How to minimise your boat's wash in a no-wake zone

Sometimes reducing your speed to the signposted limit isn't enough when it comes to reducing wash to a level that marine authorities believe is acceptable.

Get caught, and in NSW the minimum fine for creating an inappropriate wake is $500. If your case is dragged before a magistrate, those costs could leap to $5500 – a huge hit to the hip pocket.

Here's the boatsales.com.au guide to ensuring that the next time you enter a no-wake zone, you're doing the right thing.

Reducing boat wash

?      Entering a “no wash” zone does not mean a boat can travel at the posted speed limit. The speed a boat travels at depends on how much wash it generates at low speed, which may be lower than the posted limit.

?      The wash is the waves and turbulence created behind a boat. The size of the wake depends on how the boat is driven, its hull shape, and load.

?      Irrespective of size, boats generally generate the most wash on the half plane as the stern digs into the water and the bow rises.

?      Big cruisers with some hull designs are more susceptible to generating wash. The turbulence they generate can tip small dinghies, damage moored boats and floating jetties, and erode the shoreline.

?      If in doubt about whether you’re minimising wash, knock the boat into neutral until the wash disappears and then re-engage the drive. The safest thing to do is to travel at just over idle speed.

?      Look behind regularly to ensure you’re not generating wake. Listen for waves slapping on the shoreline or against other boats – a sure sign you’re travelling too fast.