Wake Boats -- A threat to our lakes

This information is provided to help the public understand the effects of artificially enhanced wakes caused by wake boats.

 What is a wake boat? Wake boats are boats designed to create big waves – waves far larger than created by even the largest ski and fishing boats now on our lakes. Wake boats make waves so large that they can be surfed without a tow rope, like waves in an ocean.

Are wake boats always a problem? No, when operated in deep water on large lakes, far from shore and smaller boats, wake boats meet acceptable environmental and safety standards.

How large are the waves created by wake boats – Typically up to 4’ high. Wake boats now in development such as the Gigawave generate waves 6’ high. Pontoons are being developed to create such wakes as well.

How much do wake boats cost?  From $60,000 up to $200,000 for a new boat.

Why are wake boats a special difficulty for our lakes?  This area’s spectacular lakes are typically shallow, relatively small, have natural shorelines and soft lakebeds. Wake boats are not suited for our lakes. They create waves far larger than waves from wind or from ski boats. The lakebed scouring is vastly greater than with other boats whose propellers aim out, not down.

Aren’t wake boats just a slightly larger challenge than other boats? No, wake boats present major new threats:

1)    The biggest waves our lakes have seen – Wake boats make much more powerful waves than ski boats. A ski boat is designed to ride on a plane atop the water, making the smallest wake possible. A wake boat does the opposite – it is designed with ballast tanks to tilt the stern down to maximize water displacement and plow through the water, throwing up huge waves. It deploys special fins to maximize wave height and shape.

2)    Lakebed scouring – Wake boats are designed with the propeller angled downward under the boat, a full 4’ below the surface. This directs a jet of prop wash scouring  the lakebed 20’ deep! This results in mixing centuries of sediment accumulation back into the water. Think aiming a fire hose at the lake bottom.

What else does lakebed scouring affect? Lakebed scouring is a catastrophe for our pristine lakes. Scouring:

1)    Churns sediment making the lake murky, destroying or silting up fish spawning areas, harming feeding by loon, otters, muskies, walleye and other sight-feeding fish

2)    Reintroduces phosphorus and nutrients that have settled to the lakebed over thousands of years. This promotes algae blooms.

3)    Reintroduces mercury and other heavy metals from the lakebed

4)    Tears up aquatic vegetation, creating opportunities for aquatic invasives.

What about invasives? Wake boats use lake water as ballast. It must be pumped out each time the boat leaves, but several gallons are always retained in the tanks. Thus, the ballast tanks mix water from the previous lake into each new lake the wake boat enters.

Are wake boats a threat to loons? Yes, particularly from late May to early July when loons nest. The large waves wash over and destroy loon nests in reed beds or on shore just inches above the water level. Also, the increased murkiness of water churned by wake boat prop wash decreases the ability of loons to feed. 

What other complications do wake boats create? Very large wakes present a risk for fishermen, canoes, kayaks, sailboats, paddleboards, swimmers, and water skiers. When a wake boat operates, paddle boarders, kayakers, canoers and swimmers must often get off the lake. There has even been a pontoon boat that was swamped by a wakeboat’s wake.

Do wake boats affect fishing?  Absolutely!  A musky fisherman cannot stand in a boat and cast.  A person fishing the shoreline had his anchor lifted off the lakebed and he and his boat were thrown on the shoreline.

But can’t wake boats be safely used in the middle of a lake? Most Vilas County lakes have little or no area more than 500’ from shore and have shallow regions throughout the lake. There is simply not enough room or depth to allow wake boats to operate without tearing up the shore and lake bottom and creating a risk to others hoping to enjoy the lake.

Do existing Wisconsin laws protect the lakebed, vegetation, loon nests etc from wake boats?

No. Wisconsin statutes protect people, docks and personal property from excessive wakes. No Wisconsin law protects the shore from huge waves created by wake boats. No Wisconsin law protects the lakebed from being torn up by the downward prop wash of a wake boat with ballast tanks full. 

If an ordinance is passed to create limits on the size of waves created by wake boats, what about the folks who have already bought them? The proposed ordinance targets deliberately enhanced waves. Wake boats could continue to operate like any other safely operated watercraft.

Don’t we lose our economic activity by restricting wake boats? The economy of Vilas and Oneida counties is driven by pristine lakes with great fishing, swimming and boating. If we lose that, we lose everything. Destroy our attractive lakes, and even wake boats will no longer come here.