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Random Quote: Wemon, wine, wealth and deciet, make the heart submit and wallet weak. What it takes to maintain one vice is enough to fuel my boat for life. Capt Clayton
I live on a narrow creek(60ft wide) and we have a floating dock. The portion of the creek we live on is listed as a NO WAKE ZONE with signs clearly marked. I fish almost daily with my two sons (6,4) and generally have a great time. However, nearly everyday some idiot comes flying by and just rocks the entire dock. This concerns me most because one of my kids is usually on the floationg dock when this happens and I am fearful of the time when one of them ends up in the water. Just today we were out and this guy was going about as fast as he could and I was flagging him to slow down. When he finally did right in front of me, I told him that he was in a now wake zone and he needed to slow down. He looked at me like I was a total A-hole and proceeded to tell me that I didn't have a boat tied up so it didn't matter. The last time I checked, you were responsible for your wake and any damage it might cause. Floating docks certainly aren't inexpensive and I would like to have mine last as long as possible. Furthermore, I have a real concern for the safety of my children. I am really just venting here but I think that this is a problem in more places than behind my house. Please pay attention to no wake zones and slow it down.
Take a picture of his reg numbers and contact the Fish and Game folks or local law officals and
state that your childrens safety is at risk on the floating dock! and file a complant !!!
Then don't back down ... also post more signs if need be !!.
No need to shout at me. We have a routine that involves putting on our Scooby Doo and Tazmaniain Devil PFD's before setting foot on the dock. And nobody is ever allowed on it without Mom or Dad around. But, its always good to remind others the importance of this. Thanks.
What about jet skis? In the NMB/Little River area this spring I saw a few idiots in boats that did not obey no wakes... or slowed just enough to make a larger wake than WOT.... but what amazed me was the jet skis... sure they don't put out as much wake as a boat, but shouldn't they have to slow down too? If so I never saw it... WOT all the time thru the no wakes and never saw any enforcement. Makes me hate jet skis even more, even though I owned one of the first on my lake back in 86'. Course then you actually had to have some skill to ride it standing up
mabey that person needs a reading lesson
NO WAKE means NO WAKE that sign was put there for a reason
ignorant people make me sick
i know that on the water i abide by everybodys signs
you7 don't have to get there that fast
know what i mean
you slow down for the highway workers right ??
i know i do
Location: ICW, Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Posts: 622
RE: When does a "NO WAKE ZONE" not apply?
Get the video camera out and file a complaint.* I saw several home owners doing this at Murrells inlet earlier this year.* They were more than a little tired of fixing floating docks and having*their boats banged up.* I'm sure you feel the same.
The Coast Guard instructor in my Safe Boating Class many moons back explained it to me this way. You are responsible for the damage your wake causes period. The existence or lack thereof of a no wake zone is irrelevant. Proving damage is another story . Did I remember this incorrectly?
I live in your neck of the woods.* The answer to your question lies in the differentation of a "No Wake Zone" sign.* I am sure that you have noticed all the signs around here.* The problem is that many signs are home-made.* It is my understanding that the only legal signs are the ones that have the "DNR" logo one them; for example, the ones posted around Wappoo Cut landing and the buoys at the entrance to the ICW at Sullivan's Island.* Those signs are the ones that law enforcement will enforce when needed.* I see all the home-made signs*further up the ICW as you get to IOP Marina which, in my opinion, is unlawful.* Boat speed/wake is largely dependent on the operator's sense of respect for others' property.
In your case, were the signs posted of the legal kind or the home-made kind?* If legal, then a case can be from a law enforcement standpoint.* When I see someone on a dock like that I will most defenitely slow down, even if no one were on the dock, I would most likely go slowly because I don't believe in bashing boats up against docks/pilings.
The problem with "No Wake" is that some boats create more wake as they slow down due to their displacement, therefore speed can be deceiving.* It all comes down to respect in a lot of cases.
__________________ Hubs Tub
Scout 162 w/90 Yammie
Johns Island, SC USA
The Coast Guard instructor in my Safe Boating Class many moons back explained it to me this way. You are responsible for the damage your wake causes period. The existence or lack thereof of a no wake zone is irrelevant. Proving damage is another story . Did I remember this incorrectly?
That is correct, wake zone, no wake zone, whatever, you are responsible for your wake.
It applies when its an official slow speed zone sign put up in a location specified by law. Freelance signs are meaningless.
Years ago the City of Pompano Beach, Florida put up its own Speed Zone signs on a section of the Intracoastal Waterway. Later the state made them take them down.
It does not apply when a two-bit homeowner thinks they can put up a homemade sign and people will honor it. What did you expect when you put the dock up? For your boat, thats why they make lifts. While we are at it why dont we make the whole ICW no wake. My boat leaves about a 1 foot wake at most when I am on plane and I am not about to slow down unless good old NC says I have to. I agree that the large displacement boats cause more damage but I dont think they should be required to idle from VA to FLA. Now go ahead and start throwing stones but this is the other side of the equation.
Is there anywhere where you can get a list of the ones that have been put in place by the state and not just homemade ones? Do the ones in VA have a special symbol or something on them?
I don't know how it is in SC, but in AL, for example, state designated no wake zones are also idle speed only zones. The signs read "NO WAKE IDLE SPEED ONLY"
No wake zones are established not only for property damage concerns, but also for safety concerns in congested areas.
Is the no-wake zone you are talking about an "official" no wake zone? If so, contact your local maritime enforcement officials and file a complaint.
Nice point JNR the waterway was constructed for inland travel from the north to the south by commercial and private vessels. It was not created to become a personal floating marina for everyone who puts a dock out there. There are legal no wake signs which were put there for a reason usually a marina or high traffic area, then there are hundreds of white signs with NO WAKE written with red up and down the ICW which are not legal. True you are responsible for the damage by your wake but where is the responsiblity for the the people placing the 100' long pier with floating dock in the ICW. That is like building your house besides I-95 and asking everyone to slow down because of the noise. If you don't want your boat beat up put it on a lift and if you don't want your dock beat up don't build one.
It amazes me how people think they can put a dock up and own the water under it. Back in my freshwater fishing days I was fishing around a dock with tons of brush around it when the lady of the house came out and told me I had to stay 150 ft away from her dock. As I was reeling another crappie I informed her that I was a law enforcement officer an the law clearly stated that if I was going faster than no wake speed, I was required to stay 150 feet away. They were in their house and not using the dock. If they were I would out of courtesy have stayed away. My point is if you are fortunate to own property on the water it does not give you the right to control what people do on the water. Personally, I think the rule you are responsible for your own wake rule is a bit unfair.
Is there anywhere where you can get a list of the ones that have been put in place by the state and not just homemade ones? Do the ones in VA have a special symbol or something on them?
When does a "NO WAKE ZONE" not apply? 
