Wake Size, Erosion, and Banning of Watersports Discussion

[gspotrider]

This is always a hot topic and the arguments on both sides are always the same. From my experience creating laws banning ballast and other wake enhancing devices will be difficult for public waterways because everything is funded with taxpayer money. However many private lakes have successfully banned these devices and wakeboarding boats all together. At this time one can not register a boat on my lake if it has any type of wake enhancing device on it or in it. This includes wedges and ballast systems.

[Hollywood]

:cheers:

querrer, don't you get it, the big wake is fun!

[chris196]

As for the entire wakeboarding/skier issue, the best water in any lake is first come first serve, a lot like parking spots at your football tailgating spot. You snooze, you lose.

This is an important point. But please remember that a wakeboard boat loaded down and especially surfing messes up that smooth water much more than a ski boat. I believe in everyone's right to use the water, just remember that slalom skiers are much more sensitive to smooth water (yes, I've done both, but really only ski now).
I have seen wake surfers and boarders doing their thing next to the slalom course, when there is only one course and slalom skiers don't have a choice where to go.
That just makes enemies.

I realize that there are stupid/inconsiderate people in all groups, it's just that the ones in the wakeboard/surf boats do a lot more damage to the water.
It's like DanielC says, we need to police our selves or someone else will do it.
And its real hard as a skier to get a wakebaorder to listen. Friendly advice from one wakebaorder to another will go over much better.

[behindpropellers]

From my experience creating laws banning ballast and other wake enhancing devices will be difficult for public waterways because everything is funded with taxpayer money.

Please post what your "experience" is about this topic.

[lffish133]

You know what really grinds my gears

All right I guess I'm going to get in on this. As a wakeboarder what grinds my gears the most (Family Guy) are wakeboarders and wakesurfers that are running wakes that are unnecessarily huge. In conjunction with this is the fact that 90 percent of them have no idea what they are doing. They drive their boats around like they are the only person on the lake and it becomes un ridable very quickly. Most people really don't need more than stock ballast to do any of the stuff they are doing. Most of the riders that I see with huge wakes can't even clear it toeside, most surfers I see with huge wakes can't even drop the handle. It is actually much better to learn on a smaller wake so you actually know what you are doing as opposed board hucking off a huge wake. For me I get up earlier than almost anyone (except the fishermen), I'm usually one of the first boats on the lake because I actually like to ride on smooth water and not on chop. Wakeboarding is really not any more chop friendly than skiing is, they both suck if the water is not good. When everyone else gets out on the water I leave. What sucks is that before wakeboarding and wakesurfing were the predominant sports my day out on the lake would last much longer because there wasn't so many huge rollers getting tossed around. Finally the last thing that really bugs me is predominant attitude of wakeboarders. They take no consideration for others and think wakeboarding is partying, drinking beer, and trying to act cool around hot chicks. Well I have news for you, this is actually the essence of wakeboarding (see below). Who would have expected it had anything to do with actually riding and not posing trying to be cool, weird.

[swc5150]

Squirts photos are an accurate representation of my lake, and a case study of why wake boats don't bother me. I always get smooth water, as the boarders are sitting at the sand bar partying and throwing game at chicks. I'm sure elsewhere boarders actually use their boats for wakeboarding, but on my lake, those towers are nothing more than chin-up bars.

I think it's the sad truth that if they ban one, they'll probably ban them all. As watersports enthusiasts, we're all in this fight together.

[bkhallpass]

From my experience creating laws banning ballast and other wake enhancing devices will be difficult for public waterways because everything is funded with taxpayer money.

There are 300 Million People in the United States.
There are 169 Million Registered voters.

It is Estimated there are 20 Million boats in the United States, 11M being power boats, and only a small fraction of those being wakeboard boats or boats with enhanced ballast.

Who do you believe is paying the majority of the Taxes? Wakeboarders, or everyone else?

Who do you think passed motorcylce helmet laws? Bikers or everyone else?

Who do you think passed the No wake laws in Oregon, boaters, or everyone else?

If you think it would be difficult to pass such a law on public waters, you are very mistaken. It wouldn't even be terribly difficult.

BKH

[SkiTower]

From my experience creating laws banning ballast and other wake enhancing devices will be difficult for public waterways because everything is funded with taxpayer money.

There are 300 Million People in the United States.
There are 169 Million Registered voters.

It is Estimated there are 20 Million boats in the United States, 11M being power boats, and only a small fraction of those being wakeboard boats or boats with enhanced ballast.

Who do you believe is paying the majority of the Taxes? Wakeboarders, or everyone else?

Who do you think passed motorcylce helmet laws? Bikers or everyone else?

Who do you think passed the No wake laws in Oregon, boaters, or everyone else?

If you think it would be difficult to pass such a law on public waters, you are very mistaken. It wouldn't even be terribly difficult.

BKH

I can't even recall a time the politicians ASKED the people what they wanted...just passed a law.

[gspotrider]

My experience comes from 35 years of lake living, having taken part in legal discussions on this subject for both private and public waterways. I have also served in different capacities on Board of Directors of the lake I live on. Where just last year they banned all wake devices and any boat that has a wake enhancing device on it or in it. It was very easy to get these rule changes made because all they have to do is put to a vote of the lot owners. Since few people wakeboard the rule changes passed no problem. To make these into law for public waterways someone will have to draft new legislation and then pass it through both house and senate to be made into law. This is just simply not as easy. Im not saying it cant be done. Take care, have a nice day.

[bkhallpass]

gspotrider,

No slight on your personal experiences. I agree with you that on a private waterway, it is sinfully easy to pass these types of rules. I can also see your point that if enacting a change on a federal waterway, the matter would become more complicated when involving both branches of the federal legislature. Federal waterways also enjoy certain freedoms which have existed since the beginning of this country. Ski Tower also was correct in that typically these matters would not get to a public vote - rather the governing politicians pass laws and referendums, and the voters and/or the courts are left to overturn them.

That said, my experience comes from 34 years of waterfront living. There's a law degree and a certificate from the bar assocation on the wall which seem to indicate I knew something about the law at one time. I also served on the board in our waterfront community for 2 years, although, admittedly, we did not have to address any wake enhancement issues during my tenure.

The two waterways I have lived on have been controlled by a City, and by a County. It is quite easy for each of these governing organizations to pass restrictive laws. The City passed a law limiting speeds to 35 miles an hour on the entire waterway, and the county passed a law eliminating all towed watersports in the two mile strip fronting our community.

We have been fortunate that we've not faced serious oppositions to the wake enhancing devices - yet. But, to the point made by DanielC, pay attention its coming. Also, to his point, it's not coming from boaters, or even from those who use the waterways for recreational purposes. In our case, it is from environmental and agricultural concerns.

And, have a nice day as well.

BKH

[behindpropellers]

gspotrider,

No slight on your personal experiences. I agree with you that on a private waterway, it is sinfully easy to pass these types of rules. I can also see your point that if enacting a change on a federal waterway, the matter would become more complicated when involving both branches of the federal legislature. Federal waterways also enjoy certain freedoms which have existed since the beginning of this country. Ski Tower also was correct in that typically these matters would not get to a public vote - rather the governing politicians pass laws and referendums, and the voters and/or the courts are left to overturn them.

That said, my experience comes from 34 years of waterfront living. There's a law degree and a certificate from the bar assocation on the wall which seem to indicate I knew something about the law at one time. I also served on the board in our waterfront community for 2 years, although, admittedly, we did not have to address any wake enhancement issues during my tenure.

The two waterways I have lived on have been controlled by a City, and by a County. It is quite easy for each of these governing organizations to pass restrictive laws. The City passed a law limiting speeds to 35 miles an hour on the entire waterway, and the county passed a law eliminating all towed watersports in the two mile strip fronting our community.

We have been fortunate that we've not faced serious oppositions to the wake enhancing devices - yet. But, to the point made by DanielC, pay attention its coming. Also, to his point, it's not coming from boaters, or even from those who use the waterways for recreational purposes. In our case, it is from environmental and agricultural concerns.

And, have a nice day as well.

BKH

Excellent post. Thanks.