How to Cross Boat Wakes Without Getting Beat Up

Photo - iSaw Company / Unsplash

The weather is beautiful and you decide to take the family for a boat ride. Unfortunately, dozens of other boaters have the same idea and their boat wakes are turning your relaxing cruise into a spine pounding event. There are two things you can do to eliminate this problem. You can either buy a bigger boat or you can learn the best techniques for handling boat wakes. Here are a few simple tips you can follow to improve your ride.

Anticipate the wake from each boat that is passing by your boat

Well before you hit another boat's wake, keep a continuous lookout for nearby boats whose wake you will probably need to cross.

Some people are surprised to learn that boat wakes don’t actually move across the water like they appear. In fact, boats simply push the water down to a point below normal water level, from which they rise back up and above normal water level. This up and down motion will slow, but it pulls the water beside it into the same motion. This wake motion sequence continues, giving the wake the illusion of traveling outwards. It is actually just a series of up and down water movements.

Prejudge the magnitude of the oncoming wake

We have all watched a large cruiser approaching and thought; 'this is going to hurt.' Heavy boats push water deeper than lighter boats as they ride through it, so the deeper the water gets pushed down the higher it surfaces in the form of a larger wake. For this reason, heavy boats, like a yacht, create larger wakes. Wide beam boats also create a wake with a larger “moment," or the distance between the crests of the wakes.

As we become more experienced, we learn to identify specific boat types that will cast more misery than others and prepare ourselves accordingly. If you believe you could be soon crossing a large wake, that would be the time to mention it to your passengers, so that they can hold more tightly.

Note the number of wakes that the passing boat will create

The number of wakes to expect from different boats will vary. Sometimes you can determine this number by simply looking. An efficient boat hull will produce three or four wake waves, while some hulls will fire wakes at you that seem to never quit. Either way, you need to deal with them so it is smart to estimate in advance how long the attack will last.

Decide from observation the wake defensive tactic that is right for your situation

This is the most important part of this article. I suggest four different defensive maneuvers to choose from to pass through the wakes you will encounter as smoothly as possible. They are:

1) The Direct Approach

When approaching a wake, study the wake and begin to set up your track for the wake defense tactic you have chosen. Small runabouts, catamarans, flat bottom boats, and sailboats usually produce small wakes that are quite light. Once you believe that the approaching wake will be small, turn directly towards the wake, and approach it at 90 degrees.

By running through the wake, this direct approach splits the approaching water into two equal parts that run up each side of your boat, rather than your boat receiving a heavier wake strike on only one side. The speed at which to pass through a light wake using this approach can vary, but usually I do not slow down. In some cases, the pass will actually be smoothest if you slightly accelerate going through it.

The Last Minute Turn Approach

There can be some situations where the direct approach, as described above, can cause a problem. One such example is when you are boating in an area with limited space like a channel. After using the direct approach to cross a wake, you and your boat will be positioned behind the boat whose wake you just crossed. This could put you in the path of another boat. If this is a concern, or if you discover the wake to be larger than expected, a solution is the “last minute turn” approach. After driving directly towards the wake, and as your boat rises on the first wake, turn sharply away from the wake. This puts your keel into the wake and reduces the bumps as you pass through. With the wheel turned, you will also not end up behind the boat that is making the wake.

‘Survive the Big One’ Approach

There is always one wake that is large enough to spoil your day. Don’t let it. Large yachts, boats over 30 feet, and commercial work boats are the usual suspects. When you spot a giant wake incoming, immediately slow to between 6 and 10 knots before entering the wake and trim up quite high. Running directly into the wake, your boat will rise sharply, then plunge down into the wake trough.

The danger is possibly stuffing into the next wake, or at least water washing over your bow. The up trim will reduce that possibility and the slower speed will give your boat more time to follow through the trough without going airborne.

Slow down – Trim up – No problem.

While large wakes can be scary, there are usually not as many in a sequence. Once the up and down ride stops, simply trim your drive back down and throttle back to cruise speed.

The Roll With It Approach

This is my favorite wake defense and one that you can use the most. It is built around an interesting fact about boat wakes. While different boats produce different wakes, there is one common denominator. Almost every boat transom sends it’s wake out at 22 degrees from the direction it is traveling (within a degree or two). This means that if you are passing a boat going in the opposite direction, and turn 22 degrees away from the wake, you will pass it under your boat without any pounding. Instead, your boat will roll lightly side to side through the wake until you have completely disposed of it. Not only will there be no pounding, but the wake will pass harmlessly under your boat with no damage to your teeth. When clear, turn 22 degrees back to your original course.

We find wakes on almost every waterway. Take the time to observe the wakes produced by different boats and with a little practice you will soon be able to forecast the height and quantity of approaching wakes. It should also be noted that you should be aware of your own boat's strengths, weaknesses, and potential limitations. Boats with a low bow, for example, may need to factor in their hull shape when deciding on the safest approach. Learning a procedure to cross them more smoothly to avoid jarring and water spray is easy once you experiment with these four defensive tactics. Your passengers will love you. #tips