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Skip · 08-22-2008, 10:42 AM

Headway/No wake speed is 6 MPH in New Hampshire. People are getting the two terms confused because of the words "No Wake" being intermingled. It is confusing as written, but clear if you can muddle your way through these statutes.

The reason that there is a caveat to the 6 MPH rule is bacause some craft cannot maintain steerage at 6 MPH, regardless of wake produced.

Case in point is the 38 foot Egg Harbor that I crewed on last weekend as we navigated from Portland Harbor to the upper reaches of the Cocheco River well inland in Dover, NH. To maintain minimum steerage required between 8 and 9 MPH and unfortunately a fairly significant wake going against the tide in the upper reaches of the Piscatiqua and Cocheco Rivers.

Finally, regardless of the dictates of the particular RSA we are discussing, you are always legally responsible for your wake. In our case it required us to stop many times coming up river to minimize any hazard we could induce as we encountered a number of canoes, kayaks and several small boats the further inland we travelled in the Great Bay basin. This is a given for any good and experienced captian, but a trait many novice captains only learn by trial and error.

Bottom line?

If you are exceeding 6 MPH in a Headway Speed/No Wake zone then you must be prepared to clearly articualte the reason doing so to the inquiring offcer, and if not, the presiding court!

08-22-2008, 10:42 AM	#4
Skip Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dover, NH Posts: 1,615 Thanks: 256 Thanked 514 Times in 182 Posts	Headway speed/no wake Headway/No wake speed is 6 MPH in New Hampshire. People are getting the two terms confused because of the words "No Wake" being intermingled. It is confusing as written, but clear if you can muddle your way through these statutes. The reason that there is a caveat to the 6 MPH rule is bacause some craft cannot maintain steerage at 6 MPH, regardless of wake produced. Case in point is the 38 foot Egg Harbor that I crewed on last weekend as we navigated from Portland Harbor to the upper reaches of the Cocheco River well inland in Dover, NH. To maintain minimum steerage required between 8 and 9 MPH and unfortunately a fairly significant wake going against the tide in the upper reaches of the Piscatiqua and Cocheco Rivers. Finally, regardless of the dictates of the particular RSA we are discussing, you are always legally responsible for your wake. In our case it required us to stop many times coming up river to minimize any hazard we could induce as we encountered a number of canoes, kayaks and several small boats the further inland we travelled in the Great Bay basin. This is a given for any good and experienced captian, but a trait many novice captains only learn by trial and error. Bottom line? If you are exceeding 6 MPH in a Headway Speed/No Wake zone then you must be prepared to clearly articualte the reason doing so to the inquiring offcer, and if not, the presiding court!