The beginning of the end for wakeboats in Michigan?-gctid819909

[RobMick]

These are boats are making a "splash" here in southeast Michigan. State regulators are now getting involved as damage is ever increasing from these boats on the inland lakes. As an active member of our state's Lakes and Streams Association, we already have lobbyists working to get these type of boats not only regulated but banned from certain inland lakes due to the damage that they are causing to not only the shoreline, but to personal property such as boats, lifts etc as the wakes and waves that boats produce are bigger than any wave that is produced in the fiercest of storms for these inland lakes...I see this issue growing as the popularity of the boats and the sport is continuing to grow.

Thought I would share this areticle

http://www.mymlsa.org/reports-of-wake-boat-caused-damage-to-lakefront-property-and-shorelines-in-michigan-increasing-in-frequency/

[6104696]

Though no one here has pointed the finger at wake boats in particular, boat wakes in general are causing erosion and turbidity problems for many of the Chesapeake Bay tributaries, too. It makes sense that a bigger issue could be caused inland, where storm surges and storm-driven waves are much smaller, if they exist at all....

[rbrauerei]

"6104696" post=819914 wrote:
Though no one here has pointed the finger at wake boats in particular, boat wakes in general are causing erosion and turbidity problems for many of the Chesapeake Bay tributaries, too. It makes sense that a bigger issue could be caused inland, where storm surges and storm-driven waves are much smaller, if they exist at all....

True. In some rivers and creeks of the Chesapeake, the "Mind Your Wake" or "No Wake" signs seem to attract the jet skis and, tubers, and water skiers. I live on the water and it's taken me almost four years to get the marsh grass to grow and slow the erosion damage that was being done to my shoreline by thoughtless joy riders. Of course, the previous owner did nothing to protect the shore; so, I was already behind the wake curve and there's a legacy bulkhead on the opposite shore; so, the wakes just hit that and bounce back across the creek to my shoreline.

Also, the bigger the boat on some rivers in the Chesapeake region (South and Magothy in particular), the less thought the helmsman seems to give regarding what his wake may be doing. On nice weekends, the rivers become more like a blender with conflicting wakes.

I hadn't really seen the term "wakeboat" before, but now I know what the latest purple menace must be that has appeared on my creek. Banning, unfortunately, will likely be the only effective course (with enforcement) for at risk waterways like the OP describes in MI..

[Mr._Darcy]

Another issue with wakeboarders seems to be noise. They tend to like to make big noise with the big wake. Extremely loud stereo systems blaring over the also loud engine and exhaust noise. It makes it near impossible to spend a relaxing day on the lake in a small boat. Maybe they need specially designated lakes to operate in?

Greg