AICW no wake zones

Being new to the Trawler world, I am not quite sure about rules or no wake zones. Is it easy to tell an official no wake zone that is enforced by the authorities versus that of a homeowner who just wants you to go slow?

We just went through the myrtle beach area. There were lots of homes along the I CW. There are also lots of no wcake signs. We had a homeowners coming out and yelling at us to slow down. Most of the time there was nothing in the water but a dock. We are on a slow Trawler. We typically travel at 8 kn. Our wake might be all of 8 to 10 inches.

It seems to me that owners along the I CWR are akin to somebody building a house next to a highway and then complaining about all the noise.

I would appreciate reading any insights and or legal views on what is required by a boat owner.

Thanks,

Gordon

Legally, nothing really, but that won't stop someone from litigating especially if there is real damage or injury. Common sense and courtesy wise, what's the big hurry? We went through that area a lot and tried to be kind. A "real" no wake zone will be marked on a freestanding piling or buoy. Never hurts to call your towing provider or the CG if in doubt.

On this boat, we must slow to about four knots before we see no wake. I can understand someone being upset with a 60 foot sport fisher flying through at 20 kn. But our minuscule wake, even at cruising speed, does very very little but people seem very very upset.

Wait until you get south of Charleston if you want to see "No Wake" signs.

It's hard to tell what's official. The "No Wake" buoys in the water are usually official but it is possible to buy them and put them out yourself. Of course these are not enforceable.

In SC, I see official No-Wake signs mounted on posts in the river (not on private docks or buildings). These have a SCDNR logo on them. There are also a lot of "Slow Speed you are responsible for your wake" signs that appear to have a SCDNR logo on them. These are mounted on private docks and buildings. My guess is that a homeowner can buy and install these. "Slow speed" is subjective and in theory, we are responsible for our wakes regardless of any signs.

Then, there are the obvious homemade signs and they can be pretty much ignored. Homeowners yelling at you can be ignored as well, especially if your wake is 10". That doesn't mean some won't have the USCG or SCDNR on speed dial and call to report and exaggerate the size of your wake.

I have seen and been passed by boats (mostly sport fishers and sport cruisers) throwing three and four foot wakes on that narrow part of the waterway. These boats give us all a bad name.

If you see people on their docks or boats, you might as well slow down until you get past them. It's courtesy if nothing else. Look back at your wake and see how big it is when it gets to the shore. If docked boats are rocking you might consider slowing down a bit in populated areas.

Might be worth a few definitions. I can't find the reference, but was under the impression that the federal definition of "no wake" was "level trim in displacement mode". Simply, if you pull the throttle back and the bow drops, you're probably not meeting the definition of no wake.

Second, a wake typically has a breaking wave. On my 45' trawler, 8 knots is a wake; 7 knots is a tall wave; 6 knots is a modest wave; 5 knots produces ripples.

In this day and age of everybody has a cellphone camera, it's not how fast you are going, it's what your wake is doing. Remember, DNR Police work for the locals, not you. Slow down or go out in the ocean.

Ted

Two words...

Palm Valley

menzies said:

Two words...

Palm Valley

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There's a cure for that: St. Johns Inlet, St. Augustine Inlet.
One of those stretches of the ICW that were "Been there, done that, one and done" for us.

As posted, its what someone can prove that you were causing a hazardous wake.

Some complain about rediculously small wakes and yes, even North Carolina is fed up with new waterfront prooerty owners thinking thet all deserve no wake zones.

psneeld said:

As posted, its what someone can prove that you were causing a hazardous wake.

Some complain about rediculously small wakes and yes, even North Carolina is fed up with new waterfront prooerty owners thinking thet all deserve no wake zones.

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There is a guy down Adam’s Creek just before the 101 bridge that gets his jollies buy pretending to report wakers on VHF. The only no wake zone in the ICW anywhere near there is the Morehead City turning basin. There is a courtesy spot in from of Kenny Bock’s place and Jarrett Bay. There is a website with the official ones marked on a map. I will see if I can find it.

Anyway, that guy (and ones like him) really pisses me off. To me, it’s like moving near the airport and complaining about the noise. You want an ICW waterview? Yea... you better own the wakes buster.

**edit** Here is the map for NC. There may be one for SC or other states. Zoom into a place like Morehead City. You will see the no wake zones marked. Those are the official ones. The rest is up to you.

https://ncpaws.org/wrcmapbook/baa.aspx

Anything that moves thru the water will make some wake by definition, the question is how much wake is acceptable. In the Bahamas you often hear, “mon, it’s only water” as the native boat goes by at 30 knots.

Based on that NC map and the number of areas I would have guessed would be no wake areas is quite different.

Certainly no where near.the amount of zones that the no wake signs posted on docks would have you believe.

I read someplace in NC law that says you can be fined for putting up an unauthorized no wake sign.

Too bad they dont enforce that, they could get enough money to keep dredging all thise shallow spots.

FL has some consistency with definitions: Idle Speed No Wake, Slow Speed Minimum Wake area, Resume Normal Operations at the end of a restricted area.
https://www.boat-ed.com/florida/handbook/page/28/Boating-Regulatory-Zones/
They do have some winners though. Like signs split down the middle, May-Oct is one rule, Nov to April is another rule except on weekends and holidays its Idle Speed. Some have Exclusions, some have Inclusions.
Even at 7 knots we have to stop for a couple! What did that say?
We should have a Most Confusing Speed Zone sign photo contest.

I like the Florida definitions even though they do make it complicated. Looking at the ICW as a whole, I agree somewhat with not understanding someone buying a house on the water and then expecting no boats.

I think the minimum wake is appropriate in areas where you're afraid you'll bother someone. Then the no wake in areas there are legal restrictions.

You will always have the problem of someone bothered, but just use good judgement. We've been yelled at when in our RIB. Now, an 11' jet RIB going 40 knots makes virtually no wake. You can see their boat doesn't even rock the least bit, no wake reaching it, but they yell about wake just based on speed. We could slow down enough that the stern digs in and then make a wake.

I will do everything I can not to put any other boat in harms way. I will not slow to a no wake speed in a long stretch of ICW for a single dock with no boat. I will cruise at a speed giving very moderate wake.

I have noticed...

Tom.B said:

There is a guy down Adam’s Creek just before the 101 bridge that gets his jollies buy pretending to report wakers on VHF. The only no wake zone in the ICW anywhere near there is the Morehead City turning basin. There is a courtesy spot in from of Kenny Bock’s place and Jarrett Bay. There is a website with the official ones marked on a map. I will see if I can find it.

Anyway, that guy (and ones like him) really pisses me off. To me, it’s like moving near the airport and complaining about the noise. You want an ICW waterview? Yea... you better own the wakes buster.

**edit** Here is the map for NC. There may be one for SC or other states. Zoom into a place like Morehead City. You will see the no wake zones marked. Those are the official ones. The rest is up to you.

https://ncpaws.org/wrcmapbook/baa.aspx

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... at least in North Carolina, I have seen what appeared to be official looking signs around both ramps only. I wonder if that holds true in other states as well.

"Official" buoys or not, you should always pass active boat ramps at no wake. Take it easy if they are not busy and have floating docks as well.

In general, use the Golden Rule.

Gordon J said:

... at least in North Carolina, I have seen what appeared to be official looking signs around both ramps only. I wonder if that holds true in other states as well.

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I am sure, but boat ramps are actually NW zones anyway. However, knowing what to look for and armed with knowledge like the map I linked to, you don't have to waste time or money to the waterfront snobs if you don't want to.

You don’t have a choice of Slow Speed OR Minimum Wake. It’s both. Can’t pick which half to comply with. Agree 100 percent on the size of a RIB wake height.

Remember a lot of the Slow Speed/Minimum Wake zones down here are for manatee protection rather than docks - so speed does matter regardless of wake size.

menzies said:

Remember a lot of the Slow Speed/Minimum Wake zones down here are for manatee protection rather than docks - so speed does matter regardless of wake size.

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Slow speed/minimum wake is different though than some of the No Wake zones that say nothing about speed, although in retrospect I think most if not all states do define no wake as minimal speed.

That said, we go slow in all minimum and no wake zones. But not going to go slow for the guy with a house on the side of the ICW who thinks we should while no boat in sight or go at 6 knots to pass a 50' trawler in an open expanse of the ICW. And not going to pay any attention to those self posted signs that someone just decides to put up.

menzies said:

Remember a lot of the Slow Speed/Minimum Wake zones down here are for manatee protection rather than docks - so speed does matter regardless of wake size.

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Last time I was down there, I noticed that manatees have very good taste in real estate. The manatee zones are prominent along the better neighborhoods. There aren't nearly as many in the areas of lower property values. Those manatees are pretty clever animals!

CaptTom said:

Last time I was down there, I noticed that manatees have very good taste in real estate. The manatee zones are prominent along the better neighborhoods. There aren't nearly as many in the areas of lower property values. Those manatees are pretty clever animals!

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Darn. We don't have any in our neighborhood.

Each state has its own regulations and sometimes cities will have No-Wake zones or other restrictions. Often, they are unclear.

I got stopped (but not cited) for going under a bridge too fast in VA. My normal cruising speed is 7 knots but I had just fuelled up and left the marina and had not gotten back up to 7 knots yet.

LEO said all bridges in VA were no-wake, marked or not. She gave me a warning.

There is a law in SC that requires no wake within 50' of a dock, boat ramp, and (I believe) another boat. 50' is nothing on the water but it's seldom enforced anyway.

Along the stretch where the OP was complaining about there is a home with an artificial man standing on the wall next to the ICW waving at people.

CaptTom said:

Last time I was down there, I noticed that manatees have very good taste in real estate. The manatee zones are prominent along the better neighborhoods. There aren't nearly as many in the areas of lower property values. Those manatees are pretty clever animals!

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I've heard that claim before but there's one long manatee zone on the ICW in FL that's lined with trailer parks and fish camps. We saw many manatees there.

CaptTom said:

Last time I was down there, I noticed that manatees have very good taste in real estate. The manatee zones are prominent along the better neighborhoods. There aren't nearly as many in the areas of lower property values. Those manatees are pretty clever animals!

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Well now, one other way to look at that is that the well-heeled homes have docks, and manatees just love themselves a dock.

WesK said:

LEO said all bridges in VA were no-wake, marked or not.

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I thought that was also the case here in NC when discussing it on another forum, however, I was unable to find any documentation to back that up. I will try to remember to ask USCG next time we are boarded or see them at a boat show or gas dock.

Tom.B said:

I thought that was also the case here in NC when discussing it on another forum, however, I was unable to find any documentation to back that up. I will try to remember to ask USCG next time we are boarded or see them at a boat show or gas dock.

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If it's a state law you should ask state authorities.

Tom.B said:

I thought that was also the case here in NC when discussing it on another forum, however, I was unable to find any documentation to back that up. I will try to remember to ask USCG next time we are boarded or see them at a boat show or gas dock.

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Dont waste time asking Coasties, the only no wake at the federal level I believe is above 300 tons. They might know. But I wouldnt trust any LEOs statement....only in writing.

Ask state guys if anyone and the reference.

Tom.B said:

I thought that was also the case here in NC when discussing it on another forum, however, I was unable to find any documentation to back that up. I will try to remember to ask USCG next time we are boarded or see them at a boat show or gas dock.

Click to expand...

Dont waste time asking Coasties, the only no wake at the federal level I believe is above 300 tons. They might know.....but I wouldnt trust any LEOs statement....only in writing.

Ask state guys if anyone and the reference.

Greetings,
Mr. CT. "...pretty clever animals!" Absolutely! I vaguely recall slow/no wake/manatee zones where on weekends, it was perfectly fine to zoom along at any speed (maybe less than 30mph). So the manatee's can read as well AND know what day of the week it is. I think one area is along the Rio Barcelona Canal in Ft. Lauderdale.

RT Firefly said:

. So the manatee's can read as well AND know what day of the week it is. I think one area is along the Rio Barcelona Canal in Ft. Lauderdale.

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Wifey B: Absolutely, we've got the smartest Manatee's.

Honestly, I seldom see one and we actually have a watersports zone.