Name:	Moonbrancher -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/27/2014 3:47:40 PM

Is there anything that can be done???? The wake boarding and surfing in Moonbranch are destroying our boat, lift,  dock, sea wall....can't even float because of the huge waves! Are the boat owners responsible for the damage? Help!

Name:	HP HQ -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/27/2014 9:14:42 PM

There is such a law, it's called "Responsible for your wake" and should been enforced more often! ! Same as no riding in the fast lane! !

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/27/2014 11:55:29 PM (updated 7/28/2014 12:06:32 AM)

This appears to be a very touchy subject. I share the concerns that are being expressed about the waves thst are generated from wakeboarders. I understand that the lake is for everyone to enjoy, but there are some activitiese that can become overbearing. I feel that those of us that have made an investment in a lake home deserve a little respect from others who use the lake. The constant pounding of waves from daylight to dark easily become a bit overbearing and does create a significant force of water on anything in their path. Over time the waves do take their toll. I believe that Lake Martin is large enough for those that want to wakeboard can find less populated areas of the lake for their activity and I believe that many actually do. However, it seems that many choose the long sloughs with lots of homes as if we are spectators who enjoy their presence. I have actually had wakeboarders come close enough to my dock to cut my fishing line. Don't get me wrong, while the lake is open to everyone, I think that too many come to the lake for a day or for a weekend, and don't stop to think that for many of us this is our home. In a way I look at wakeboarders the same as I would at drivers who would speed in front of my house if I lived in a residential area in the city. I know that many of you will say that I knew what to expect when I built my lake home on a long slough, but a little more concern for those of us who find ourselves in this situation will be greatly appreciated. One further comment, waverunners create similar waves, but just on a smaller scale.

Name:	ecstasypoint -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/28/2014 1:37:59 PM

You are not alone in your thoughts that some consideration from boaters would be appreciated. It does seem to me, too, like it is similar to the idea of people racing past your home on the road. It is dangerous, thoughtless, and expensive. Lots of people will jump all over you for feeling that as a homeowner and tax payer on this lake you should have some rights to being treated decently by visitors to the lake. The only thing that will change what is happening is when the homeowners ban together and insist that something be done about the destruction to our sea walls, to our property, and to the quality of our time here on the lake in our homes. I believe the day will come. In the meantime, you are not alone.

Name:	Tarpon -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/28/2014 2:34:15 PM

Having lived full time on the lake for over 12 years I can speak to the wakeboard boats, PWC, etc. that seem to be totally oblivious of the damage done to seawalls, boat moorings, etc.  It appears the boat operators are generally young people who have most likely never paid for repairs because Daddy has always done so.  Doubt the 100 foot rule on wakes really makes any difference because the energy generated by the passing watercraft travels all the way to shore, i.e. seawalls.  I would like to see areas without homes, seawalls and docks set aside for wakeboarding and seadoos.  Probably not going to happen as our population becomes more and more "it's all about me".  Someone once told me "there are boaters and there are people who own boats".  I try to tell myself that the lake is ours almost all of the time and there are really only about 10 to 12 weekends that are absolutely wild.  I would also observe that many times pontoon boats (as displacement hulls they create a large wake) just out for tour are just as guilty as the others when it comes to wakes, etc.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/28/2014 3:16:45 PM

When I wake surf we go to an area of the lake with no homes.  Docks and seawalls should be designed and maintained to account for the typical wave action of most boats but I recognize that wakesurfing causes much bigger waves and I respond accordingly.  But I do see lots of boaters that don't and I just can't understand it.  Its really common courtesy and I can say for sure that 100 feet is not enough distance for a large wake like that to dissipate.  

Similar problem I see along those lines are people pulling tubes and churning up the water in more isolated areas where you can ski and wake board.  Those activities can be done on the larger open areas of the lake where the bumps are fun and you don't disrupt others trying to ski, etc.  Same comment about common courtesy......saldy not all that common anymore.

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/28/2014 3:44:10 PM

I agree with you to some degree on the wake generated by some of the larger pontoon boats. However, generally speaking most of the pontoon boats that frequent the sloughs are sight seers and are not making run after run up and down the sloughs as the wakeboarders do. Also, I find that most of the pontoon boats are usually friendly folks who slow down as they pass by and wave to those of us on the shore. They tend to show a great deal more respect fot those of us who are sitting on the sidelines. I also agree with one of the above comments that by and large too many in our society today are guilty of the "it's all about me syndrome". It's too bad that most of those who could learn from our comments will never see what we have to say, and in most cases could care less as long as we don't intefere with their activities. Maybe we should invite them to stop by for a cool ice tea or lemonade, let them tie up to our dock, and watch how their boat absorbs the waves. "Just sayin".

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/28/2014 6:28:38 PM

Every vessel operator is absolutely responsible for any and all damage done by the wake they create.  You can pursue them in Civil court for any damages that you can prove a driver created, but the problem is the proof aspect.  In most cases it will be the communitive affect of repeated violations that will cause peirs, docks, seawalls etc to fail and not a single instance. 

Thats the law, but the reality is very few know the law as evidenced by the fact that you are a property owner and assuming a boat owner/operator also, yet you had to come here to find out if you had recourse against the offenders.  If you didn't know, do you think they know, and even if they know, do they care?  Most are totally obivlious to what the wake does past the point of their companion riding it. 

You can always set up a video camera and try to capture the offenders hull numbers along with evidence of the effects of what they leave behind and try to track them down and go through the courts to seek restitution for proavable damages.  Myself, I would build a 'potato cannon' load it with tennis balls and fire away.  A hit or even a near miss would most likely set them about finding you and then you could politely educate and inform them of their transgressions and seek a mutually beneificial compromise or you could reload and take a more effective point blank shot!  Either way they will get the message. 

Name:	btexpress -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/28/2014 6:29:37 PM

    Great idea....they park their boat at our piers while a simliar boat creates ecessive wake.  There could be some entertainment value to this suggestion.  A reality show featuring bad boaters...use "drones" to film them.  We have someone in our slough operating a large boat who "plows" through the water close in to the shoreline.  Completely "clueless"....can't wait till his house sells. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	7/29/2014 8:30:36 AM

The problem with this approach is exactly what you pointed out about the cumulative effects on the docks and proving that one boat on one day did all the damage to the dock.  I don't think that is possible and probably not even the case.  What would probably work is if the MP could stop boaters when they see them wakesurfing around homes and tell them they should do it elsewhere to avoid damage.  But that's not theor job to be etiquette police and it would be all they do all day.

As for the potato gun and tennis balls, as much as I love the idea, the first time you hit and injure someone you are probably going to end up in court and possibly jail......such is the world we live in these days.  I am wondering if maybe an education flyer mailed to registered baot owners would help.  SOmething simple and to the point about the damage that wakes can do.  Basically it is a problem that would require a broad, long term effort to get most of the boaters to be more responsible......and then there are the visitors and the kids and etc.  

I hate to say this but I suspect this is a case of life on a lake, especially on big water.  I live in a cove and don't have this issue but I plan to buy a house on better water and I will upgrade my docks for the ignoramuses so I don't have the frustration.

Name:	donnie1 -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/1/2014 2:06:16 PM

New Guy here regarding "Wake" boat.  This is our first summer in Little Kowaliga on a beautiful lot fronting Little Kowaliga and a long slough. We're "Old" skiers and were somewhat used to boat wakes, or so we thought . We are nearly washed off our dock each weekend ! We can't believe the size and number of the wakes that hit our dock and seawall. There seems to be a lot of discussion on this subject  and request for something to be done. I did some searching on the web and saw a number of lakes have made any boat that is built to increase the wake illegal on specific lakes. In other words any boat with a means to make larger wakes such as adding water, weights, or wedges can no longer be used on these lakes. In addition specific areas in open water have been designated as the only "wake" boat legal areas.

We have a "Special Needs" Grand Child that loves to swim but is unable to swim off our dock for fear of being washed under the dock itself. Safety is always a concern but these "Wake" boats really increase the danger.

Often times The only way things get changed is to develop a group of concerned property owners and start a movement.  I know we're all tired of govenrment overreach , but protecting life and property cannot be overstated !

donnie1

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/2/2014 6:19:17 AM (updated 8/2/2014 6:32:04 AM)

You, along with a few others here, remind me of the folks that buy under the final approach course of an airport and then want the airport shut down. Most that have wake boats use them responsibly (no, I don't own one now but i did at one time).  I've been on the lake (also in the Kowaliga area) and this forum a long time and have heard folks complain about jetskis, big boats, fast boats, wake boats, tubers, skiers, surfers,  fishermen, and even pontoon boats. It's a public lake and we property owners and all users need to deal with that fact. Waves and wakes are part of living on a lake and you need to adapt rather than expecting the lake to adapt to you. Yes, there are a few true abusers, but in reality it's minimal. Yes, I'm guessing all of us could be a little more careful at times. But, a large portion of (percieved) abuse is in the eye of the beholder. I agree with MM that education is always a good thing, but in reality there isn't a huge problem. The supposed problems many are complaing about could only truely be solved by restricting the lake to "idle only" by all boats, and thats not going to happen (and shouldn't happen).

Name:	donnie1 -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/4/2014 2:51:56 PM

Safety is not a joke , "buying in glide path of airport". The lake has had three serious injuries very recently and all three resulted in airlifts. Having a wakeboard boat come with 37 feet of  dock is not responsible,,,,. and it's not just a few operators. The slough by us has a super wide opening, hundreds of feet, there is no reason to cut the corner to within  feet of a dock or home. The boats continue down the slough where it gets very narrow.  There is no reason whatsover make the lake "Idle Only" .  My son and i do Wakeboard as well as the rest of the family. There are ways to do it safely.

Name:	HARRY -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/4/2014 3:02:12 PM

You must have your head in the sand. This is a huge problem in many areas. The potential for damage is there regardless of what eye beholds it. Question...Do you ever see wake boats plowing in front of their own place?

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/5/2014 4:52:11 AM (updated 8/5/2014 4:53:39 AM)

I didn't joke about safety and I stand by what I said....maybe read it again and give it some thought. If you don't understand this now or at some point in the future, you will probably end up like one of the many that decides lake life isn't for them. I live here year around and there are only a few dozen days every year with heightened activity.... we may even live on the same slough because what you describe sounds a lot like where I live. Yes, the serious accidents we occasionally have are unfortunate and there are a few every year; some years we have a few fatalities they could probably be prevented (most are either at the rock or are after dark and involve drinking). As I said, we all can probably be more careful at times. But, when you look at the big picture, the safety record on Lake Martin is very good. To put it in perspective, there have been 6958 injuries and 293 fatalities on Alabama highways in 2014 at the time of this post....the number will likely be higher by the time you read this.

Safety and lake enjoyment IS largely a matter of  perspective. For instance, we typically chose to stay close to port or go find a private cove on the busy days. On week days we do things differently. Others mix it up on the busy days and seem to do fine. Do what you feel comfortable with and protect your own as you see fit; you really can't control others. This type of philosophy will go a long way in promoting your lake enjoyment.

If your sea wall is really getting damaged, it wasn't built correctly for the given conditions. Same with your pier. Your sea wall, dock, and property will get wave action with or without boats. Over the years, I've seen some storms that make wake boats look like childsplay. Yes, there will occasionaly be someone that comes closer than you wish to your dock, but it is a public lake and that is not "your water".  Plan accordingly. Education may help improve this, but it won't ever stop it..... and a "safe distance" is an arbitrary number given any number of contributing factors.

Name:	btexpress -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/5/2014 6:13:35 PM

  You did okay till you made a comparison to auto accidents.  Get real....Aso, seawalls, docks and marine vessels can only take so much pounding.  The vast majority of homeowners don't expect ten foot waves being created by a single boat.  Just once I would like to see a wakeboard boat owner park at my pier while another one operates in the vicinity.  But as you stated it is not every day or even every weekend event...last weekend we had renters next door with a pontoon boat towing from the pier directly torward mine then swerving at the last possible moment.  Can't regulate stupidity.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/6/2014 2:05:51 AM (updated 8/6/2014 2:25:35 AM)

You did OK (well, not really) until you said 10 foot waves. I've been around a long time and never seen anything that size on Lake Martin (you haven't either).....the only thing close was caused by nature and no boats were a factor. A properly built sea wall will take any wave action this lake can deliver other than a serious act of nature. Piers and floating docks will degrade with time. Boats will get banged up if not properly cared for.

....and whats wrong with a comparison to auto accidents?....Everyone writes auto accidents off as expected damage when in reality they are very similar to lake accidents and abuse. I'm always looking out for the driver that might kill me and I do the same on the lake. You can't control what the minority of crazies do on the roads and you can't do it on the lake either. It won't ever happen. Most do the right thing, but accidents still happen. Some accidents happen when people are just haveing fun or going about their business in a reasonable manner.  Look out for yourself and be smart.

Name:	donnie1 -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/6/2014 4:28:05 PM

Keep in mind, these giant wakes aren't by accident. Just got off a leading boat manuf site claiming this. Delivers World Class Wakes, deep V-Wake hull, surf gate, Power Wedge, 1450 lbs of extra weight and you get Meaty Wakes, The Wakes Are Killer! Thats good to know the wakes are "Killer" as you Surf thru a narrow slough of homes making a giant wake.

Name:	ecstasypoint -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/7/2014 12:47:11 PM

Donni, you are not alone in your thoughts. I disagree with the airport comparison so often brought up on the forum. The airport traffic is handled by controllers. Our situation is more like if there were no traffic controllers and any nimrod could decide where and how to land at will. If you had bought a home near an airport and over the course of time unregulated pilots became less and less courteous with less and less regard to the damage they cause, then you would have a comparison. Regardless of proclamations to the opposite, what is going on is not ok and will eventually be curtailed. When we get serious about it, we can start figuring out how.

Name:	donnie1 -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/7/2014 2:58:56 PM

Agree totally,,, it will take some investments in time and  $$$$ .. The Go fast big boat ban happened. So there is a way to do it. One issue will be the people supporting the Ban on Go Fast wakes may  oppose limiting the size of  other wakes., at least that will be entertaining to watch.   We love to watch the kids on the wake boards, so ban is not the right phrase. Limiting the  Wake Enhancement  devices that create giant wakes is the approach taken on other lakes for starters. It looks like there are a number of folks that are concerned enough to get serious.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/7/2014 5:57:10 PM (updated 8/7/2014 6:18:39 PM)

More governmental control. Yeah, thats the ticket; the new and improved way of making the USA stronger and better!......and it's even more ridiculous when proposed by hypocritical self proclaimed conservatives who only want governmental control when it's to their benefit at the exclusion of others. If you're a liberal, at least I understand it as part of your misguided (in my opinion) core values.

We have plenty of laws on the books. If someone is truely being unlawful, they should be stopped. Get videos and contact the marine police. Limiting boats that offend you is not the answer. Your energy will be much better spent if you focus on tolerance, education, and enforcment of current laws when justified.

Name:	Leadawg -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/10/2014 7:06:50 PM (updated 8/10/2014 7:13:25 PM)

I can't help but laugh @ all the comments (Wakes on Lake). Reminds me of the "Lady" laying on the float in the Pool ..............

that says: "Don't splash me" or "Get my hair wet".   :)

BTW ...... don't own a Wake Board Boat @ my age. I've seen Mother Nature make more "Wakes" than boats !!

Name:	HARRY -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/10/2014 11:03:47 PM

You along with others missed the point. Can't do anything about Mother Nature. The others we can

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/11/2014 9:31:22 PM

And we KNOW you missed the point......KCCO brother, life is good.

Name:	Leadawg -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/12/2014 4:21:00 PM

I didn't miss any point about Complainer's, Safety, people that OWN their lake area, negitive or postive! As some have said, there's already a WAKE LAW in effect.  :) 

Name:	Mikcle -	Reply
Subject:	Wake Board Boats
Date:	8/24/2020 1:47:38 PM

I would recommend to know the difference between distance and displacement...