wake, you are not going to get a ticket

If a boat is moving, it's producing a wake.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Dave R

If a boat is moving, it's producing a wake.

If you are going through the Weirs Channel at 5 knots and the current is 5 knots in the same direction you will produce a wake?

[Outdoorsman]

If anyone ever wonders why MP or Shores stop responding to threads like this.... just read the comments that follow.

*Thanks guys/gals for what you do!

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

If you are going through the Weirs Channel at 5 knots and the current is 5 knots in the same direction you will produce a wake?

I'll re-phrase that, if a boat is making steerage, it will create a wake.

[Descant]

There's a lot of focus here on the Weirs Channel, but the law has to be applicable to many many places.
I used to have a larger boat with big props. The problem in the Weirs Channel wasn't steerage until I overtook a smaller boat going only two knots. Then I had no place to go and if I came out of gear, I totally lost steerage. Solution? When your bow anchor gets within a meter or two of the guy's stern pole, lean on the horn, and keep coming. Self solving.
There is a law/rule that prohibits small craft from unreasonably asserting right of way to impede the safe passage of a larger, less maneuverable vessel. Same should apply to going too slow in a congested channel; Weirs, Sally's Gut, GI Bridge, Piscataqua River, etc.
Solution?
In the old days (1950's) there was a sign at each end of the channel that said Travel time from here to there should not be less than 3(?) minutes. Less traffic of course, but it seemed to work.
New solution for all those that have a GPS? Speed between 3 & 5 kts, move right and allow larger boats to pass. It's really only a problem under the bridge and approaching WOW. After that it is wide enough for passing if you're set on 1.5 kts. Many of our lakes have lake wide mph limits, seems to work. Trying to use one headway speed definition for everywhere leads to discussions like this one.

In the end, I trust MP to make appropriate judgements and enforcement decisions. They're better at it than we are at arguing about it.