Wake Jumping

[RoyalFlush@PCB]

Another thread got me thinking about this. Last year I was pulled over and given the "riot act" for jumping a boat's wake. Luckily I was not ticketed, but was told that it was illegal to jump boat wakes, period. I still like to jump the bigger boats wake as they come and go from our pass, especially when the Gulf is flat like it has been lately. I found this info from FWC's (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) website and plan to find out what our local water cops think of it.

The section that pertains to this is under PERSONAL WATERCRAFT REGULATIONS and states,

"Maneuvering a personal watercraft by weaving through congested vessel traffic, jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably close or when visibility around the vessel is obstructed, or swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision is classified as reckless operation of a vessel (a first-degree misdemeanor)."

My take on this is that I can jump a boat's wake as long as

a) I am not unreasonably close to the vessel that produced the wake.
b) There is not an obstructed view around the vessel.

Here's the website: http://myfwc.com/boating/safety/law_summary.htm

Comments?!? :biggrin:

 

[FLY6584]

In my opinion if they see you jumping a wake they are going to screw you over no matter what. You could bring that reg up, but its still at their discretion if they thought you were being reckless. I'm pretty sure its their opinion on whether you were being reckless or not.

Listen to this. I was out there other day hitting a yachts wake when the yacht actually drove up to a cop after I was done and told him that I and another guy were jumping his wake. Luckily the cop passed by me and nailed the guy on the 3 seater. Talk about a huge prick.

Oh well I made it out ok.

 

[Matt_E]

The law reads very similar here in WA. I have never been hassled, and I used to jump the sheriff's boat wake.
The way I see it, as long as I am a couple hundred feet from the boat and don't act like an ass, I am lawful.

 

[RoyalFlush@PCB]

In my opinion if they see you jumping a wake they are going to screw you over no matter what.

I hear ya'. But I'm just stupid enough to try it out and take their ticket to court. :sneaky:

 

[RoyalFlush@PCB]

The way I see it, as long as I am a couple hundred feet from the boat and don't act like an ass, I am lawful.

That's what I'm talking about....:Banane01:

 

[Kny21]

check you state regs & laws on the subject... but for the areas I ride I know for a fact you have to be 100+ ft from the boat of the wake you are jumping.

might be dated but go to page 40.

http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/Nasbla_Ref_Guide_6.pdf

 

[Matt_E]

Know the law and be able to recite it. A lot of times, the officer in question does not know the full detail of the law.

 

[The Penguin]

Know the law and be able to recite it. A lot of times, the officer in question does not know the full detail of the law.

the hell with that -

print the regulation
laminate it
stick it with your registration card (we have a card we have to carry on the boat in TX)
whip it out as needed

 

[Mark44]

I tested our water patrol last weekend up on the Mississippi. A patrol came cruising by slow and steady in his 32’ scarab, real nice wake so I let him get about 100 -150 feet past me then went and got some real nice air off his wake. He watched me slowed up looked around but never came to give me a talking to instead he told one of my buddies he couldn’t see the numbers on his ski clearly. All in all I guess it was ok to do.

Mark44

 

[xxx2]

Sounds like to me you need to find out what consider "unreasonably close" and what defines an "obstucted view".You need to get it on paper *(try to get it signed by someone) laminate it, and keep it on your ski, I see the marine patrol quite regular basis so I will try to remember to ask him

*You are most likley not going to get anyone willing to help you skate by the law and sign thier sig. on it :frown:

P.S. If you get pulled for something that they think is wrong, and you try to convince them elsewise, they MAY let you slide but that's when they start checking other things I.E. FIRE extinguisher:banghead:

Best bet is when you see the water nazi's try your best to ride like a saint!:firedevil:

 

[RoyalFlush@PCB]

the hell with that -

print the regulation
laminate it
stick it with your registration card (we have a card we have to carry on the boat in TX)
whip it out as needed

That's what I was thinking...:sneaky:

 

[Mark44]

Sounds like to me you need to find out what consider "unreasonably close" and what defines an "obstucted view".You need to get it on paper *(try to get it signed by someone) laminate it, and keep it on your ski, I see the marine patrol quite regular basis so I will try to remember to ask him

*You are most likley not going to get anyone willing to help you skate by the law and sign thier sig. on it :frown:

P.S. If you get pulled for something that they think is wrong, and you try to convince them elsewise, they MAY let you slide but that's when they start checking other things I.E. FIRE extinguisher:banghead:

Best bet is when you see the water nazi's try your best to ride like a saint!:firedevil:

I will sign it for you.:biggthumpup:

Mark44

 

[SuperJETT]

It's fine to know the law and think you're legal, but it's up to interpretation since there is no distance stated (and even distances are questionable), so it's almost always up to the officer's discretion which normally isn't in your favor.

I do jump wakes, and have never been hassled about it, but I hit it like 3 waves back, never with more than 1 or 2 buddies, and never around the police, and also always try to gauge the boater's attitude, if they don't seem to be enjoying it, I bug off.

 

[Matt_E]

Language like "Unreasonably close" and such are put in there to give the ticketing officer some room for interpretation (as there should be, to some extent).
100 foot can be unreasonably close in a narrow channel with lots of traffic, where it wouldn't be on a lake.

 

[xxx2]

may help if it's from someone they know (or at least from the same area).
Chick doesn't have to worry about this though cause I am usually the one broke down so the marine patrol would be on me while he can escape safely

 

[Matt_E]

It's fine to know the law and think you're legal, but it's up to interpretation since there is no distance stated (and even distances are questionable), so it's almost always up to the officer's discretion which normally isn't in your favor.

I do jump wakes, and have never been hassled about it, but I hit it like 3 waves back, never with more than 1 or 2 buddies, and never around the police, and also always try to gauge the boater's attitude, if they don't seem to be enjoying it, I bug off.

:biggthumpup: Yup.

 

[xxx2]

WE only have a few specific marine cops here so If you could get one to state distances and regs on paper odds are the others would respect that(Or correct him)And ticket you:bs2:

 

[RoyalFlush@PCB]

Chick doesn't have to worry about this though cause I am usually the one broke down so the marine patrol would be on me while he can escape safely

Hey, hey---my ******** breaks, too. Usually with someone else on it, though.

And don't worry---when I try it, I'll have my fire extinquisher with me. :cool2:

 

[Idok]

Hey, hey---my ******** breaks, too. Usually with someone else on it, though.

And don't worry---when I try it, I'll have my fire extinquisher with me. :cool2:

either that or right before you sell it :sneaky:





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ducking and running

 

[RoyalFlush@PCB]

ducking and running

You don't have a need to duck you short F--CK. :biggrin: