{"id":25,"date":"2022-11-10T14:41:37","date_gmt":"2022-11-10T14:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/?page_id=25"},"modified":"2023-06-20T14:12:53","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T18:12:53","slug":"science","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/?page_id=25","title":{"rendered":"Science"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Each of the recommended rule changes included in the RWVL petition<\/a> to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is supported by science. Here is a summary of each:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Keep wake surfing 1000 feet from the shore<\/strong>.
The three leading researchers on wave action and water quality, who have measured the effects of wake-surfing on lakes, all recommend that such boats operate far from shore. Jeffrey Marr of the University of Minnesota recommends “over 600 feet;” Yves Prairie of the University of Quebec, and Sebastien Raymond of the University of Laval, both recommend “at least 300 meters (984 feet).” (For details see the RWVL petition<\/a> pages 13-24.)

Numerous studies have measured wakes produced by wake surfing boats and how they decrease with distance. Wakes consist of a series of individual waves referred to as a \u201cwave train.\u201d The most important wave train parameters include maximum wave height; total wave train energy; and peak wave train power. Power is considered the most important parameter because of its harmful and destructive impact on the shoreline, other boaters, swimmers, water quality, and wildlife. Key studies in this area include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wave Power \u2013 A Simple Analysis <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defining boat wake impacts on shoreline stability toward management and policy solutions<\/a>

The most recent research, conducted at the St. Anthony\u2019s Falls Laboratory<\/a> at the University of Minnesota, measured the wave energy of a wake-surfing boat at 500 feet from shore to be twice<\/em><\/strong> that on a water ski boat at the same distance. An offset of 500 feet is not enough to dissipate the harmful energy of a surfing wake. The wake boat would need to be 1000 feet from shore to be safe.

Digging deeper into the science, Vermont rules currently call for any motor boat going more than 5 miles an hour to stay at least 200 feet from shore, docks, boaters, swimmers, and moored boats. The University of Minnesota study<\/a> measured the power of wake boat wakes, compared with normal waterski boat wakes, at various distances from the shore. The study found that a wake boat 600 feet from shore (the furthest they measured) exerted more destructive power than a waterski boat at 200 feet. Extrapolating the Minnesota data, we conclude that the wake boat would need to be at least 700 to 1000 feet from shore before its wave power equalled that of a normal waterski boat at 200 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Note that at 500 feet from shore, the wave energy from a wake surf boat is twice that of a normal motorboat 200 feet from shore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Another study on Lakes Memphremagog and Lovering conducted by the University of Quebec<\/a> measured the wave power of a ballasted wake boat at 11 miles per hour, and an unballasted boat traveling at waterski speed of 30 miles per hour, at various distances from shore. They found that a wake boat at 656 feet (the furthest they measured) exerted twice<\/strong><\/em> the destructive power of a ski-type boat at the same distance. Extrapolating the Quebec data, we conclude that the wake boat would need to be at least 1000 feet from shore for its wave energy to dissipate to normal levels, and at least 700 feet from shore before its wave power equalled that of a normal waterski boat at 200 feet. The authors of this study recommended to the Canadian authorities that wake surfing should be allowed only in waters 984 (300 meters) feet from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Turbulent Kinetic Energy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A study conducted on the Willamette River in Oregon by Tasmanian researcher Gregory Macfarlane also measured the wave height of a surfing boat at 400 feet to be twice<\/em><\/strong> that of a ski boat at the same distance. Partly as a result of this study, the authorities in Oregon have banned wake surfing completely from a 25-mile stretch of the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Willamette River Study<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All three studies used older wake boats that were lighter, carried less ballast, and ran less powerful engines than the wake boats currently being sold. Because the trend toward heavier and more powerful wake boats is likely to continue, and because Vermont\u2019s current 200-foot shoreline safety zone has proven inadequate in preventing shoreline damage as well as near-shore water quality degradation, we conclude that wake surfing on Vermont Lakes should be restricted to areas at least 1000 feet from shore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trend toward heavier and more powerful wake boats<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n