Jet Ski Wake Jumping

Descant · 09-13-2015, 04:50 PM

If somebody is behind you and overtaking, you have the right of way. Maintain course and speed. Of course, you should always look behind before you make a course change and abruptly turn in front of an oncoming vessel.

If you are creating such a wake that you are frequently attracting wake jumpers, maybe you should speed up to flatten your wake, or slow down to reduce wake? If it's a rare occurrence, then let's all just have fun.

I think MP uses good judgement in watch jet ski operators with regard to the rules posted above.

Outdoorsman · 09-14-2015, 07:19 PM

It's hard enough to manage boats and wakes and craft behind you without someone deliberately being too close

Focus on the boats (wake and craft) in front of you . Allow the 150' rule to be applied BY MARINE PATROL, to the watercraft that are BEHIND YOU.

Pricestavern · 09-15-2015, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

It's hard enough to manage boats and wakes and craft behind you without someone deliberately being too close

Focus on the boats (wake and craft) in front of you . Allow the 150' rule to be applied BY MARINE PATROL, to the watercraft that are BEHIND YOU.

I seem to recall a lot of discussion concerning craft behind you and the need to keep a careful eye out in that direction when maneuvering...

jayp603 · 09-15-2015, 03:12 PM

cant we have a little fun without the call to the mps?
i throw the biggest wake i can when i see someone looking to jump it....

Outdoorsman · 09-16-2015, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pricestavern

I seem to recall a lot of discussion concerning craft behind you and the need to keep a careful eye out in that direction when maneuvering...

I agree that when you are (maneuvering) making a turn or changing course you should be aware of traffic behind you.

My interpretation from the OP was that they were just cruising on plane and someone decided to jump their wake.

When I drive my car down I-93 I instinctively make myself aware of traffic behind me when I change lanes, slow for a turn, etc. I am "generally aware" (pun intended) of traffic behind me but do not make any adjustments when I see a car changes lanes, speeds up, slows down, etc. that is behind me

ITD · 09-16-2015, 07:07 PM

The only time I have a problem with jet skis jumping my wake is when I am towing a skier or tuber. Typically they get one jump before I turn and head for them. Some take 3 or 4 turns before they get the message. I'm not talking anything dangerous as I'm usually going under 20, but they see the front of my boat instead of the rear until they get far enough away. With no one behind me for them to run over, I couldn't care less.

Outdoorsman · 09-16-2015, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITD

The only time I have a problem with jet skis jumping my wake is when I am towing a skier or tuber.

Agreed

Quote:

Typically they get one jump before I turn and head for them. Some take 3 or 4 turns before they get the message

You are putting your 'skiers/tubers' at risk with this power struggle!

Quote:

I'm not talking anything dangerous as I'm usually going under 20, but they see the front of my boat instead of the rear until they get far enough away.

I am going to wager a guess that a skier/tuber is going to be injured quite severely if they slam into the side of a boat that you are trying to "warm off" while traveling at 20 MPH.

ITD · 09-16-2015, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

Agreed

You are putting your 'skiers/tubers' at risk with this power struggle!

I am going to wager a guess that a skier/tuber is going to be injured quite severely if they slam into the side of a boat that you are trying to "warm off" while traveling at 20 MPH.

Yes, I'm well aware of the physics of a pwc, I have two, one weighs 700 pounds and the other weighs 960 lbs. A collision at 20 mph would be devastating to the boat and jet ski. And typically the pwc is going much faster than that when trying to jump a wake. It would be even worse for a tuber.

It's not an abrupt turn and point at the jet ski, it's more like a gentle turn to bring the boat between the jet ski and the tuber. It never gets close, but it moves the wake away from the jet skier, who is typically focused on the wake and not the boat or more importantly the tuber. It's not a power struggle, it's protection of the person on the tube from a jet skier focused on the wave more than where they are going. In fact, most of the time the pwc rider who does this is clueless as to the danger they put the tuber in as they zig back and forth behind the tuber trying to hit the wake before it loses its peak.

caloway · 09-17-2015, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

Agreed

You are putting your 'skiers/tubers' at risk with this power struggle!

I am going to wager a guess that a skier/tuber is going to be injured quite severely if they slam into the side of a boat that you are trying to "warm off" while traveling at 20 MPH.

As mentioned earlier, it's easier all the way around if you just keep 150'. It used to be fun riding my Ducati between cars in and out of lanes. That doesn't make is smart or considerate.

09-13-2015, 04:50 PM	#1
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,451 Thanks: 1,373 Thanked 1,650 Times in 1,078 Posts	RoW If somebody is behind you and overtaking, you have the right of way. Maintain course and speed. Of course, you should always look behind before you make a course change and abruptly turn in front of an oncoming vessel. If you are creating such a wake that you are frequently attracting wake jumpers, maybe you should speed up to flatten your wake, or slow down to reduce wake? If it's a rare occurrence, then let's all just have fun. I think MP uses good judgement in watch jet ski operators with regard to the rules posted above.

09-15-2015, 03:12 PM	#4
jayp603 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 50 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	wake jumping cant we have a little fun without the call to the mps? i throw the biggest wake i can when i see someone looking to jump it....

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09-14-2015, 07:19 PM	#2
Outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 840 Thanks: 117 Thanked 211 Times in 133 Posts	It's hard enough to manage boats and wakes and craft behind you without someone deliberately being too close Focus on the boats (wake and craft) in front of you . Allow the 150' rule to be applied BY MARINE PATROL, to the watercraft that are BEHIND YOU.

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09-16-2015, 07:07 PM	#6
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,939 Thanks: 481 Thanked 695 Times in 390 Posts	The only time I have a problem with jet skis jumping my wake is when I am towing a skier or tuber. Typically they get one jump before I turn and head for them. Some take 3 or 4 turns before they get the message. I'm not talking anything dangerous as I'm usually going under 20, but they see the front of my boat instead of the rear until they get far enough away. With no one behind me for them to run over, I couldn't care less.