How to handle boat wakes in harbor?

[mazilla]

Originally Posted by taggermike

Some bays are easy as they have speed limits or don't have navy or comercial traffic. Like others said stay aware of what is going on around you, lower your center of gravity, and realize you're gonna get a lap full of water no matter how you take the wake. I would recomend just getting used to your kayak first and starting in a calmer bay. Others may back me up or disagree but if you're in the outer portion San Diego Bay and one, or several, of those huge orange "sea tractor" tugs goes by you are in for an adventure. Mike

Those are the only things I look out for, even when I had my 19' PB those damned tugs would come flying by on both sides and send you for a ride!


Recently however there was this odd looking ship with a flat(almost to the waterline) deck that was hauling serious ass past a few of us near the Coronado bridge, biggest wakes I've ever been in...PB or otherwise. That thing sent people running from the ferry dock! I swear the wake was so bad it felt like it bounced off the opposite end of the bay and came back after the first set passed.