"Big Wakes!" What to do to stop the madness!

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More regulations are not always the best solution to the problem. I personally wouldn’t be disappointed if the wakeless rule was 300 feet from another boat because that is what should generally be practiced. However, that wouldn’t fix the problem. Wake boats have been banned from many small lakes across the country. Hopefully, the wakeboat community will work on trying to solve their problems. Jet skiers in general seem to be more courteous than they were 20-30 years ago. I believe that jet skiers started to realize they were annoying others and social pressure caused some of the improvements. Politely educating those making excessive wakes would stop a majority of the problem. Enforcement of existing regulations would help take care of those that don’t care if they follow the regulations. It is already against the law to cause a wake that damages others.
Earlier this month I was camping by the mouth of Wahweap Bay were there was wakeless zone. I wasn’t surprised by the boats that didn’t slow down to wakeless. I think most were just ignorant, but I’m sure some just didn’t care. Some thought that slowing down to 10 mph was good enough and others went through at full speed. Fortunately I was check by an AZ sheriff for life jackets when filling up with gas at the marina and I told him about the problem. He “camped out” with his boat in the wakeless zone for part of the day and cleaned up some of the problem. A few more sheriff boats around bullfrog and Wahweap would clean up a lot of the problem. Politely educating the ignorant would help too. Drinking while boating is fortunately getting enforced the same as a DWI. Making more regulations isn’t going to stop those that already don’t follow current regulations, it would just put more of a burden on law abiding citizens.
 
SCUBA, dark nights and Limpet mines :)
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That’s harsh Cliff.... 😁

Maybe a kinder, gentler approach for first time offenders...SCUBA, dark night and prop removal 😆 No harm done and you have the pleasure of observing the results while sucking down your morning brew...of course with a satisfied wicked grin.

#lakepowellmonkey(propwrench)gang.

For the frequent flyers that still don’t get it? Call Cliff 😬

In every lake activity nowadays, it seems there is no shortage of azzhats, whether it’s re trash, human excrement, damaging wakes, no wake zones, etc. Unfortunately, enforcement defines the acceptable borders of human behavior. Until there is even minimum enforcement of existing regs on the lake by NPS, there will continue to be miscreants in abundance.

+1 to the time at the lake pre June and post Memorial Day
 
Any tips on how to anchor a boat to minimize the damage from big wakes? I guess I’m thinking a box anchor out the back and a line off the bow to the shore. I know that isn’t convenient for dry access but it seems like it would help.
 
David Tyng said:
Chad:
I am a member of the "Star Gazer" ownership group out of Bullfrog and saw your posting. The persons on our boat last weekend are some of the most responsible boaters you could meet (and I hope you do meet them). They were not in Iceberg Canon last Thursday, nor do they own a surf boat. They kiddingly suggested that we rename our boat the Star Geezer, given that some of us are aging (and thus would not be surfing, much less doing something outside the boat). All of the persons in our group share your frustration regarding wakes and lack of responsibility and respect. It hurts to think that our boat and group would be associated with the actions you describe. We hope you never again experience the situation described above. (By the way, there is more than one Star Gazer at Lake Powell. Enough said).
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I was on the Stargazer (note one word) last week. (Hi Dave!). We were actually in Iceberg at the beginning of the week but were by the Escalante on Thursday. We have the speed boat pictured but only use it for scouting/exploring and the occasional kiddie tube ride. And yeah, the wake/surf boats annoyed us in Iceberg too. 5375
 
gznokes said:
Ryan do you think a non bungee line would work just as well?
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I don't. The advantage of the Anchor Buddy is it will stretch in wind/waves, putting less stress on the anchor. The other advantage is you can set it, pull in close to shore to get out in shallower water, and then let some line out so you don't have to worry about the boat hitting ground. Same happens when you retrieve it.

They work really well.
 
Kudos to Ryan for what might be the first value added exchange in this otherwise tough to read thread full of some pretty broad stereotyping.

+1 for the recommendation of anchor buddy system tied to a box anchor. We use this same setup when we are out running around exploring / hiking.

I prefer to worry about things within my control. I go to powell expecting to see some massive rollers coming at me whether it be weather, tour boats, cabin cruisers, or God forbid someone enjoying the lake in a surf boat. I also like to tie off along side the houseboat. We have made three changes to accommodate. We got smarter about where we set up camp. We made the switch to the bungee style dock ropes, and we also started using 3 kids hippity hop balls along the houseboat as fenders. Why? Because they are cheap, because they are non-abrasive and because they give you 18” of clearance between vessels. They are definitely thinner than an actual fender but I have only lost one when I stuck a cleat through it. At 10 bucks a pop, I have two extras ready to go. Prior to making the switch, and over the last 25 years we have experienced cleat damage, gel coat, fiberglass and one one occasion, broken glass (due to a cruiser). We still get consistently rolled but we aren’t running to the back of boat to attempt to battle the incoming.
 
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I’ve heard of many people using those hoppy balls as fenders for tie ups. Apparently they work very well and are not expensive. Also easy to store. F88E3BA7-2A51-4EA9-88C1-6CD6DD36B576.png
 
For sure boat wakes/waves and boaters driving at high speed too close to other boats are a constant problem everywhere on most lakes. I am amazed at how many boaters are totally unaware of the 150 foot rule. The signs that are posted most places are worthless. They don't make any sense and most people that even look at one would have no idea what it is talking about. I wish I had a picture to post of one I believe it was a state sign.. It had something like this IT had a fairly large 150 ft proximity rule on the sign or something close that that, then writing underneath so small you could not read it, I had no idea what it said. Unless you already knew the rule, that sign would make no sense at all. It was a waste of time and money to make it and put it up. It should state what the rule actually is. in concise short BOLD PRINT !!!!!
At every entrance to a state or federal lake... They should tell every person in every vehicle pulling a boat EVERY time they enter. It would take less than 10 seconds !!!!!! ...….. THAT IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO TRAVEL WITHIN 150 FEET OF ANOTHER VESSEL OR SHORE ANGLER AT HIGHER THAN WAKELESS SPEED.... WE ARE ISSUING TICKETS !!!!!
How about PRINTING IT IN BOLD ON ALL RECIEPTS that they give out !! It would not take long before at least everyone knew the rule, whether they would abide by it is another story. There will always be jerks out there, but I think it would be a good start and would help​
I agree that better education for boaters would be a big plus, maybe a boater license like Dungee said is not a bad idea.. maybe that would help.
 
Ryan said:
My boat is around around 5000 pounds and it works for it. I’m sure there is an upper weight limit but I can’t find it listed.
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Ryan, I read a couple of places that the weight limit on those is 4000 lbs, but I'd probably be willing to risk it with a 5000 lb boat.
 
For what it's worth, I don't trust the buddy on it's own. Bungees get old and fail. I run a redundant rope through the danik hook that I have the anchor buddy tied to on the top side, down to the same box anchor on the bottom side. I play out enough rope to allow the buddy to do work, but not enough to allow it to hit max stretch. It's not as clean as I would like it with the extra rope but I would assume at that point, the system limit is your rope and not the wrapped bungee. The two ropes, the anchor and a small buoy all fit in the anchor bag that came with the box anchor.
 
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