A new, bigger wake
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:06 am
Hi All
first post. I Have a 20 ft SunTracker party barge, moored at the marina in Folsom Lake. Thursday night is dinner at the lake, our boating group rafts up and swims, talks, and has dinner, makes everyone use their boat more.
It's in New York creek cove, and you have to go up the South Fork of the American river to get there. Normally, this is a standard drill. Ski boats pass, leaving a wake. Just turn off a little, wait for the wake to die down a bit, then walk the pontoons over the wake, into the now smooth section, and proceed on. Even wakesurf boats are about the same deal.
Not last Thursday. Met a wake surfing boat coming out, while I was heading in. Normal distance apart (with the lake low, there is not a lot of room). As he got closer, I realize this guy is creating a wake that is similar to what I encountered in the San Juan/gulf islands, from large boats, like a Tolleycraft. I quickly realized that i am in a bind. I can't outrun the wake; max speed is about 10 mph. There is no way to run parallel and cross over, the wake doesn't diminish (it goes all the way to the shore), and it would roll me like a clothes dryer. had to turn into the wake resulting in a big wake across the bows, soaking my grandchildren, and putting a 2" wave thru the cabin, and almost out the rear. I realized this guy was overballasted, and was oblivious to his wake, Happened AGAIN on the way home, a large wakesurfer pulling a big wake that could overwhelm my boat, got swamped again.
my only solution so far is when we see these large wakes is to have all passengers move to the back of the boat, and try to get the deck high enough to limit the water entering the boat
Never had to do this before, and really don't want to always be on the watch for some inconsiderate wake weenie
Thoughts?
(wakesurf boats are banned in Alabama, and restricted in Oregon)
first post. I Have a 20 ft SunTracker party barge, moored at the marina in Folsom Lake. Thursday night is dinner at the lake, our boating group rafts up and swims, talks, and has dinner, makes everyone use their boat more.
It's in New York creek cove, and you have to go up the South Fork of the American river to get there. Normally, this is a standard drill. Ski boats pass, leaving a wake. Just turn off a little, wait for the wake to die down a bit, then walk the pontoons over the wake, into the now smooth section, and proceed on. Even wakesurf boats are about the same deal.
Not last Thursday. Met a wake surfing boat coming out, while I was heading in. Normal distance apart (with the lake low, there is not a lot of room). As he got closer, I realize this guy is creating a wake that is similar to what I encountered in the San Juan/gulf islands, from large boats, like a Tolleycraft. I quickly realized that i am in a bind. I can't outrun the wake; max speed is about 10 mph. There is no way to run parallel and cross over, the wake doesn't diminish (it goes all the way to the shore), and it would roll me like a clothes dryer. had to turn into the wake resulting in a big wake across the bows, soaking my grandchildren, and putting a 2" wave thru the cabin, and almost out the rear. I realized this guy was overballasted, and was oblivious to his wake, Happened AGAIN on the way home, a large wakesurfer pulling a big wake that could overwhelm my boat, got swamped again.
my only solution so far is when we see these large wakes is to have all passengers move to the back of the boat, and try to get the deck high enough to limit the water entering the boat
Never had to do this before, and really don't want to always be on the watch for some inconsiderate wake weenie
Thoughts?
(wakesurf boats are banned in Alabama, and restricted in Oregon)