I wish it was a "NO WAKE" zone

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
My marina is in Monroe Bay at Colonial Beach. It gets battered every year by boats going by wide open. Only a small part of Monroe Bay is a no wake zone and the rest of it is a free-for-all.

My docks are newer docks and I have been the first boat on them. I have watched people skim by the docks in huge powerboats kicking up 2 foot wakes. JACKASSES!

Then we see the guys on jetskis that think that the docks make a neat swallom course. JACKASSES!

Last year they finally tried to get all of Monroe Bay a no wake zone. That didn't fly because people said that they would have no where to water ski and jet ski when it is rough in the river. SAD.

I am amazed how many people are inconsiderate to the boats at my dock. THere isn't supposed to be a wake within so many feet of the marina and there are no wake zones near docks and there are signs posted on the docks. No one follows them. The Marine Police and Game wardens don't inforce this either.

It is sad that nothing can be done about this.
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
a couple hundred yards of grey floating polypropylene line, cut into 5 yard sections, left out floating in certain areas might do wonders. :)
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,137
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
a couple hundred yards of grey floating polypropylene line, cut into 5 yard sections, left out floating in certain areas might do wonders. :)
'ceptin' if they found out where it came from...
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
You could use long sections with a leader and fish hook on the end. If you have a fishing licence the tackle you choose is up to you.
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,258
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
I feel your pain, my friend. The marina management should be very pro active on behalf of its tenants, money talks... threaten to file legal action for not enforcing existing controls. I would start there, then pursue the law enforcement angle... you might also consider a petition to install a floating boom line around the marina to dampen the wake and wave action... not sure if that's feasible.

Of course you could buzz the beach where these jackasses invariably hang out to give them a taste of their own medicine. Good luck....
 
Sep 29, 2008
1,954
Catalina 310 #185 Quantico
Monroe Bay - QYC Visit

Bad Obsession, The Quantico Yacht Club is planning on stopping at Monroe Bay over the Memorial Day weekend (Colonial Beach Yacht Center is full). Is it that bad, and how is the depth? Ray
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,137
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
What's that about two wrongs

Of course you could buzz the beach where these jackasses invariably hang out to give them a taste of their own medicine. Good luck....
still don't make it right? Why stoop?
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,258
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Re: What's that about two wrongs

why not....who said anything about making things right. It's about power, dominance, getting your way. Making it right......... fiddlesticks... I'd want those greaseballs out of sight and out of hearing range. Unless you're prepared to spend thousands on legal fees and wait ten years for some bureaucrats to act, then I support the radical approach... like Greenpeace, Sierra Club, La Leche League, Pro-life, animal rights activists, etc.... What do they say??? fight fire with fire, an eye for an eye, the best defence is a good offence, he who hesitates is lost, don't wait for tomorrow, be the ball, nice guys finish last, know your enemy, walk in my shoes-brother, you snooze-you looze, the squeaky wheel gets the grease....... quit messing around. Get out there with a bull horn and tell those A Holes to slow down..... what are we sailor men or sailor mice... make a citizens' arrest... do something... anything..... but don't whine about making it right!!! That's why they're getting away with sailing vessel murder.... cause no one's got the balls to give it to them straight in the face................................ whew, that was a good rant, I feel better. Thanks for that Stu.
 

Bill

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Sep 25, 2008
28
Catalina - Chesapeake
How about

It might take some effort but how about sitting down with a couple of beers, a camera, a set of binnoculars and taking pics, logging registration #'s, time, dates, ect and presenting it to the marine police and if that doesn't work the newspaper with the question why, and then move up the ladder. Cost is not a reason as writing summons is a fund raiser, you would think they would welcome it.
 

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Federal US marine laws cleary state that a boat is totally responsible for any damages due to errant 'wakes'. No bones about it.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Federal US marine laws cleary state that a boat is totally responsible for any damages due to errant 'wakes'. No bones about it.
Enforcement is the biggest factor in the equation.
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
It might take some effort but how about sitting down with a couple of beers, a camera, a set of binnoculars and taking pics, logging registration #'s, time, dates, ect and presenting it to the marine police and if that doesn't work the newspaper with the question why, and then move up the ladder. Cost is not a reason as writing summons is a fund raiser, you would think they would welcome it.
Video is far more effective than still photos... Especially, if the people in question do things like buzz the docks..
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
Water cannons if they are close enough, and then laugh while you are doing it like it's all in fun.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,137
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Joe, that was the longest

and most informative rant I've heard, ever! Thanks, priceless!
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
What will end up happening is that something bad will happen in Monroe Bay (boat collision with another boat or a dock) for them to realize that this is a bad idea and then they will finally do something about it.

The sad thing is that one of the Marinas is in a no wake zone near the mouth of the harbor and "Supposedly" they attempted to block getting Monroe Bay designated as a no wake zone. I have to say that the state of MD is much better about these things because they also enforce the rule about not having crab pots in channels. There are places here that it is like a maze getting through the channels because of pots in the way!
 
Oct 26, 2008
6,370
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Devil's advocate here ...

When it comes to boat wakes, it seems that most blow-boaters are just a little bit too whiney! Just a little bit .... if you don't want your boat to rock, leave it on the hard and drink your cocktails on shore! ;)

I'm not familiar with the size of Monroe Bay ... but it's called a bay, right? That sounds large enough to accommodate water skiing and jet skiing to me. Sure, there is often a no wake zone near marinas. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a delineation between areas where speed is reduced and unrestricted areas. Some boats create a wake when they are barely moving. What constitutes damage from a wake? What's the difference between that and wind driven waves?

If your dock is exposed to waves off the bay, then take measures to protect your topsides or choose a better location. Stop whining about people who are having fun!
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Monroe Bay is not a huge harbor. It is an average size harbor. Compare waterskiing in Monroe Bay to waterskiing at Solomins Island. Not as many docks but the harbor is about the size of the area of Solomins near Zanheizers.
 
Mar 2, 2009
49
2 33 Rockland
Perpetuating conflict between power and sail is never a good idea . we need to share the seas and the responsibility for self policing. if not we won't stand together when regulations are proposed that affect us all.

Most no wake areas are the product of complaint, not practicality. ever notice that commercial boats are essentially exempt? Nothing drives a power boater crazier than a blowboat captain who doesn't seem to realized that speed is not always the cause of a large wake. When loaded a ski boat puts up half the wake at high speed as it does at headway speed. If the waves are 2' then an open bow p boat must maintain enough speed to to keep from nosing under. 2 feet up the channel does nothing to docked boats, but that wake can rock and roll you but may be necessary.

lets rant at and report the true hellions that give all boaters a bad name and invite the rest to join us for a beer and polite discussion.
someone who has been on both sides,
Mike
 
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