Bryan wrote:
The other thread, about the new Gatlin Gun, motivates this question.

Mixed use lake: skiing/wakeboarding/tubing, swimming, fishing, cruising, and
shoreline camping.

Some things are obvious: no wake in the no wake zones; stay clear of downed
skiers/boarders/swimmers; ski boats don't need to stay close to shoreline
and shoreline campers with anchored boats

How far away is far enough, when cruising at WOT, or trying to enjoy some
speed , to get from one end of a lake to the other, and you're the only
fishing boat (or two) bobbing about.

I like to go fast from one end of the lake to the other. The fishermen seem
to prefer floating about where the lake narrows. I don't want to ruin their
day, but I also don't want to ruin my fun either. How far is far enough
away that you don't feel like I'm being inconsiderate when I cruise by with
speed on my mind?


Depends on the wake you leave. It's likely that if your boat
is relatively small & fast, it doesn't really make a very
big wake at WOT, but makes it's biggest wake when getting up
on plane.


I'm pretty sure that I'm overcompensating by the very fact that I worry
about how my actions effect others and try to practice the golden rule.

Not at all. And it's more than just "the golden rule"
although that's an excellent principle.

The issue here is that your wake is deliberately caused by
you, and it has the potential to injure people and damage
property. You are as responsible for your wake as a person
who enjoys target shooting is responsible for where his
bullets end up. That is both a moral & legal responsibility.


... I
just never bobbed about on a lake that allowed fishing and boating faster
than a no wake speed so I'm lacking in perspective.


Most motorboaters have no clue about their wake since it's
effects are so far behind them. I didn't realize this myself
until we bought a large motorboat and I spent some time &
effort figuring out 'no-wake' and 'low-wake' RPMs.

One way to observe your own wake is to have somebody else
drive the boat while you can fully watch astern. Pass by a
floating dock at varying distances & varying speeds, and see
how high & steep the waves are. A floating dock is good
because it's heavy enough to not bob madly & distort the
apparent violence of your wake, but will show how high the
waves or reflect them back into the body of water like a
solid bulkhead will.

Very excellent thread BTW. Thanks!

Fair Skies
Doug King