Anyone on Smith Lake in Alabama.....All wake boats banned?!?!?

[2kwik4u]

While I agree with what you said, creating large wakes do contribute to the damage of docks and seawalls. There is no arguing that. Instant damage? Probably not unless the dock was on its last leg anyways.

We have a lot of "floating" docks around here on very narrow bodies of water. These docks are only anchored to shore in a single place (usually with a large pivot of some flavor), then are tied off both directions to shore like a big tent/awning.

It's very possible a large wave could do damage to an otherwise safe and well serviced dock "instantly".

I went back and looked at the ordinance posted above, and then did some measurements on local lakes. 500ft from shoreline or docks means you need 1,000ft across to be able to surf. This would effectively ban surfing on all by one of the 6 local lakes I frequent, as none of them are 1k ft wide over the majority of the lake surface area. Green River Lake and Patoka have a few places that you could make work. Taylorsville, Nolin, Rough River, and Barren River are all "skinny" lakes. Hell the Ohio river in the Louisville area only has a few places that are both suitable for surfing AND wide enough to accommodate a 1k foot width.......No real point to my ramblings here, just an interesting observation.

 

[haknslash]

While I agree with what you said, creating large wakes do contribute to the damage of docks and seawalls. There is no arguing that. Instant damage? Probably not unless the dock was on its last leg anyways.

Compared to storms I don’t think they do near as much damage. Our lake is massive and has vast open areas. When storms or just wind blow 10 mph the lake is extremely rough and white capping. The constant barrage of those waves is much more than the 3 to 4 wave sets from a boat passing by. Erosion on shorelines and damage to docks has been happening long before wake boats. Obviously there are always few bad apples to don’t pay attention to the power of wakes these boats can create but the same can be said for anyone plowing close to docks or shores. I think better protection and technology is the answer versus wide sweeping boat type bans. Notice none of these bans mention tubing which I think we all can agree really tears up a lake compared to a few passes of a wake boat. I see it all the time since our lake has tons of tubers.

 

[Farny]

Two-hundred-foot rule enacted here in GA this year for wake surfing/boarding. I would argue that cruisers of 30+ feet have a larger wake and are subject to a one-hundred-foot rule.

???????????? speaks truth. Those big cruisers throw a GIANT WAKE. ???

 

[Farny]

Compared to storms I don’t think they do near as much damage. Our lake is massive and has vast open areas. When storms or just wind blow 10 mph the lake is extremely rough and white capping. The constant barrage of those waves is much more than the 3 to 4 wave sets from a boat passing by. Erosion on shorelines and damage to docks has been happening long before wake boats. Obviously there are always few bad apples to don’t pay attention to the power of wakes these boats can create but the same can be said for anyone plowing close to docks or shores. I think better protection and technology is the answer versus wide sweeping boat type bans. Notice none of these bans mention tubing which I think we all can agree really tears up a lake compared to a few passes of a wake boat. I see it all the time since our lake has tons of tubers.

Truth…

 

[Bluewater272]

I'm not sure how anyone can say with a straight face that wakeboarding, and wake boats in particular, are not a nuisance to shorelines and lakefront homes and docks. Not every wake is the same, and wakeboarders know that better than anyone.

Banning them is beyond stupid though, step up enforcement of wake-related damages and the problem will work itself out. Goes for everyone including cruisers that seem to be unable to afford to run on plane, folks out for a 10mph sunset cruise, wake boats, and every other wake producing vehicle on the water.

 

[2kwik4u]

From New Hampshire this time

Crowd Turns Out for Bill To Limit Wakesurfing On Inland Waters

The bill would limit wakeboard operation to at least 500 feet from shore, in depths of water of at least 20 feet and on bodies of water greater than 50 contiguous acres in size.

indepthnh.org

 

[2kwik4u]

Google doing it's best to create an echo chamber for me this morning.

Vt. wake boat restrictions expected to begin this summer

Vermont is poised to implement some of the most restrictive wake boat regulations in the country.

www.wcax.com