Power Turns...UGH!!!

[swc5150]

In fact, I would bet there are a great many boat operators who think big wakes on the lake are good for wakeboarding. After all, it is called WAKEboarding!

My point exactly...

[briany]

My point exactly...

Which illustrates the fact that ignorance abounds, and there is nothing wrong with calling it what it is. It is not intended as a derogatory term in this sense. The goal we should have is to set positive examples and educate the ignorant in a productive way when the opportunity presents itself. Like I said, I was ignorant of the power turn effect myself when I was running an I/O.

Unfortunately, I am not at all sure 99% of veteran Nautique drivers properly operate their boats either. Lots of Joneses who like to have the best boat on the water for tubing and such. Not that I'm above pulling the occasional tube, but only on days when the lake is too rough to do anything else.

[swc5150]

Exactly, and all I'm trying to say is that my Supra neighbor is then ignorant to fact that he's swamping the s@@t out of my dock every weekend. What's my recourse? Ask him to lower his wake? There's no way I'd do that, as that completely takes the fun out of his boarding, and it's public water. Don't tell me I can't neutral and swing my stern around (no really a power turn IMO), then send hurricane Supra over my dock and shoreline. Not everyone likes 3' rollers being created by a boat, just like not everyone likes skiers, tubers, fisherman, etc. If that makes me the ignorant one... ok.

[Texan1554]

Exactly, and all I'm trying to say is that my Supra neighbor is then ignorant to fact that he's swamping the s@@t out of my dock every weekend. What's my recourse? Ask him to lower his wake? There's no way I'd do that, as that completely takes the fun out of his boarding, and it's public water. Don't tell me I can't neutral and swing my stern around (no really a power turn IMO), then send hurricane Supra over my dock and shoreline. Not everyone likes 3' rollers being created by a boat, just like not everyone likes skiers, tubers, fisherman, etc. If that makes me the ignorant one... ok.

So what's the deal here, is he driving too close to your dock? Does he slow roll or surf right out in front of your dock? Are there other places for him to do this? Are his rollers actually coming over the top of your walkways?

The music is a given, lots of folks blasting tunes out on the water need to think about who else is listening. If there is offensive language involved and you've got kids around I would think nothing of it to politely ask him to refrain from playing that kind of music while your kids are out. As a good neighbor he should be already thinking of this but he may not realize just how far reaching his speakers are.

We deal with getting swamped by big wakes on a daily basis at our place. It's on a river so there's really no where else for folks to go. It is frustrating when someone is surfing right out in front all day or is coming too close to shore. If I'm out there or we have guests or kids swimming then I may ask them to move along just as a courtesy.

The die hard ski lakes and skiers are definitely having to cope with the big waves these days. We're going to have to re do our foundation this year on the dock, obviously not a cheap operation.

[swc5150]

We're in that same situation. There really isn't any where else for them to go. I was thinking about rebuilding my dock, to raise it up higher, and add some decent size rocks to the shoreline as a seawall. Again, I don't get on their (or anyone's) case, in fear that too much complaining will result in excessive regulations. I've seen it before, and sometimes all it takes is one loud voice to ruin the fun for all. One small lake near us has already essentially banned boarding. The reg states that boats must be at idle or on plane, to prevent large wakes from erroding the shoreline, and one loud voice got it done. Next thing you know, boarders, skiers, tubers and fisherman are all staring at each other from the shoreline:-(

[Blue Ski]

I remember the instructor from US Power Squadron course saying that every boater is legally liable for the destruction caused by their wakes. Thus, if a boater were to plow through a no wake zone of a marina, they could be liable for the damage to boats moored on the dock. (Full disclosure, I am not an attorney.) If this guy is trashing your dock, you should not have to foot the bill. Then again, your fears of increased regulation of fun definitely have merit.

[chris196]

I have mixed feelings on all this.
On one hand, it irks me that property owners get mad because they have wakes on their docks on a public lake.
On the other hand, where does it stop with wake size. These surfing wakes have become so big, one boat can screw up an entire lake.
And when property owners encounter the big wakes and shore/dock destruction, they end up building more stout structures and seawalls which only reflect waves back to the lake.
At that point, a couple of ski nautiques can mess up the water with all the wave reflection.

It is a dilemma.