Boat Wakes

[bradvo]

On the way to Poulsbo Thursday afternoon we were motoring up the water along eastern side of Vashon Island. This is a large body of water with plenty of room for all including the many tugs and Freighters that use this side, In fact I adjusted course for a freighter by Des Moines

Here is what happens, a boat comes out from around the north side of Vashon and picks his course heading south, I am heading North. We pass port to port he is around a 35 footer, not sure what brand of boat, but he comes in close to my stern. I was traveling around 12 knots speed and I put out a wake. No much more then a 38 Bayliner would at this speed.
There are no other boats on the water; we both had all sorts of room to move in.
He gets on the radio and comments on my wake, I replied, yes I thought you would have given a wider berth. He told me I was still responsible for my wake. I told him to go to another channel if he wanted to bitch since we were on 16. He chose not to since he did not tell me to switch.

Now I know about my wake responsibility, is this guy going to call on a freighter also or a Tug not under tow??

I have owned many size boats in my time and when I am 2 miles away from a boat I see coming towards me that I know is going to possibly throw a wake I have plenty of time to adjust my course with out losing mileage, I have done so over the years in all my boats and still do in this one.
This is not an ego issue but if I am going to be slowing my cruiser down for every Tom **** and Harry when out in some good cruising waters, not channels then I might as well own a trawler.

I guess I do not understand some people, I have never felt I had to gripe about some larger boats wake over the years. That goes for my 19 footer up to the current one.
ya know it is coming
I know how to avoid it

Any thoughts?

[pkrogh]

I'm thinking that the guy was just looking for something to complain about and you happened to be there.

Gee, you disturbed 'his' water!!

Awwwww.

Pete

[SomeSailor]

After watching the latest episode of Pirates of the Carribean... makes ya wish deck guns were more popular these days. :)

You just fire a volley over his bow and tell him to stand down. :)

[Skwcrj]

Brad,

First, I think it's great that you are aware of your wake and use common sense. I've come across too many "big" boat owners (40'+) just don't give a hoot in port/port crossing situations.

Here's my perspective as the little guy...

In many instances, I try to give the larger (oncoming-head on) boat some berth so I don't get slammed by their wake. However, sometimes the larger boat will turn the corner and head right towards me thereby putting me at a disavantage where I now have to make a drastic course change or be slammed. It's not bad when I have to do that for one boat but it get's old during a busy weekend when everyone and their brother is out in their 50 footer and just don't seem to care. I switched from sail to power so I wouldn't have to zig zag my way to destinations anymore.

I was passing under the Tacoma Narrows bridge (heading home to Gig Harbor) and had chosen to stay on the west side to minimize the impact of a flood current. I was kind of committed since I was between the west shore and the west piling when one of my neighbors in a 65' Tolly turned the corner heading southbound at "planing" speed (if that's possible in a 65 foot Tolly). He didn't even try to slow down and slammed us hard at close proximity.

In your case, the little guy knew what he was getting into and chose to place himself in the path of your wake. I think he had unreasonable expectations considering where he was (East Passage).

I try to be courteous with my wake (esp. sailboaters, fishermen in smaller boats, etc...). But, if someone is an idiot (like the guy you mentioned above) then too bad...

[Randygh]

Since our boat is small (26'), we get tossed around by large boats' wakes. I don't expect a larger boat to slow down when we pass. It's easier for me to slow down, cross the wake swells, and continue. However, I do get really passed-off when any size boat doesn't follow the "rules of the road." Just because someone has a boat larger than mine, they don't have the right to cut in front, or pass improperly when I have the right-of-way. Just like many stupid small-boat drivers that haven't learned proper stand-on, stand-off rules, there's a few large boat drivers that are either dumb or don't give a rats-arse about smaller boats.

[SPUD]

I passed a sailboat on the way back from PA yesterday. Gave him as much room as I could maybe 75-100 yards. He was going about 5 or 6 and I was going 26 on plane. If I get off plane the wake gets bigger. If I slow down to 6 or 7 I cannot pass. He was upset by yelling a few kind words at the Marina....no reply from me.....as he was in a sailboat, without a fishing rod on board and I felt sorry for him.

Spud

[3788sam]

We went through deception pass yesterday with a 6-knot following current.
To even get the rudders to bite we had to do about 12 kts through there.(throwing a wake)
A small fishing boat with 2 guys standing onboard is on the right side of the channel with their backs to the sea, give them a little blast of the horn - they flipped me off!

[linedog]

I do the same, I look for other boats and their wakes and adjust accordingly if possable.

[bradvo]

I cannot think of a more miserable place to fish then Decption pass, those guys were very busy giving the finger that day.

[amw2655]

I too got a few kind words and looks thrown my way on the way back this weekend. The way I see it, this is my way of payback for all the times I've been stuck in traffic at the Ballard or Fremont Bridge as a sailboat passes under.

Anthony

[Tedster]

I love your line of thinking!!!

[1northernstar]

I've gone thru Deception Pass with small fishing boats dead-smack in the middle of the channel. Not much you can do but try your best to minimize the impact. However, the fisherman must also acknowledge the position they're putting themselves in.

Once I encountered a small boat just outside of the bridge, sitting there with his engine cover off. But with his fishing poles still in the water, I didn't have much sympathy for his weak attempt.

[3788sam]

I really thought I was doing these guys a favor by letting them know I was coming up behind them! They were fishing right below the bridge and I had to go through the center, the left side was all whirl pools and eddies

[SomeSailor]

...no reply from me.....as he was in a sailboat, without a fishing rod on board and I felt sorry for him.

The softer side of SPUD. ;)