I BOAT NY HARBOR -WAKES

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The following will be covered on this page:

 

Your Wakes

from http://www.zipcon.net/stdale/pogo.jpg

If your boat creates a significant wake, you should be aware of wake-sensitive areas in the harbor.  Your wake could cause damage or injury at :

  • Launch ramps - boater securing boat to trailer

  • Marinas - ramps, cleats, and floating docks

  • Launch floats - kayaker launching kayak

  • Historic vessels -  hull, rudder and topsides

  • Water programs - kids in a water-based science program

  • Construction sites - workers and divers

 

Wake-sensitive areas in NY Harbor


 

 

  No Wake Zones

There are No Wake Zones on the Harlem River and 200' off New Jersey pier heads and 100' off New York pier heads.Use the controls in the upper left corner to zoom in or out and to pan around the map. Select the yellow no wakes zone areas for more information:

 

 

When approaching a wake-sensitive area, no-wake zone or 5 mph area, you should slow down to a no-wake speed WELL BEFORE the area since your V-shaped wake fans out in a forward direction.

http://www.boatoregon.com/Library/WatchWake.pdf

from http://www.montauksportfishing.com/Wake.html

from http://www.mccuddys.com/sitebuilder/images/Wake2-754x955-800x1418.jpg

 

  Their Wakes

Avoid Zephyr - one of the largest wakes in the Harbor

 

There are over 2400 wakes-producing trips in NY Harbor on a typical weekday.  These wakes reinforce each other and the reflective bulkheads of NY Harbor, a "wide canal", further reinforce the wakes.   Over 2000 wakes daily are from commuter ferries:

from http://www.worldshipny.com/nycferries2.htm

 

  Ferry Terminals and Routes

Use the controls in the upper left corner to zoom in or out and to pan around the map. Select the place marks for more terminals information:

 

 

and you should try to avoid the area extending between the Holland Tunnel and the Brooklyn Bridge, known as the Manhattan Maelstrom,  during ferry rush periods:

Following are tips for crossing wakes:

  • Keep all persons off the foredeck.  It's dangerous (and illegal) for kids to be dangling their legs over the bow when a boat's underway but in NY Harbor, it's an accident waiting to happen.

  • Announce the wake to your passengers:  "Wake coming on a count of three.........One, Two, Three".

  • Approach the wake either at a 45 degree angle or at an angle with the bow flare tangent or parallel to the wake. Heading straight in to a wake will cause your boat to pound or hobby-horse and taking the wake on your beam will cause your boat to roll.

 from http://www.boatoregon.com/Library/WatchWake.pdf

  • For a moderate wake, throttle back to raise your bow.  As you pass over the final wave of the wake, throttle up to lower your bow again.

  • For large wakes and rogue wakes, throttle down to idle speed until through the wake.

  • If you're in a multiple wakes area, keep your crew and passengers seated until you clear the area.

        from http://www.geocities.com/palmbeachboating/wakes.html

        from http://www.boatingandfishing.com/stories.cfm?NewsFile=/NewsArchive/062906/wl6.htm

Vessels passing W. 79th St Boat Basin - June, 2006

 

 

The Effects of Wakes

In 2004, the Safe Wakes coalition conducted the COWPONY (Costs of Wakes in the Port Of New York) survey:

 

 

 

Wakes Damages - Marinas

 

Use the controls in the upper left corner to zoom in or out and to pan around the map. Select the blue place marks for more detailed wakes damages information for each marina.

 

 

Wakes Injuries

 

Use the controls in the upper left corner to zoom in or out and to pan around the map. Select the red place marks for more detailed wakes injuries information.

 

 

 

 

Wakes Complaints

 

Use the controls in the upper left corner to zoom in or out and to pan around the map. Select the green place marks for more detailed wakes complaints information.

 

Wakes Damages Examples

October, 2006 - W. 79th St Boat Basin - Donzi tender secured alongside megayacht "Summerwind" - wake during night tore out starboard bow cleat and surrounding fibreglas - repair of $1075

Donzi

Port bow cleat

Starboard bow cleat after a wake

 

 

How to Submit a Wakes Complaint

To submit a wakes complaint, you need the following - Date and time, Vessel causing wake, Location, Course vessel was traveling, Resulting damage and/or injuries, and Comments.

For large vessels, the vessel's name can be obtained from the following map. Note that smaller vessels may not be shown and the position, speed and direction of the vessel may be 5 - 10 minutes old. Use the controls in the upper left corner to zoom in or out and to pan around the map. Click on a vessel to obtain its name, speed, course, etc.

from marinetraffic.com

For smaller ferries, obtain the route from the company's website schedule and the time of the incident.

Once you've obtained the vessel's name or route, you can submit the following information:

  • Date and time,
  • Vessel causing wake,
  • Location,
  • Course vessel was traveling,
  • Any damage and/or injuries,
  • Description of incident.

to:

Please cc: [email protected] so that the wakes incidents charts and spreadsheets can be updated with your incident.

If you're dissatisfied with the response, you can forward the message directly to:

NY Waterway ferry with wake
NY Waterway
Allen Warren
   
East River Ferry
East River Ferry
Paul Goodman
   
NY Water Taxi
NY Water Taxi
Bill Buckley
   
Seastreak ferry
Seastreak
Jack Bevins
   
Circle Line
Circle Line
Mike Duffy
   
Statue Cruises
Statue Lines
Mike Burke
   
Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island Ferry
John Garvey
or 311
 
Fireboat 343
Fireboat 343
Brian Curran
311
 
DEP sludge ship
DEP sludge ship
Carter Strickland
311
 
 

OtherNYC Vessels

   
311
 
Moran tug
Moran Tug
Peter Keyes
  203.442.2839  
McAllister tug
McAllister Tug
Steven Kress
(718) 273-6300
 
Reinauer tug
Reinauer Tug
Craig Reinauer
718-816-8167
 
USCG 211
US Coast Guard
LCDR Anne Morrissey
   

Please cc: [email protected] so that the wakes incidents charts and spreadsheets can be updated with your incident.

 

How to Submit a Wakes Claim

LEGALLY, A VESSEL IS LIABLE FOR  ALL DAMAGES AND INJURIES CAUSED BY ITS WAKE

If available, you should have pictures, videos and cost estimates in addition to the above wakes complaint infomation.

 

For More Infomation on the NY Harbor Wakes Problem, see:

Home Plan Your Route No Boating Areas Boat Handling Wakes
Using VHF & Phone Emergencies Weather Currents & Tides Fuel Docks
Pumpouts Harbor Events Marinas & Boathouses Other Resources Op-Ed
Buy & Sell Feedback About Us    

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