Low Wake Zone in Small Coves?

Chris333 · 08-11-2008, 08:21 AM

We live on a small cove on the lake and have watched, over a period of 40 years, the change in attittudes and boating styles in the cove. Once people were careful and kept the wakes down. Now no one seems to care, they speed around in the cove pulling children on rafts and tubes and the wakes are destroying the shoreline at many of the cottages. The waves lap against the shore all day and we have lost our beach land even though we put up a rock wall to lessen the erosion. Further, there used to be canoers and kayakers and small sailboats in the cove; but they get swamped by the large boats. Should there be a "low wake zone" in the small coves where the erosion effect of the waves is so great???????

Lakegeezer · 08-11-2008, 08:39 AM

This is not just a cove problem. Part of my shoreline has been pushed back over three feet in the 18 years we've been here. Its located least 300 feet from the typical boat traffic lane, but wake from the large displacement boats still has plenty of punch at that distance. Most of the erosion happens when the lake is flooded, as it is now. The past weekend, boat wake took its toll on the shoreline again. Economically, I can't imagine NH putting limits on boat displacement, even during floods. It would be useful if the DES offered solutions to shoreline owners that would address the problem in the most lake-friendly (and legal) way.

VitaBene · 08-11-2008, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris333

We live on a small cove on the lake and have watched, over a period of 40 years, the change in attittudes and boating styles in the cove. Once people were careful and kept the wakes down. Now no one seems to care, they speed around in the cove pulling children on rafts and tubes and the wakes are destroying the shoreline at many of the cottages. The waves lap against the shore all day and we have lost our beach land even though we put up a rock wall to lessen the erosion. Further, there used to be canoers and kayakers and small sailboats in the cove; but they get swamped by the large boats. Should there be a "low wake zone" in the small coves where the erosion effect of the waves is so great???????

People are having a hard time understanding no wake and headway speed, I would hate for the MP or someone else to be the arbitrar of what is a low wake!

ossipeeboater · 08-11-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VitaBene

People are having a hard time understanding no wake and headway speed, I would hate for the MP or someone else to be the arbitrar of what is a low wake!

low wakes pretty easy for a planing boat because on plane it's much less wake than anything over headway speed, I far prefer the morons who run up the channel in front of my house at 25 mph than the bass and pontoon boats at 8-10 putting up as much wake as they can.

Chris333 · 08-11-2008, 11:52 AM

You are absolutely right. My terminology is archaic. I should have said "headway speed"...that was the correct way to say it. Thank you!!!

08-11-2008, 08:21 AM	#1
Chris333 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Low Wake Zone in Small Coves? We live on a small cove on the lake and have watched, over a period of 40 years, the change in attittudes and boating styles in the cove. Once people were careful and kept the wakes down. Now no one seems to care, they speed around in the cove pulling children on rafts and tubes and the wakes are destroying the shoreline at many of the cottages. The waves lap against the shore all day and we have lost our beach land even though we put up a rock wall to lessen the erosion. Further, there used to be canoers and kayakers and small sailboats in the cove; but they get swamped by the large boats. Should there be a "low wake zone" in the small coves where the erosion effect of the waves is so great???????

08-11-2008, 08:39 AM	#2
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,657 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 342 Thanked 618 Times in 278 Posts	More than coves have the problems This is not just a cove problem. Part of my shoreline has been pushed back over three feet in the 18 years we've been here. Its located least 300 feet from the typical boat traffic lane, but wake from the large displacement boats still has plenty of punch at that distance. Most of the erosion happens when the lake is flooded, as it is now. The past weekend, boat wake took its toll on the shoreline again. Economically, I can't imagine NH putting limits on boat displacement, even during floods. It would be useful if the DES offered solutions to shoreline owners that would address the problem in the most lake-friendly (and legal) way. __________________ -lg

08-11-2008, 11:52 AM	#5
Chris333 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Low Wake v Headway Speed You are absolutely right. My terminology is archaic. I should have said "headway speed"...that was the correct way to say it. Thank you!!!