No wake/courtesy question

[SaltH2OHokie]

Howdy,

First, some background: my boat is kept behind my childhood bestfriend's parents' house.  I took my first boat ride on that creek over 20 years ago and have been boating on it ever since.  I'm familiar with the thing from stem to stern, and while there are some new additions over the past 2 decades, I'm familiar with the folks on the creek for the most part.  There are marked no-wake zones, which I obey in spite of the fact that some of them are completely arbitrary.  Outside of those marked zones, if there are no boats fishing or docked, I run on plane (as do most other folks I know).  

Took my boat out Wednesday (in a freezing rain...always good conditions for a casual boat ride).  There is a public boat landing (very popular) that has a no-wake zone associated with it.  60yds past the "End No Wake Zone" sign are two houses with fixed piers.  Everyone leaving the public boat ramp gets up on plane at the "end no wake zone" sign which puts them on plane going past those two fixed piers.  In 25 years there has never been a boat docked at either pier.  

Wednesday, as I always have, I threw the boat up on plane at the end of the 'no wake zone'.  Today, through a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend, I got word that the owner of one of those houses was rather bothered by that action Wednesday and (to quote) is "going to video tape that next time and get him arrested".

I'm not in the business of arbitrarily irritating people, so if it makes him sleep better, I'm glad to stay off plane until I pass his pier, but at the same time, it feels wrong that in the summer time there are probably 20-30 people an hour passing his dock on plane, and I've seen the old fella in his backyard just sipping on a drink.  Didn't seem to bother him back then, so why would me...one single boat on a cold winter day...bother him so much that he'd tell someone he was going to video tape me to "have me arrested"?

I'm considering just knocking on his door and clearing the air ("hi, I'm Ryan, and I've been waking your pier for 22 consecutive years".)

My buddy's dad (who has lived on the creek for 35 years and run boats from 42' all the way down to skiffs) told me that if the disgruntled fella stopped me and was polite, that I should politely explain that a noreaster puts 10x my wake onto his pier for 12 straight hours and that I would probably continue to run on plane.  Said if he stopped me and was abrasive, to let him know, and he'd make a point to plow past his pier for the rest of his life.  

Without you guys/gals having the benefit of actually knowing what the heck I'm talking about...sound like I should be concerned with this fella's angry rant?

[John Jones]

If the sign was not put up by whoever has legal jurisdiction then you have no obligation to obey.  That said, operate your boat however you see fit.  

I would not approach him on his property.  It can and has gotten messy.

People all over Florida put up fake Manatee Zone signs and try to enforce them with no legal justification.

[SaltH2OHokie]

No signs at all...only sign is the one signifying the NWZ has ended...

[RickK]

Let the throttles rip is my $.02.  Now granted it takes a little longer for your boat to get on plane then it does my 170; if you're throwing 6ftrs at his wall while you're struggling up on plane, it might be more friendly to start that after his area - another minute or so of idling.  If you're already on plane as you pass, that's different.
My 230 takes a lot more to get on plane than my 170 too, and during that time to plane my wake is pretty tall (so is my bow).

[Skoot]

No signs at all...only sign is the one signifying the NWZ has ended...

Well there you go! I say run her as normal.  It sounds like you know those water better than most.  I say GOOOOOOOOOOO!

To be honest with I "always" obey the law, but quite frequently, that doesn't "always" happen.  :pirat:

[seabob4]

What dictates what you do are the signs posted by the OFFICIAL agency in "charge" of that creek in your area. Get up on plane after the NWZ signs?  No problem.  And let the old fart take his vid to the local authorities...they'll politely tell him to go home and find something else to do that will be a little more productive...and won't waste THEIR time!

[wingtime]

That guy sounds like the zillions of retired condo commando's we have her in FL.  First off running on a plane in a no wake zone will only get you a ticket not arrested.  Second like every one else said you are well within the law so do as you always have.  It sounds like you are a responsible boater... way more so than the weekend warrior morons we see out all the time down here.  Having delt with condo commando type cooks in the past I know this sort of thing can be VERY frustrating.  Don't let it get under your skin man and keep on boating.

[seabob4]

That guy sounds like the zillions of retired condo commando's we have her in FL.  First off running on a plane in a no wake zone will only get you a ticket not arrested.  Second like every one else said you are well within the law so do as you always have.  It sounds like you are a responsible boater... way more so than the weekend warrior morons we see out all the time down here.  Having delt with condo commando type cooks in the past I know this sort of thing can be VERY frustrating.  Don't let it get under your skin man and keep on boating.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^    

[slvrlng]

I agree with the above posts, but always remember that you are responsible for your wake and any damage it causes. What the old guy needs to do is apply for the NWZ signs to be moved past his dock.

One question, has the same guy been there for a long time or is he a new owner?

[wingtime]

always remember that you are responsible for your wake and any damage it causes.

Good point that I was going to mention....  but they would have a hard time charging you for erosion.  Now if your wake slammed a boat into something and damaged it then yeah you'd be on the hook for that.

[seagate]

WE have a guy down that is not in a no wake zone but that dosen't stop him from comming out every time I come thrue there My xf20 on plane doesn't make a giant wake when on plane.I just slowed down the first time he did it asked what he wanted then said sorry but this is a not a no wake zone and see you later.He still comes out once in a while and I wave at him.

[pigbike]

It sounds like a new owner to me. If the people who lived there for years didn't take issue with it, why would they now complain.

He can video you all he wants, unless law enforcement is there to witness it, he can't do squat. In VA if that is only a infraction it has to be witnessed by law enforcement. If it is a misdemeanor in VA it might be different. I'm not familiar with VA laws.

[SaltH2OHokie]

He's not new, he's actually old and has lived there a good long while...not sure what sparked his sudden displeasure (part of why I actually care...just seems odd).

I think unless I'm in a hurry, I'll probably ease past his dock if that makes him happy...but if I'm on my way to go fishing, or my wife wants to get out in the river/bay, then I'm hitting it as soon as I clear the sign.

I like to think when I get old and live on a nice piece of waterfront property, I'm going to enjoy everyday I wake up on the correct side of the grass, not look for arbitrary crap to get angry over...but that's just me.

[love2fish]

Having lived on a canal half my life,,, i would be happier with some people going faster through the canal compared to what some morons think is "idle-speed/no-wake"... I love the guys in 25'+ cruisers who drive just short of planing speed and kick up 4' rollers...idiots.

in the guys defense- he might not have any idea what kind of signs you see when you are underway (idling or at cruising speed) when in the waterway heading towards his dock- so he might think you are violating some kinda laws/signs... so it might be a good idea (C.Y.A.) to get your phone out and make a quick video next time you are cruising through there... so there is a "driver's perspective) and they can see you are correctly operating your boat...

but it sounds like he's not going to be happy regardless until he "wins" and makes the situation a big PITA for you... I say, just double check you're good with any signs or postings and wave as you cruise by him.

seems a little weird that he would single you/your boat out though.

[seabob4]

seems a little weird that he would single you/your boat out though.

It was Ryan's day...