Question about entry, now wake etc.. I believe I know the answer to this but looking for opinion.. Last weekend I was entering my harbor.. mild wind 3 foot following waves at 45 degrees. My boat gets pushed around with following so I prefer to ride her bow up on the wave in nfront.. Problem being this was a little too fast for the shore fishermen who love to yell no wake.. I maintained speen until the followers subside maybe 100 yard in.. I always understood no wake to be minimum speed while maintaining safe steering control ?
Entering harbor
- Thread starter dmunneke
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Not sure which marinia you're at, but 100 yards in, you're probably cutting in too close. If nobody is around obvioulsy you're ok. But if another vessel is outbound it will likely toss them around. Also, if law enforcement sees it, they might check you out. I think you pretty much want to be no wake as soon as you are beyond the breakwalls.
Sounds like you were running an inlet or passing a break wall. I'd proceed at a speed where I had control of my boat, and let the guys fishing from shore pound sand. As long as you feel comfortable that LE will not give you a ticket then you should be fine.
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The term "Bare Steerage" comes to mind.
I was there last weekend with a bunch of boats from Milwaukee and did the same thing coming into the river as it was surging a bit when I arrived on Friday. There is plenty of space for your wake etc to dissipate between the entrance and when you can safely back it down prior to the mooring field.
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Going by your photo with the notations...you should be OK.
Bayfield Ontario has a similar situation where you need some speed to enter between the breakwalls in a safe manner.
Bayfield Ontario has a similar situation where you need some speed to enter between the breakwalls in a safe manner.
I have been in and out of the Root River every "boatable" weekend (well, almost!) since 1989. Your pic is a good one of a calm day. Take a day with strong winds and spring runoff running out of the river; it will hold your attention. Add to that; sailboats with limited maneuverability, powerboats in front of you that are already off throttle AND the boats jockeying for position - coming out and speeding from port and starboard aft -- you are busy. I haven't even mentioned the kids on the go fasts. And now you are concerning yourself with idiots who can't spell b-o-a-t holding sticks in their hands!!!! Not to worry about them. Your task is to do what you have to do to achieve optimum safety under the circumstances. Maintaining way is a lot of that and not always easy with the lake up, the river running and traffic. #&(*% the guys on the rocks. Do what you and your boat need to do.
Bill Halliday was until recently the Deputy Sheriff stationed at Reef Point Marina on the Root River. He recently retired. I don't have the new man's name. I would urge you to make a point of meeting him and ask what his view is. You might make a friend and get some good advice. Good Luck!
Bill Halliday was until recently the Deputy Sheriff stationed at Reef Point Marina on the Root River. He recently retired. I don't have the new man's name. I would urge you to make a point of meeting him and ask what his view is. You might make a friend and get some good advice. Good Luck!
Upon reflection I would probably be at no wake speed a bit earlier than the point you show. That is when conditions allow. I have bailed out to starboard to use the anchorage area as a place to be sure crew, lines, fenders, etc. are just right for docking. Also, I believe Bill Halliday is running some or all ops at Pugh's Marina. If he is treat yourself to meeting him. You might ask Bill about entering and departing the river. Again, good luck!
As everyone else said, first and foremost is maintaining control, and the $#rb2@gr5t% with the guys on the rocks. That being said, I've been in and out of there, and I'll admit that based on your sketch, it appears you're carrying it a bit too far into the river after passing the breakwater entrance. One concern would be for departing vessels.
I don't understand why you couldn't maneuver at no wake speed. That is a very easy entrance and is wide. You are disrupting boats on moorings as well as making conditions rough at the gas dock and boats docked on the river. You need to anticipate the affect of the wind/currents on your boat and position your entrance accordingly. There are several entrances on the Michigan side that can get very hairy on a bad day and your initial entrance can make a big difference in keeping off the walls in narrow channels.
There are always two sides to wake discussions. One side is the person making the wake, the other side is the person affected by the wake. Seldom will they agree or there wouldn't be a discussion in the first place.
Your primary responsibility is the safety of your boat and anyone on it. If you must make a wake to make a safe passage, you don't have a choice (other than staying in your slip).
The problem is when others don't understand that you need to make a wake to make a safe passage or when they feel that they could make the passage without making a wake so you should be able to also.
Some folks on the shore or docks love to yell at people who disturb the water. What counts is your control of the boat. If you truly feel you must maintain speed, do so and ignore those who yell at you. If they decide to confront you later, explain it to them. If that doesn't work, ignore them.
Your primary responsibility is the safety of your boat and anyone on it. If you must make a wake to make a safe passage, you don't have a choice (other than staying in your slip).
The problem is when others don't understand that you need to make a wake to make a safe passage or when they feel that they could make the passage without making a wake so you should be able to also.
Some folks on the shore or docks love to yell at people who disturb the water. What counts is your control of the boat. If you truly feel you must maintain speed, do so and ignore those who yell at you. If they decide to confront you later, explain it to them. If that doesn't work, ignore them.
There are times when wind, wave and traffic (see above) make it unsafe to dead slow maneuver your boat at the entrance. Therefore, you need some way on at that point in those conditions. As to the gas docks, both port and starboard; they are both about 1/2 to 3/4s mile up stream and not at all a part of what is being touched on here. The moored boats at the starboard anchorage also are of sufficient distance to be out of the way. As to the width of the entrance to the mouth of the river - plenty wide 'til its crowded and windy. On some of those occasions it seemed barely wide enough to me. As an aside, since MI was mentioned; sharing the tight S curved entrance to Bay Harbor with a 70 footer is scary! Good luck and have fun!
First, I don't care what the fishermen on the rocks say. Per the picture, Monday morning with no other boaters around, you're probably ok. On a busy weekend, I would look to go no wake sooner. My guess if that law enforcement saw you throwing a wake that far in they would at least remind you over the loud speaker. Good luck.