***** WAKE REMINDER *****
Just a reminder to everyone to stay far from shore if you operate a
water vehicle that creates a 24 inch or greater wake - this includes:
Ski Boats, Wake Boats, Deck Boats and Jet Skis (all watercraft).
See the ordinance passed by the Town of Hayward and info on the field study.
2021 Hayward Lakes Motorboat Wake Ordinance
Hello Everyone,
I have received a couple questions from members asking for clarification of the Town of Hayward, Wake Protection Area ordinance. The 700 foot restriction only applies to wake enhancement watercraft by use of ballast, mechanical hydrofoil(s), uneven loading or operation at transition speed.
The ordinance does not apply to other types of boats, such as fishing, water ski, pontoon, or traditional speed boat. When using these types of boats, activities such as water skiing, tubing, etc. can be enjoyed as long as the boat is operating at a distance greater then 100 feet from shore and No Wake buoys.
Have a safe and wonderful summer.
Dan Kollodge
President RLPOA
The University of Minnesota, Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory has completed the field testing evaluating the wakes produced by four different recreational boats. RLPOA contributed to this study. The full report, A Field Study of Maximum Wave Height, Total Wave Energy, and Maximum Wave Power Produced by Four Recreational Boats on a Freshwater Lake (120 pages) can be found here.
The Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership is sponsoring a free virtual (online) presentation on the report by two of its primary authors on April 26, 2022. In recent years, with the growth of recreational boating activities, there has been growing concern over boat-generated waves and propeller wash and their environmental impacts to lakes and rivers. The research reported here was motivated by a need to better understand the characteristics (i.e., height ,energy, and power) of wakes and waves produced by common recreational boats. Four boats were evaluated. Two of the boats were typical recreational boats (i.e., non-wakesurf) that are commonly used for tow sports like tubing, waterskiing, and wakeboarding, and the other two boats were wakesurf boats designed specifically for the sport of wakesurfing. Testing involved operating each boat at four distances from the shoreline (225 ft., 325 ft., 425 ft., and 625 ft.) under various conditions (e.g., speed, ballast weight, trim setting, etc.). The data show clear differences in wake wave characteristics between the non-wakesurf and wakesurf boats and can be used to inform boat operational distances necessary to attenuate wave heights, energies, and powers to levels deemed acceptable.