Not minding your wake can cause a wave of bad feelings.
You can save yourself a lot of frustration and money while also avoiding unfavorable reactions from other boaters by using a little common sense and courtesy. This means you should come completely off plane when entering a no-wake zone or any area where your wake could pose a safety risk to other boats. Many skippers often respond to a no-wake sign by merely slowing down slightly, resulting in the bow of the boat being raised and the stern being submerged. Instead of reducing the size of the wake, this minimal reduction in speed—not fully off plane—actually increases the size of the wake.
When there is a “No Wake” restriction, it means absolutely “NO WAKE”. The first rule is to slow down so that your boat is level without using trim tabs, ensuring that the size of your wake is minimal. Take a moment to look back at the wake you are creating. You can help reduce the size of your boat’s wake by positioning passengers toward the center of the boat to maintain balance. Placing too much weight at the stern will lower it and increase the size of the wake. Additionally, keep an eye on your depth sounder; shallow water can intensify the impact of your boat’s wake.
Damaging wakes can occur when a skipper takes too long to reduce speed. For instance, we saw a young skipper at a marina gas dock when someone approached him, cursing and accusing him of showing no respect. After some words and gestures were exchanged, it became apparent that the young skipper’s cruiser had created a large wake, which caused several boats at the marina to collide with pilings and finger piers. Despite his belief that he had “slowed” down right before reaching the gas dock, he insisted that the damage must have been caused by “another boat’s wake.”
Another time, we were passing a marina in Myrtle Beach, the boat in front of us, a 40 something foot cruiser, had slowed down when approaching the No Wake zone, but was still putting up a pretty good curl. As they passed the marina, the radio lit up with people yelling at them to slow down. A voice from the boat came on and said, “No Wake means different things to different people.” WRONG! No Wake, means just that. No noticeable wave being generated by the boat.
Types Of Limited Wake Zones
Idle Speed No Wake
Any vessel operating in a speed zone posted as “Idle Speed No Wake” must operate at the minimum speed that will maintain steerageway and headway.
This means your engine is at idle under most conditions. If a current or wind prevents you from making headway or maintaining directional control, you may increase speed slightly so that you can make forward progress and maintain steering control. Some states define “a speed at which there is no white water in the track or path of the vessel or in created waves near the vessel.”
Slow Speed Minimum Wake
Any vessel operating in a speed zone posted as “Slow Speed Minimum Wake” must operate fully off plane, completely settled in the water, and at a speed which is making little or no wake.
Any wake created by a vessel in one of these zones must be minimal (very small). If your vessel is traveling with the bow even slightly elevated while in one of these zones, it is not proceeding at “Slow Speed” as required by law.
We have seen some Minimum Wake signs on the west coast of Florida that actually spell out that your wake wave must be 15″ or less in the Minimum Wake area.
Seasonal Wake or Speed Restriction Zones
Some No Wake or Minimum Wake zones are seasonal. These are most common in Florida during Manatee migration seasons, but you may also see them in areas where there are port operations or sailing regattas. It’s essential to watch for and respect these signs.
Special or Emergency Speed Restrictions
Sometimes, emergency restrictions are put into place due to flooding. This is to prevent damage to homes that may be inundated by flood waters or erosion of river banks.
These restrictions are most common on rivers where there are homes along the banks. We’ve seen them frequently on the Waccamaw River and ICW in the Myrtle Beach area and along the Saint Johns River between Jacksonville and Sanford, Florida.
They may also be present when there is debris in the water that may damage your vessel if hit at high speed or when special events such as regattas, open water swims, rowing competitions, or salvage operations are taking place. Again, it is essential that you watch for and respect these signs.
Move Over Law
Temporary zones are areas established for certain vessels in accordance with the “Move Over Law.” If a vessel approaches an emergency vessel—such as one belonging to the police, a local marine unit, towing or salvage, or the USCG—with its lights activated, that vessel must operate at slow speed, with a minimum wake, within 300 feet of the emergency vessel. In addition, temporary zones are established for construction vessels that display an orange flag. A vessel must operate at slow speed, with a minimum wake, within 300 feet of a construction vessel engaged in construction and displaying a construction flag.
Unmarked No Wake Zones
There are several other areas that are “assumed” to be No Wake zones even though they may not be marked. I’ll speak to Florida, however you should check local regulations, most states have adopted similar laws. Regardless of the law, its good courtesy and common sense.
Florida Statute: 327.46
- 1. An ordinance establishing an idle speed, no wake boating-restricted area, if the area is:
- a. Within 500 feet of any boat ramp, hoist, marine railway, or other launching or landing facility available for use by the general boating public on waterways more than 300 feet in width or within 300 feet of any boat ramp, hoist, marine railway, or other launching or landing facility available for use by the general boating public on waterways not exceeding 300 feet in width.
- b. Within 500 feet of fuel pumps or dispensers at any marine fueling facility that sells motor fuel to the general boating public on waterways more than 300 feet in width or within 300 feet of the fuel pumps or dispensers at any licensed terminal facility that sells motor fuel to the general boating public on waterways not exceeding 300 feet in width.
- c. Inside or within 300 feet of any lock structure.
- 2. An ordinance establishing a slow speed, minimum wake boating-restricted area if the area is:
- a. Within 300 feet of any bridge fender system.
- b. Within 300 feet of any bridge span presenting a vertical clearance of less than 25 feet or a horizontal clearance of less than 100 feet.
- c. On a creek, stream, canal, or similar linear waterway if the waterway is less than 75 feet in width from shoreline to shoreline.
- d. On a lake or pond of less than 10 acres in total surface area.
- e. Within the boundaries of a permitted public mooring field and a buffer around the mooring field of up to 100 feet.
- f. Within 500 feet of a sewage pumpout facility at a public or private nonresidential marina on a waterway where the sewage pumpout facility is within 100 feet of the marked portion of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway.
To digest all that down, areas around most bridge fender systems, boat launches, public beaches, and marinas are No Wake, or Minimum Wake zones.
When Passing Or Meeting Other Boats
Aside from the all over riding “YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WAKE” rule, there are no specific laws I could find regarding slowing down when passing or meeting other boats. In our 8+ years of boating, I wish I had a $1 for every time we’ve been waked when being passed by another boat. I’d have a mega-yacht by now!
In the absence of a law, there is still the concept of common courtesy (something that seems to be lacking among many in the boating community) and safety.
When meeting or passing another boat at close quarters (the distance your wake travels, which can be 300+ feet in some cases), you should come down off plane and reduce your wake. The significant rocking of another boat being hit by your wake can cause objects on board to topple, causing damage and injuries.
When meeting an oncoming vessel, our general rule of thumb is to back down soon enough so the other boat sees we are slowing and can react in kind, usually about a 1/4 mile off. We don’t necessarily go to idle speed unless the boat has small children aboard or a low freeboard (like paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes), but we will go to at least minimum wake speed.
When overtaking another vessel, we try to call them if our pass will be close and let them know that we will slow down before we pass. We might also ask them to slow so that we can get past them quickly. Most boaters will oblige. Here, we slow down to a speed that will allow us to get past them in a reasonable period of time. If it’s a sailboat doing 6 knots, we’ll probably pass them at 8 knots, which for us is a minimum wake speed.
If you are being passed and don’t want to get waked, communicate, slow down, and move over in the channel. To pass a boat doing 10 knots, the other boat will have to make 12 knots, and for most cruiser-style boats, that’s the worst wake-producing speed as the boat is halfway between displacement and on plane. Once the boat is past you, pull in behind them as soon as it is safe to do so, or when they go back up on plane, you’ll get a bow full of wake!
You Are Responsible For Your Wake
There have been a number of incidents recently where boaters have been held criminally and civilly accountable for damage caused by wakes. Boats are getting bigger and faster, leading to more instances of wake damage. The USCG and local authorities are cracking down on speeding, reckless operation, and wake zone violations. Our local Florida Department of Wildlife enforcement officer loves to sit at the entrance to the canal outside our marina and catch people violating the Minimum Wake (or No Wake in manatee season) zone. Usually, it results in a hefty fine and a lengthy boat inspection (which can result in other violations).
Here are a few illustrative stories:
- A boater in North Carolina was arrested and charged after damaging boats and docks and injuring other boaters. WWAY3 News Story
- Two men drown when knocked into the water by the wake of another boat. WBTW13 News Story
- Boating Wake Liability Results in $1 Million Settlement. Injury-Lawer-Florida.com
For most of the readers of The Clever Boater, I know that I’m “preaching to the choir,” as it were. I want to thank everyone who watches their wake and follows the rules!
I’ll close with my favorite Wake story…
We were boating between Beaufort and Oriental, North Carolina. This route follows Adams Creek, where much of it is a No Wake zone. As we cruised along headed North, we started hearing boaters ahead of us yelling at a Sport Fish that was up on plane and creating a 4-5 foot wake in a relatively narrow channel. Several boaters used the tactic of issuing a Sécurité radio call. “Sécurité, Sécurité, Sécurité, beware of a Sport Fish headed south in Adams Creek causing a damaging wake.” (This is a great way to get some to slow down, or at least draw the attention of local law enforcement and warn other boaters)
The Sport Fish, obviously annoyed at the calls, radioed back, “Sécurité, Sécurité, Sécurité we’re a sport fish, we don’t know how to go slow.”
Almost immediately, another voice came on the radio. “This is the US Coast Guard. Is anyone able to get the name, hailing port, and description of that vessel?” Several people responded with the information. When the Sport Fish passed us a minute or two later, they had slowed down significantly. A short time later, we heard the Coast Guard hailing the boat, telling them to slow to idle speed and prepare to be boarded. Ha! That will teach them!
Do you slow when passing other vessels? What’s your “I got waked” story?
Let us know in the comments below! 
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