Got a warning by the law this weekend. Not happy
 

Have a 37' (at water line) Atlantic trawler. The boat is 13.5' wide, waighs 33,000lb dry. Holds 400gal of fuel, 200+ of water. It's powdered by twin detroits, draft is 4'. Full displacement hull. Was head back in came to the no wake zone. Boat it is idle with both motors in gear. Wildlife and fishires flash the flash light at me and yel show down. So I shut it to one motor. Still to fast. Flashed me once more. Yelled back I can't go slower. Then he said take it out of gear and coast the put it back in.

Now the boat wasn't throwing a wake to start with. Been by them time after time nothing said. Why is this time diffrent? Its going to make a 3-5" wake due to size and waight. Have the most control with both motors. On one motore the will pull but still to fast for the agent anyways. Take the boat out of gear. Then you have no control. What do you do?

I, for one, have a hard time believing there is ANY law whatsoever in those parts. You must be joking, Casey! Lol.

Where was this at Casey ? Artie

Lol.... Oh it happend. Didn't mention they were standing on land at dusk!

It happend on the trickfaw river at the 22 bridge no wake zone.

Before this become part of the conversation!
 

In legalese, the phrase "NO WAKE ZONE" means it is a speed zone. Like many others I have had boats which created virtually no wake at full or near full throttle. Not permitted!

To further the definition of No Wake Zone, in most states, and I looked up Louisiana and it is the same, is defined as (not verbatim) "as slow an operating speed as to maintain control and create no wake". I can find no definition of wake in Louisiana Law, not even in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Now there are two issues: 1) What is a safe speed to control your Trawler? 2) By the true definition of wake, no object can go through the water without creating a wake! (fluid dynamics)

I have been in areas where there is very sticky "speed/wake" enforcement. While using a 40' cruiser in those areas, I simply popped it in and out of gear. Still o.k. control and the smallest wake possible. A few years later the "No Wake Zone" was removed, right after the death of a local judge. Suppose there was any correlation to the two events?

The other option might be to spend a lot of money and fight it... or armed with the definition of "fluid dynamics" ask the state to define wake and begin ticketing state boats who go through the speed zone, for creating a wake... since they have no definition of their own!

I'm sure your solution is much better than any I would have, but it sorta sound like to me your, "getting into a piss'n match with a skunk". jus say'n
Jay

Agreed!

fixx
 

like everywhere ellse in the u.s,,they are trying to generate money...this time it was a warning next time they will probably throw the book at you..

Ditto here, Casey - Sunday, we were out on Tickfaw River also at Hwy 22, got pulled over, we were in a 41 SeaRay with twin diesels. LA W & F agent was cordial, but stated it was a no wake zone. Both engines were at idle in gear. After the agent came on board we took one out of gear and we were still going to fast - at that point started shifting each in and out of gear, and drifting side to side in the river. Again the agent was very professional, however not sure how slow to go

Its kinda Agervating after years of doing the same thing then one day its wrong. Not sure how fast to go also anymore. They were also nice about it. Didnt argue with them to keep the peac. They do keep there boats in the marina lol

sea anchor.....

My old Mastercraft Prostar put up a wake at idle due to being geared so low. Usually if you tell them its as slow as the boat goes they're ok with it. Doesn't sound like it in your case. You may want to seek them out next time and explain your situation to them, it may help. I would do this prior to any beers though.

In most states, in a "No wake zone", for safety reasons, you must be able to control the boat at its slowest possible speed. This takes precedence over creating a wake.

they have been bad on our side also doing the same thing....they are even on land and telling people slow down then pull them over on by hollering at them.....i heard their is a new dude on yalls side that is mr toughguy/douche and gives tickets all day on $hit like this and you cant argue with him....thats whats he wants

i keep one motor in neutral thru no wakes zones....my problem is i idle the motor in neutral up to 1200rpms so it wont load up and they think its in gear a start tripping out on me to slow down....my wake my be 5" inches

Most places I have been a No Wake Zone had a 5 mph speed limit or at idle with engines in gear to have control of your vessel

[QUOTE=MrSneakAttack;3733715]i heard their is a new dude on yalls side that is mr toughguy/douche and gives tickets all day on $hit like this and you cant argue with him....thats whats he wants

If you carry a copy of the regulations, and start to read them while they are aboard and show confidence in the regulations, these guys should back down. Most don't know the regulations very well, they just go by the last guys experience to which they were taught. If they still insist, then mention, the judge did not interpret it that way, but I will clarify once more. As the saying goes "bullies with a badge", they never learn anything correctly.

[QUOTE=97FASTech;3733733]10-4 on that......the coast gaurd comes out to our launch once a summer and does vessel inspections....i bring my boat and they inspect it then they will give paperwork that says i have my $hit together and if i do get pulled over i show the paperwork and roll on....you can also put the sticker they give but i choose not to

fixx
 

next they will be checking for seat belts...