Not meant to be just another Surfers Vs All Other Boaters rant

Status
Not open for further replies.
I’ve read very little of the study but already see a major fault. @Marina Bum did you happen to see the boats in the study? A 21’ bow rider (pretty small by today’s standards). A direct drive ski boat, something built specifically to create as small a wake as possible. And a surf boat.

I for one think funding a study with those three boats to prove one has significantly larger and more damaging wakes than the others is less than useful, only proving the obvious.

I’d like to see a larger bow rider, center console and even a medium (say 30’) cruiser as well.
 
I hate that wakesurfers have gotten such a bad rap but make no mistake, it's earned through the bad actors. I try to teach everyone proper etiquette on my boat. I stake out a place away from any fishers or other boats especially if they're just sitting or beached. At Powell, this extends to houseboats as well. New guys on my trip sometimes give me hell over not surfing until we're away from everything but I do my best to explain why. It's really not hard to be courteous. Use the lake when it's less crowded or pick an area where you can be away from traffic. Stay away from others and our sport won't be banned. At Powell, we surf almost exclusively in Padre Bay, and not back in the coves. I hate the bad actors as much as non surfers do. Hopefully we can all find a way to enjoy Powell and other lakes together so we can all do what we love.
 
We camped under gunsight butte Padre side July 9-17
Click to expand...
it seems alot of surf boats stayed well away from any camps even the night surfers stayed far away and it was very nice I was super concerned about being so exposed but was a pleasant trip the only problem I had was people seeing a sailboat and constantly coming by me in the channel way too close plowing water waving thinking they were being polite and rocking the ship out of me
Click to expand...
 
First of all, I have two boats, a 22’ bass boat and 23’ Sea Ray. I have been boating for my entire 58 years of life and I love to recreate and fish. I have been in just about every imaginable type of boat, inland and sea going. If you follow the money, you have two very big industry segments competing for lake space. In the one study, it indicates that the boating industry raised $100,000 to conduct their study for a $100B market. The fishing industry is roughly a $150B market. Obviously, both have a significant interest in protecting their market. The one major difference is the fishing industry is more concerned about protecting the underwater ecosystem.

Now I know my two cents doesn’t amount to a hill of beans to them, but as a business owner and stats guy, the best solution would be to have the two join forces in coming up with a solution.

I don’t thin that surf boat owners are fully aware of what’s going on underneath their wakes. I think they see fishermen and pleasure boaters that don’t surf as whiners. For Lake Powell, there is plenty of room for everyone and I appreciate surfers who respect fishermen, houseboats and general pleasure boaters.
 
I did my own study on the carelessness of surf boats, at Deer Creek, about 3 weeks ago.
Multiple wake boats passing back and forth, not even caring about what their wakes were doing to other small craft, nearly throwing occupants out of 14’ fishing boats.
Wake and ski boats towing people on skis and tubes for nearly 45 min after sun went down, while the rest of us had our lights on.
Also jamming up the bottom of launch ramps with guest cars dropping off/picking up guests/boards/coolers etc.
Implementing an odd/even day schedule for Towables?
Yes please!!!
At least then I can pick my poison.
 
RichieW13 said:
There is also an education aspect. I'm sure a lot of new wake boat owners aren't aware of the problems their waves can cause.
Click to expand...
That is why a no cost boat operator license needs to be mandatory.
Not unlike the OHV Operator certification.
It won’t stop most careless wake boat operators, but when they do get stopped they can’t say “Uh, I diddint know I can’t do that”.
 
There are all kinds of Surfboat operators. Obviously not all are bad apples but many are. Surfing is here to stay and I really do like to see people, especially young people having good outdoor family fun together. At least they are not on the couch playing video games.

However you don't need a study if you have any boating chops at all to tell you that the modern Surf boats can generate one hell of a wave. At 150 feet behind a beached boat, a legal distance the surf able wave sized wake wreaks havoc on all beached craft.

These boats are new and generate the largest wake- wave possible on purpose, cool. But it's a distinction with a difference and that's why it's silly to compare it to any other non towboats wake. Theirs is natural displacement and a surf boat's is enhanced by design, with gadgets and by adding ballast.

It's not to much to ask for a wider gap under regulation. No, Park Service will not be there every time someone violates the rules but that's not a salient argument not to have rules.
 
Last edited:
Rules about damaging wakes can never be enforced so just ban wake boats and deal with the less occurring cabin cruiser wakes.
 
Bikes said:
Rules about damaging wakes can never be enforced so just ban wake boats and deal with the less occurring cabin cruiser wakes.
Click to expand...
Yes they can, but you may need to go out and gently let them know the rules. Powell has always been a jungle, Park Service is not going to be there when you need them and it's never been more true than today. Because a cop isn't around every time someone breaks the law isn't a reason to suspend all laws or to not refine or impose new ones.
 
There definitely is an “education” aspect that has been missed. ….and maybe with the advent of covid(everyone bought a boat) and the growth of the sport in the last ten years, there are a lot of less experienced boat drivers on the lake. I’ve seen it on all of Utah’s waters. Also, consider that our population has doubled in the last twenty years

. ….until about four years ago I was one of those wave makers and trust me…I had no idea how much of a mess I was making for everyone.

I also consider that almost no one drives my fishing boat but me. When we go on long trips there could be three or four different boat drivers on that surf boat. Surf boats carry large loads of people and mostly have to be moving to be enjoyed….so in my opinion, that particular type of boat and the way it is used is going to be much higher impact and generally a less experienced driver….just my opinion.
 
I love wake surfing, age and knee surgeries keep me from slalom, wakeboards, etc. It's low impact, highly social, and just a damn fun way to spend a 100° day on Powell. For our own safety, I won't tow anything/body except for in the main channel. We fish, camp, surf, cruise, all the fun Powell adventures so I've been the guy swamped by the 3' wave. Just the same as dealing with the rental houseboat that ties up 2 half *** ropes 50' from our camp, the slalom guy that thinks you want to see his turns up close, the tubing boat that insists on pulling a tube in circles inside of canyons (Forgotten), or the 38' boat that thinks size dictates everybody must get out of their way (CID). The only conclusion I've come to... is the general population is rapidly growing, ignorant, and selfish no matter their way to annoy you. Fighting on the internet, begging for more unenforced laws, or worse yet getting into altercations on the lake won't change any of it. It's the same if not worse on all the small CO reservoirs.

So.. I fish more on weekdays, avoid popular places in the heat of summer, and travel further on Powell to get to have the type of experience I am after. There is only one person we have the ability to change..
 
Ryan said:
So, in summary, current rules/regulations/laws that all address the complaints aren’t the solution but new ones will be?

What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?
Click to expand...
To me, your comments belie that you really don't care about what affect your super wave has on other people. What we need is a 500 foot limit on surf boating because of attitudes like tgat but I guess that's just to much to ask if all you want to do is keep the statuesque that allows you free rein. If I'm wrong please explain

What Im looking for is 500 feet from share, Is that just too much to ask? I intend on taking that case to Park Service and asking. How would that destroy the Surfing World? I don't really get it.
 
Last edited:
Marina Bum said:
To me, your comments belie that you really don't care about what affect your super wave has on other people. What we need is a 500 foot limit on surf boating because of attitudes like tgat but I guess that's just to much to ask if all you want to do is keep the statuesque that allows you free rein. If I'm wrong please explain

What Im looking for is 500 feet from share, Is that just too much to ask? I intend On talking taking that case to Park Service and asking. How would that destroy the Surfing World? I don't really get it.
Click to expand...
Thats not what hes implying at all. His point is, if current laws and regulations are not being enforced how will new ones change anything?

Until that is resolved nothing will change.

Its no different than cliff jumping, drone use, fire works, pinning, etc..... I can go on youtube right now and pull up any one of those activities at lake powell.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top