"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
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


Your floating dock idea adds some usefulness to my intended wake experiment.
Thanks for the idea.