Name:   Buteye - Subject:   Blame the human, not the machine Date:   5/20/2020 2:07:55 AM (updated 5/20/2020 2:14:55 AM)

On your reference to Moonbranch, is that the location where this incident occurred? My lake house is on Moonbranch and I am located close to the end of the slough. The entire slough from where it comes off the main part of the lake to the end of the slough is a "favorite" of wake surfers, wave runners (PWC's), tubers, and the like who seem to think that the people on the shore are their "spectators" and that they are putting on a "show" in much the same way that "race car drivers" thrill their spectators in the stands. They fail to realize thae the people who own homes on the slough are there to enjoy the many "different" forms of fun that are available on the lake. We families have children and grandchildren who enjoy swimming in the water off their dock, and the grandchildren as well as adults enjoy lounging on their "lily pads", paddling their kayaks and paddle boards, etc. It is almost impossible to enjoy these "fun filled activities" when the water front that "homeowners" have paid "dearly" is practically "unusable". It is admirable that both you and Martini find places to enjoy your "wake" boats in areas of the lake where there are no home owners. In my case, there are actually two large sloughs just pass the entry to Moonbranch where they can enjoy their "fun" without upsetting those who live on the lake. It just so happens that Still Waters Condominiums are just straight across the lake from Moonbranch and it seems that Moonbranch is their slough of "choice". At one time Lake Martin was the largest manmade "fresh water" lake in the World. With a 44,000 reservoir and over 750 miles of wooded shoreline, surely there is sufficient water for "wake" boats without resorting to water where there are homeowners, where they can damage privately owned properties and when used in an "unsafe" manner can endanger the "safety" and "lives" of people who are trying to enjoy  the lake.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Last summer there was a rather lengthy discussion on "wake boats" which contained several stories about some of the complaints that were being voiced about the "waves" being generated by this new form of boating. I recall one case where a wave runner was actually "washed" off the lift it was on and came to a landing on the dock. Other cases were mentioned where boats were in the water and tied off to the dock and were "ripped" loose from their mooring.

it is also very irritating if you are just taking a short break from your wave runner(PWC) or whatever "watercraft" you may be using, you must anchor it in such a way that an unsuspecting "wake" will not "slam" it on shore. In many cases that means putting your boat back on the "lift" even if it is only going to be a few minutes before you will be boarding it again. It is also difficult when "friends" show up in their boats to be able to "tie" off without worrying about damage that might occur to their boat or the dock if "without warning" an oversized "wake" appears. I think that "one" thing that people fail to acknowldge about the presence of "wake" boats is not the results of just 'one" boat, but it is the damage that is done over a "long" period of time. The continuing "pounding" of waves will damage any structure. Also, it is not just the long term damage to "property", the "wakes" cause  a "lasting" erosion of the "shoreline".