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Mind
Your Wake (20-5)
by Dusty Miller
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 Who
would have thought a leisurely afternoon cruise could
be so dangerous? Your family is ready to go, the cooler
is full and the weight onboard is well within the boat’s
capacity. Following the shoreline, you enter a narrow
channel, your boat comes off plane, the stern lowers
and the speed drops. After a minute or two, local cottagers
on shore start shouting at you to slow down. The trouble
is you or no one in the boat has any idea why the cottagers
are so angry.
Unfortunately, your boat was dragging half the lake,
throwing a huge wake to the shoreline, causing other
boats and floating docks to rock relentlessly. In areas
where the shoreline has a few rocks, it erodes as the
waves wash the earth into the water. Generally speaking,
many of us aren’t being destructive deliberately,
but we have to be aware of how much damage wakes can
cause.
Slowing down close to shore or in narrow channels reduces
the amount and size of your wake. Waiting until you
come off plane is not always effective enough. In fact,
it can make the problem worse, especially if there’s
a lot of weight onboard. When the stern drops down into
the water, the wake is even larger than it was when
the boat was on plane. As wakes approach the shoreline,
the shallow water lifts them up, causing their crests
to raise even higher. I’ve seen boats lift so
high due to wakes their fenders rose above the dock,
leaving their hull unprotected when it came back down.
Wakes can also be destructive out on the lake. Often,
when inexperienced boaters pass other boats that are
anchored or just proceeding at a slower pace, they are
much too close. Always remember, the wider the berth,
the better. It’s easy to think boaters are just
trying to irritate other boaters by buzzing by them.
While I don’t think this is always the case, pass
other boats with caution and try to keep your wake to
a minimum by reducing your speed.
One beautiful afternoon I was anchored out on Georgian
Bay when a fair-sized vessel cruised by. I saw him coming
a long way off and he made no effort to slow down or
go around me. I can only wonder what would’ve
happened if I had anchored 50 feet to the west. He might
have gone right through me. The boat was not quite on
plane and dragging a lot of water behind it. Seconds
after the boat passed, the wake hit. The lunch my wife
served was on the floor being gobbled up by our dogs,
drinks were spilled on my newly cleaned carpet and items
on shelves in the cabin were rolling on the floor. The
other boaters just waved merrily, unaware of the damage
they caused. Well, at least the dogs didn’t mind.
I know how easy it is to be unaware of passing wakes.
I’ve been the perpetrator as well as the victim,
although not recently. Some years ago, I was in a hurry
in the Erie Barge Canal, where the cottagers along the
shore take speed very seriously. I didn’t see
any cottages or boats nearby and I was taking liberties
with the posted speed limit. I’ll admit, I was
throwing a wake. Suddenly, I heard a gun shot. I don’t
know whether the gunman was firing at my boat or just
into the air, but once I was out of range I definitely
slowed down!
Wakes can also be damaging in locks. While boaters don’t
necessarily speed in these areas, the wakes follow into
the lock and can potentially throw other boats around.
The same thing happens when boaters drive too quickly
up to harbour or marina entrances.
On a final note, you’re responsible and financially
liable for any damage your wake causes on the shore
or to other boats. Since boats are getting larger, so
are their wakes. It’s time to wake up. (Page
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