Name:   PatDTN - Subject:   Large boat wakes are killing my dock. Date:   3/20/2020 9:13:16 AM

My house is up at the East/North end of the lake not too far from Walters Bridge. We've lived here for 8 years. For the first 5 years or so my shoreline was stable and a gentle slope. Then more and more inconsiderate people have been blasting up and down our small channel pushing huge wakes. I'm all for having fun on the lake but now my shoreline is cutting back into my yard and has a steep step to it. 

I used to be able to leave my pontoon to settle onto the bottom as lake levels went down in the late summer. Two years ago the boat endured such a beating from boat wakes that I now have a leak in one pontoon. I fear my floating dock will be torn apart with these wake boats and bass boats coming in. 

To some degree I think it's that people don't understand what causes the biggest wake. Folks seem to slow down to just off plane and plow down to a fishing hole or spot to sit and drink. If they stayed on plane they'd probably do less damage.

I've checked into making our channel a no wake zone but since one of the houses on our channel is a big offender that can't happen. 

Education for boaters could go a long way to helping but there doesn't seem to be a way to get the ones who really need it to take a class. Thoughts?