Monday, December 27, 2010
How fast is too fast?
We have several different speed limits in the Swan River upstream of the Narrows Bridge and downstream of Blackwall Reach but perhaps we need to adopt one uniform speed limit, aside from designated jetski and ski locations? The wake from boats pound the beaches, seawalls, boats in pens and smaller craft on the river so what if it was an 8 Knot blanket speed for power boats (and sail boats under power) to stop the wash and save a few million litres of fuel? After all isnt the journey as important as the destination? What is the rush do we really count saved minutes as being the difference between a good or bad day? I think knot!
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New South Wales has these designated No Wash Zones where boat owners have to control their wash to ensure no wash is created by their boat. Could be useful in Perth too?
ReplyDeleteBoat Wash and No Wash Zones
Boat wash is the turbulence created by your boat as it moves through the water. Wash size and influence is affected by the amount of water your boat displaces, the boats speed, it’s planing attitude and other factors such as water depth. This means that a large cruiser moving through the water at 8 knots will displace a large amount of wash - big enough to capsize small dinghies, damage moored boats and contribute to foreshore erosion. A high performance ski boat, however, will create almost no wash when it is planing.
NO WASH signs are placed in areas where wash from vessels can cause damage, injury or annoyance to other vessels, the shoreline or people. Every vessel operator must comply with these signs.
The way you achieve this will depend on the type of boat you are driving, however if in doubt about your vessel’s wash it is recommended that you take the following action:
as you approach the restricted area, reduce speed;
at the start of the "NO WASH" zone, take your engine(s) out of gear;
put the engine(s) back in gear and proceed with the engines giving just enough speed to provide you with steering control; and
look behind you occasionally, to see if your boat is creating wash. If it is slow down - at a speed just above idle, no boat will produce wash.
When you see a "NO WASH" sign and a speed limit sign, do not automatically assume that you can travel at the maximum speed indicated. It may be necessary for you to travel at a slower speed to ensure your boat is not creating wash.