Boat Wakes

All,
I found a MN/WI DNR Mississippi River use survey on my windshield Sunday at public launch at Dicks Marine in Winona. I filled out and mailed it, however, I didn’t see any reference to the size of the boat wakes on the Mississippi. To me that is one of the most critical issues today. The size of the boat wakes has gotten out of control. When I try to fish a wing dam and the wake from a boat is so large that I’m bashed on the rocks that are normally 3 feet under the water that a problem. I have had my boat swamped on beaches way to many times. It happens almost every time I pull up on a beach. I have had 2 feet of water wash over my deck. I have had my automatically inflatable life vest go off because wakes have come across the back deck of my boat. My wife has back problems and she can’t enjoy boating because of the pounding she takes from the boat wakes. When 10% of the boats distract from the pleasure of boating for the rest of us it’s a problem. It’s difficult to access what impact the wave action has on the environment but there surely is erosion. I can deal with most of the other annoyances and brush them off but the wake size is causing boat damage, is an environmental issue and distracts from the pleasure of being on the river for many of us. There some type of regulation on wake size established on the Mississippi River.

If you receive a survey how about adding a note about the size of the boat wakes. Maybe someone will start to consider the issue.

Riverfan

Riverfan:
I received a survey also in Lake City. This was after having to wait 45 minutes to pull the boat out because of how busy the launch has become in Lake City. I totally agree with you and expressed my opinion on the survey in regards to the wakes. It is way out of control and people have to start speaking up in order to have something done about this. Somebody in their 12 foot fishing boat out trying to enjoy a day of fishing / pleasure boating is going to get killed by being swamped.

Big wakes have also been one of my top concerns on the river and I mentioned that on the DNR survey. I fish mostly during weekdays now to avoid these big wakes. I really don’t think anything will be done about it as the guys big boats have the big money — and money talks.

Dave Gulczinski

I personally think some of them a**holes do it on purpose, driving their boats below planing speed. And those houseboats running at full throttle, if they wanted a speed boat, why didn’t they buy one? I do not even go out on weekends during big boat season anymore. Anyone I see doing it gets an obscene gesture.

I have to agree with you that we need some kind of regulations. Seems the worst ones are those huge cruisers. I usually feel as if my guts are being pounded right out of me.

Last year one of those jerks in an “ocean yaht” almost swamped us below 5a. He actually hit the throttle and veared at us, then they laughed at us when they saw what a big wave they threw at us.
I think it’s time to bring the wrist rocket and some marbles or ball bearings.

Before fixing the problem, do what I did and use it to your advantage. I took the wife out in my 16′ flat and locked thru with a bunch of those freshwater whales. By the time we were 30′ out of the locks most of them had passed and almost swamped us. She looked at me and said, “I think we need a bigger boat”. So, just to make her happy, I went out and bought a Pro-V! Sometimes I think I’m just too sensitive to her needs. And the congestion at the landings isn’t being caused by the number of boaters using the ramps, it’s the number of boaters “that don’t know what they’re” doing using the ramps.

From the “Minnesota Boating Guide 2003”, page 30 “General Prohibitions”

It is against the law:

1. To operate a watercraft in a careless or reckless manner.

2. To operate a watercraft so that its wash or wake endangers, harasses, or interferes with any person or property.

3. To operate a watercraft so it obstructs ordinary navigation.

These are the fist 3 of 9 general restrictions. All clearly deal with large and dangerous boat wakes. It’s time these laws start getting enforced!

Jon J.

John J,

I knew the law exists, what I have a problem with the survey. Unfortunately, by not asking an important question so the issue will not surface. When the results are presented it will sound like boat wakes aren’t a problem.

Trust me, if I can document boat wake damage I will pursue it. The problem is by the time a wake hits you, the boat may be a 1/4 mile away. That’s what happened when my inflatable life vest got swamped and went off. By the time I got enough water pumped out of my boat to go after him I couldn’t be sure which boat it was and there is no way I could prove what happened. We need to keep the issue in the public eye to get anything to change.

Isnt this why we have gun carrying laws now??? Would those big boats throw wakes so close if we had visible gun racks next to our rod holders????

Very interesting!!!

yar Tim a couple shots cross their bow would give the lubbers pause for thought. actually where is Mr. Positive we need to keep this cool.

ditto, and the cruisers seem to be the biggest problem. Although some acts may be deliberate I suspect most of these people have no idea how big a wake they create running half throttle and how disrutive the wake is to fisherman in smaller boats.

Not very creative but my solution has been to get off the main channel wingdams around 8AM, and fish second channel dams and the sloughs.

If anyone comes up with a petition asking the wake laws be enforced I would be happy to sign.

I received the same questionnaire a couple of weeks ago and also made pointed references to the huge wakes that the cruisers create.

I also clarified that reduced wakes are needed, but NOT “slow no-wake zones.” It seems like the DNR’s knee jerk reaction whenever the topic of excessive wakes is brought up is to institute more 5 mph speed zones. This is NOT a solution. My Ranger makes a hell of a lot smaller wake at 60 mph than it does chugging along for an eternity in these slow zones. (Anyone else “love” Winona’s 5 mph river front?)

Enforcing a “Reasonable Wake” law wouldn’t be that difficult, and while it certainly wouldn’t be popular with the cruisers, it is reasonable.

Dan

Sooooo true. the slower the bigger the wake.

You’re an animal Dave!! “Say that’s a good un’! What did you get him with”? “12 Gauge Buckshot”!!!

Dual purpose when the big head carp get here too. Skeet and scare!

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Isnt this why we have gun carrying laws now??? Would those big boats throw wakes so close if we had visible gun racks next to our rod holders????

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Isn’t the act of deliberately trying to swamp someone’s boat a threat on someone’s life? I think if someone were to witness the deliberate swamping of a boat and the occupants perished, we’d have more than a manslaughter charge. Therefore, wouldn’t it be equally true to legally use a 12ga. slug in self-defense? If someone is placing attempt on your life, you have the right to defend it, at all costs. A couple slugs placed to the rear of the boat/engine area out to cause enough damage to slow that rig down eh?

I’m not saying this is the answer nor am I suggesting it be the answer…………..but I’ll bet a visible gun rack would make a person think twice about who they’re willing to throw a tsunami towards!

Kid,

I think you would have a hard time proving to a court or judge that your life was actually in danger from the boat wake. (Even though it certainly could have been) Furthermore, you would also have to show that you made every attempt to flee this dangerous boater and their wake. The law does not authorize gun owners to take the law into their own hands.

In your scenario, you would be arrested for reckless discharge of a firearm, 2nd degree attempted murder, and felony damage to property likely to cause injury….plus a smattering of other charges depending on the prosecutor. Then, you would be sued into the poorhouse by the offending boat owner and their passengers.

However, along these same lines, I hope to see a decline in these rude and reckless acts. As more and more of us choose to arm ourselves in public, I truly believe strangers will be more courteous to others. The recent passage of the so called “Conceal and Carry” law, which by the way is actually called the “Minnesotans Personal Protection Act”, has no wordage in the law that requires a license holder to conceal anything. In fact, the Sheriff told me he would rather permit holders not conceal their guns. So, folks in Minnesota, prepare yourselves to see responsible, law abiding, licensed citizens waking the streets, shopping the malls, or fishing the lakes with a sidearm in a holster clearly visible…..

“An Armed Society is a Polite Society” (Author unknown)

Jon J.

was it Robert A. Heinlein or Homer Simpson that said “an armed society is a polite society.” Actually it was Robert A. Heinlein a well respected science fiction writer.

So Jon-Mr Positive should use a smaller caliber to keep out of trouble???

Interesting post guys…..Do you know how many times I have explained to people that stay here at the resort how and where to tie up their boat to a dock. They ask “Can I tie up to the docks?…..I say yes, but if you don’t want your boat to get scratched/tossed around…you better pull it and trailer it. I get so #$#^$%^%$^ mad at these big boats that I occasionally give some of them the shrugged shoulder/ arms spread out wide/head shaking look……as if to say “Why do you feel the need to pound the bejesus out of my shoreline and boats here?” I usually get no response or a wave. Which results in a wave of my own. I think SOME of them don’t have a clue of what they are doing. MANY of em do it seems though. People ask me why I don’t have a no wake zone here……I’m not going to name other establishments that do…….but, ride down the river in your head….everywhere there is a resort/marina/restauraunt and so on…..they have one. Those of you that were here for the BB/BS weekend last year saw what it is like here even if you pull your boats up onto the sandy beach. Your boat doesn’t get scratched up by a dock, but you will have a boat full of water from the waves crashing over the back.

What am I saying? Not really sure….just venting a little bit. I get so ticked off when I see a guy doing 1/2 to 3/4 throttle throwing a 5 foot wake. It’s not the “fishing boats” that bother, it’s the “cruisers” that I have no respect for. I should say “some of em”. Some of them idle through here and I greatly appreciate that.

When they open the locks and the boats come down….look out. 10-20 of them boats coming single file downriver makes you think about what you would like to see happen to their boats….enough enough. I’ve voiced my opinion on the matter.

I finally came to appreciate what you guys have been complaining about. My kids bought me a belly boat for my birthday. One of those inner tube boats that you sit in and fish from using swim fins to move around. I’ve always wanted one. Yesterday I visited Afton State Park and fished the riprap in my belly boat. Everything was working great until about 10:00 am. I had the opportunity to see those big boat wakes from a belly boat perspective. I had to look like that boat in the “Perfect Storm”. I had a convoy of about 5 big cruisers go by, one behind the other about 2 minutes apart. I felt like I had paid admission to the wave pool in Coon Rapids. If I had a surf board I could have surfed.

God grant me the serenity to accept those thing I cannot change. I doubt if we will ever be able to change that situation. I watched over a $million dollars worth of boats cruise by. The last thing in the world they are concerned about is some guy fishing in a small boat. The trick now is to figure out when they are going to show up so I can be someplace else. That’s why I liked to be able to move upstream – but then the National Park Service closes the upper St Croix at the High Bridge. You can’t win sometimes!!

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Kid,

I think you would have a hard time proving to a court or judge that your life was actually in danger from the boat wake. (Even though it certainly could have been) Furthermore, you would also have to show that you made every attempt to flee this dangerous boater and their wake. The law does not authorize gun owners to take the law into their own hands.

In your scenario, you would be arrested for reckless discharge of a firearm, 2nd degree attempted murder, and felony damage to property likely to cause injury….plus a smattering of other charges depending on the prosecutor. Then, you would be sued into the poorhouse by the offending boat owner and their passengers.

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I hear ya buddy…………..all part of why I wasn’t suggesting it to be the answer…………just makes a guy wish there was some “LOUD” way of getting instant respect………..like having “POLICE” painted on the side of the boat or “Tri-County Water Patrol”………….just something that would jostile that moment of poor discernment……..maybe.

Thanks staying on top of it though Jon…………….I didn’t want anybody getting the wrong idea.

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Which results in a wave of my own.

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Steve, let me guess: You’re #1!

Kid, even if someone who you know is armed is in your house rifling through your stuff, then comes up the stairs to where your family is sleeping – you still may not be justified in blasting away. It’s the new Amerikkan way.

Assuming you don’t like prison, use your cell phone, hug a liberal, and sing kumbaya while your boat sinks around you. /endrant

YOU KILL ME GIANINNI!! OH LO-ORD KUMBYAH

Kid,

A thing worth doing, is worth doing right.

Check out this site. link

Dan

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Kid,

A thing worth doing, is worth doing right.

Check out this site. link

Dan

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I like the 16 pod grenade launcher….sweet!

I think I just found my new deer gun.

I wonder if it has the capacity to package my venison into sausage and hot dogs. After all, it will most definitely grind the deer to hamburger. Being the inventor was a grocer, it shouldn’t be too hard to come up with some meat packaging accesories.

Holy electronic ballistics Batman!!! I think we’re one step closer to seeing another age of technology become second rate! No more buck calls or scent concealing suits………….just MOW the forest, pick your deer, process your hamburger, build a fire, and lunch is served!

I wonder if they make these so they’ll mount in standard sized seat post holes?

I think the Cruiser Wake problem may be solved.

Dan

Metal Storm’s high-speed gun, capable of firing at a rate of a million rounds a minute.