Docking recommendation: fixed dock + massive wake boarders wakes = nervous wreck!

[vxooxv]

Hoping some of you can help me out this year.

My lakehouse sits in a fairly busy cove. The community dock is fixed (does not float) and has 2 bays between walkways with a pole that separates the spaces. See cheesy picture. My issue every summer is we'll get wakeboarders or surfers that come within 20' of the dock that throw up massive wakes which rock the living crap out of every boat parked in the dock. On numerous occasions boats have ripped out cleats and once I found my boat floating toward the ramp.

Last summer I was backing into space 3 which was forcing my boat into the dock. This year I've negotiated space 4 which I believe will help.

The good news is, I never leave my boat out there more than fri and sat night however after last year's issue with finding my boat floating toward the dock and cleats hanging from my dock lines I ended up taking my boat out every night which is a PITA. Defeats having the damn dock.

The HOA has tried and tried to put out a buoy to no avail. Short of getting some sort of portable lift I'm looking for any other recommendation. Yes, I've used bungee, fixed rope, tied directly to the dock... nothing I do seems to be bulletproof or least gives me a warm feeling as I jump in the truck and head back to the house.

 

[Scottintexas]

I'd be really angry,
have you contacted the local lake police? I might start a conversation with them to see if they are interested in pursuing it,
or making your cove or area a "no wake" zone, an HOA set buoy I could see having little affect vs. a COE placement,

If they aren't I'd find a way to passively-aggressive handle it,

How much room is between the posts and the dock, just enough for your boat to enter? wondering about some sort of docking whip?

 

[seanmclean]

20' from the dock? I'd stand there with a grappling hook and snag 'em.


I don't understand why you're having trouble getting a buoy placed. It's already a defacto no wake zone, a buoy should be approved fairly quickly. I'd pool some cash with other slipholders and just drop a few myself in the middle of the night.

 

[Scottintexas]

could you screw a piece of ply wood under the dock to the pilings to help stop/reduce the wave, ??


.

 

[Mainah]

I have a somewhat similar docking situation but instead of wakes I get wind in the direction of your wake arrow. If you also get wind this will be a very challenging docking situation when the wind is high particularly if backing in just to get docked but will also be much better for the boat once tied off. Spring line (method of tying off with braided dock line) the mid and aft cleat and spring line the fore and mid cleats on the dock side. If needed also add bow and stern cleat lines on the pole side. Also make sure the dock cleats are through bolted with a backing plate. I finally went with a floating lift but my boat is there full time which justifies it.

Best way to handle folks doing dangerous things is to call the local authorities and give them hull numbers. Keep in mind authorities are far more concerned about safety than annoyances. Getting involved yourself can lead to unwanted trouble either in the moment or in retribution on your property like a boat being untied in the middle of the night. Not saying the authorities will always do something but far safer to let them handle it. Boaters are responsible for their own wake and its impacts to other boats, docks, swimmers, etc.. The slow speed distance to docks/shoreline required in some states is far less than others and the best way to judge is based upon boat lengths for the given boat. With a ramp and docks that close the whole area should be a no wake zone IMO.

 

[AJack]

I'm stuck on, "My lakehouse"!!! That's interesting that the cleats would get pulled out.

 

[swatski]

Hoping some of you can help me out this year.

My lakehouse sits in a fairly busy cove. The community dock is fixed (does not float) and has 2 bays between walkways with a pole that separates the spaces. See cheesy picture. My issue every summer is we'll get wakeboarders or surfers that come within 20' of the dock that throw up massive wakes which rock the living crap out of every boat parked in the dock. On numerous occasions boats have ripped out cleats and once I found my boat floating toward the ramp.

Last summer I was backing into space 3 which was forcing my boat into the dock. This year I've negotiated space 4 which I believe will help.

The good news is, I never leave my boat out there more than fri and sat night however after last year's issue with finding my boat floating toward the dock and cleats hanging from my dock lines I ended up taking my boat out every night which is a PITA. Defeats having the damn dock.

The HOA has tried and tried to put out a buoy to no avail. Short of getting some sort of portable lift I'm looking for any other recommendation. Yes, I've used bungee, fixed rope, tied directly to the dock... nothing I do seems to be bulletproof or least gives me a warm feeling as I jump in the truck and head back to the house.

View attachment 87369

Get their hull numbers and call the police/water patrol AND the insurance. They are responsible for damage caused by their wake.

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[2kwik4u]

Isn't this the kind of thing those poles are for? Holding the boat away from the dock during high wave occurrences. I think they're called mooring whips or something like that. Basically you want the boat held a given distance from the dock to prevent damage, but not so far as to bonk the next boat. Going to need the whips and then 4 lines to get it right I think.

These turned up in a google search for "Those pole things that hold a boat away from a dock"

Dock Edge Wake Watchers Mooring System [3050-F]

 

[vxooxv]

Thanks for all the quick replies! I should add it's a fairly large cove so making it completely a no wake simply isn't an option. I thought about whips and may look into them. I have the option to lease both spaces 3 & 4 so perhaps backing in and using whips allow me to push over closer to the pole. It will be close, however.

When googling, I found something called pierTender that appears out of business. Great idea though!!

 

[Sbrown]

Get their hull numbers and call the police/water patrol AND the insurance. They are responsible for damage caused by their wake.

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There's a very interesting article about this very topic in the most recent Boat U.S. magazine. Their recommendation is to video tape the offenders. Apparently these cases are difficult to pursue without video evidence.

 

[nf22]

I take empty kegs, spray paint them yellow, tie them about 5-10 ft apart and dump them out about 20-30 ft outside of my dock. Depending on the weekend, I'll either pull them to run lateral or horizontal.

 

[JetPowered]

Are there other private docks in this area that have this same problem?

Does your HOA dock have electrical? I’d throw up some cameras and record the offenders. One pointing towards the water, another pointing at the boats.

 

[vxooxv]

Are there other private docks in this area that have this same problem?

Does your HOA dock have electrical? I’d throw up some cameras and record the offenders. One pointing towards the water, another pointing at the boats.

Yes, though not in this particular cove; we are the only HOA community dock in this cove everyone else has their own. Wake board and even more so Surfing is a huge topic every March / April. More of the lake is becoming surf free for various reasons; trashing boats and erosion. I'm not here to debate that, I get that folks want to get out of the main channel and because we live in a rather large cove it's a popular spot.

 

[JetPowered]

Sure I get that. I too have a dock in a large “cove” and also get people pulling surfers skiers and tubers dangerously close to my dock and swimmers. The wakes that get thrown can be HUGE and it’s even worse if a guest boat is tied up to the dock. Again, I have pointed a camera out at the water to at least get a description of the boat is not the hull numbers. I may take matters into my own hands this year and put my own no wake buoys out but I don’t want to be “that guy”. I’d rather send the water cops out after them.

 

[JetPowered]

It bears asking, would pushing the boat traffic back 50-100 feet make enough of a difference? Beyond that some kind of floating breakwater maybe be useful.

Wave Attenuator | Floating Breakwater by Wave Eater

Since you also have a large number of slips, I wonder if your dock structure might be recognized as a marina? Obviously different regulating bodies have different rules but I would think if you were recognized as a marina you’d have better options at building a no wake zone at a sufficient distance away

 

[Mainah]

Be careful putting out your own unathorized markers, bouys, whatever as there are fines for doing that in some places. There are always going to be jerks and there is no cure. Getting johnny law after the habitual offenders does mitiagte some of the problem.

For those of us who do enjoy wake sports in a certain cove we can help by being respectful and it does not take that much. Give more room, don’t float 50 ft out from shore with rev10s cranked to 11 pointed at someones house, and when things are already too busy find somewhere else to go. Basically think of yourself as the person who lives in that cove. We enjoy our water rights but restrictions are being put into effect in some places because of the few that are jerks.

 

[JetPowered]

One thing I do is float my airhead dock out a few extra feet from my physical dock and anchor that with a mushroom anchor. I am obviously well within the 50 foot unmarked no wake zone that extends from the end of each fixed structure. At least it give some visual clue to move away. That and a case of Roman candles

 

[vxooxv]

Besides whips, johnny law, and buoys. Any feedback on boat placement and dock tying. Before researching today I wasn't aware of spring line and apparently, I was only using basically breast lines which aren't optimal by themselves.

Again, excuse my diagram:

I'm thinking of moving to the other side of the dock will help as the current / wake will naturally push the boat away from the dock? I believe this is a no brainer eh? One of the issues, if I recall, is the side dock doesn't go much if any further out than my boat, same as the pole. It's probably 20' or so and I'm in a 210.

Outside of boat placement, instead of 3 breasts, lol going to 6 lines. Overkill?

 

[Mainah]

The port aft of your boat must have taken a beating last year. The new plan will be good for the boat once tied off, but ... and I can’t stress this enough .... it will be difficult to get your boat into the slip that way with any moderate wind or wakes coming off the water towards land. Even with fins this is challenging. The trick here is patience and actively working the throttles and wheel. Padding the pole and using it to arrest the movement towards land will be a big help in this regard.

Two more tips. Given a fixed dock and rough water leave just a bit of slack in the lines. Last tip to ensure ropes don’t come lose is to make sure you are tying to the cleats correctly. It only takes one half wrap and three tail under loops for each line to tie off a yacht indefinitely and that is no different for our boats.

 

[Sbrown]

Your second diagram is exactly how you should have your boat tied. Your first diagram would only be for a temporary stay, say when tying up to a dock for lunch or dinner and I would still use a springline from that #2 dock cleat to my midship cleat to prevent the boat from going backwards into the dock or pier.