Take5
regular
Reged: 19/10/2007
Posts: 749
Loc: DONT TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY -...
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I read this on another post regarding slowing down for other boat users, I didn't want to hijack the thread so I posted it here.
Quote:
With the cost of fuel increasing slowing down is no longer an option as it costs too much to climb back on the plane.
As a boating newbie I am trying to do things as "I think" they should be done.
But, over the weekend I seemed to be stopping and starting constantly due to fishing boats and sailing boats. Am I going over the top or should I continue to drop on and off the plane out of courtesy?
Also even after slowing right down to about 8 knots for one sailing boat, I waved to the guy and his wife who shook their heads in unison back at me. Can't win sometimes.
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Sneddon
regular
Reged: 26/02/2007
Posts: 2237
Loc: Bristol
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Probably making more wash by slowing down!
I find it best to give other folk a wide berth, on the plane and by the time my wake hits then it is reduced to a ripple.
You will allways find someone who gets upset because thier boat rocks about when in the water, praps they should've bought a caravan?
On the subject of courtesy, when locking out of Cardiff on Sunday, everyone pushed in front of me ... bloody ignorant if you ask me!
Still, I locked out of the lock next door and gave one of them a great big load of wake the other side!
Well I wanted to, but as someone once said to me "the sea is no place for arrogance" so I just went on my merry little way!
So whoever you were, may your bilges be infested with millions of fleas and your sails get eaten by moths!
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"See the rainbow not the rain"
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Take5
regular
Reged: 19/10/2007
Posts: 749
Loc: DONT TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY -...
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Thanks for the reply.
When you say "wide berth" how wide is wide? We are in the straits so there isn't always a huge amount of space to be given.
I suppose I should be asking how close is too close?
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Sneddon
regular
Reged: 26/02/2007
Posts: 2237
Loc: Bristol
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Wide enough so your wash is "gone" when it gets to them, as far as is practicable (?) anyway
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"See the rainbow not the rain"
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havent_a_clue
regular
Reged: 20/02/2007
Posts: 574
Loc: West Sussex
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"I suppose I should be asking how close is too close"
I'd sort of like to know this myself, but not knowing, I allow as a rule of thumb (very strange thumb) I allow about two metres clearance per knot of speed as a minimum and, of course, try to go BEHIND any yachts, I found out how irritating it is to get up to 5 knots in a light breeze only to run into a wake and lose 2 of them!
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"Most people have some means of filling up the gap between perception & reality, and, after all, in those circumstances there are worse things than (put preferred vice here)".
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Nonitoo
regular
Reged: 26/02/2007
Posts: 397
Loc: Dover Kent UK
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Dropping off the plane will increase your wash effect unless you drop back well below max displacement speed.
As regards the shaking of the head syndrome, I have found that many yotties (and some larger mobo owners) consider it beneath themselves to acknowledge you.
(This is either due to the testosterone effect - mines bigger than yours - or the 'I'm a real seaman 'cos I use the wind' effect).
Both attitudes are, of course, complete hogwash. All that matters is that we each enjoy our pastime without unduly interfering with others.
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LittleShip
regular
Reged: 21/07/2003
Posts: 2641
Loc: In the water .... most of the ...
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"Also even after slowing right down to about 8 knots"
Now your just having a go ................... 8knts I should Coco!
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I wish I'd been born rich instead of good looking ?
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rb_stretch
regular
Reged: 01/04/2003
Posts: 1039
Loc: al to the Solent
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I applaud you for showing such consideration from the outset. I think the best way to judge is to actually look at the effect the wake has at various speeds - sometimes flat out produces the least wake and just over hull speed ie 8 knots produces the worst.
Apart from trying to give a wide berth eg. 200 metres I also find it best if mobos pass behind me, where the wake has less of an impact on boat speed.
For example this weekend I was racing in about 5 knots of wind so it would take about 3 or 4 mins to maybe get up to 2 knots boat speed. A single wake from the front would reduce boat speed to zero and I would have to start building speed from scratch again - very annoying. If the wake came from behind I might only loose half a knot of boat speed - not too bad. When racing it really does make a big difference....especially when a wake is between you and the next person you are trying to catch.
As you can tell I'm a raggie so I hope this is helpful.
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Sneddon
regular
Reged: 26/02/2007
Posts: 2237
Loc: Bristol
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Nice to hear from the sailing fraternity, after all, it is those boats we are trying not to annoy.
Of course, allways behind and I allways try to gauge the effect of my wash so its effect is, hopefully, zero.
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"See the rainbow not the rain"
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Searush
regular
Reged: 14/10/2006
Posts: 3901
Loc: k up if caught.
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Thanks for thinking of us poor slow yotties. As has already been said, watch the effect of your wash on boats you pass. Or make several passes close to a steep sandbank or beach, if you make breakers, its too much for small boats & yotties. It make take quite a while for the wash to reach them but it is worth checking. This will allow you to understand the impact of your progress at various speeds.
Coming out of Conwy last weekend a little too late to cross the Swatch (thanks to an hour's delay on the fuel pontoon!) I met a lovely big motor yacht that came down off the plane for me. I thanked him with a big thumbs up & a hearty wave just as some numbnuts in a sporty weekender wove in between the two of us with his bow 6' in the air and a huge, fuel wasting wake - and had the temerity to wave back at me thinking I was pleased to see him, DOH!
If, as I think, your boat has a shortish water line, I suspect 8kts will be creating a helluva wash. You probably need to be doing a little less than hull speed; say 5-6kts, to eliminate wash. Alternatively, if you are planing fast, flat and level, the chances are you will have a good line of foam astern but very little actual wash.
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