Have you ever been on a boat and looked at the wake it leaves behind? That large, imposing wave used for activities like wakeboarding? Boat wakes are created when the boat pushes the water out from underneath it, and this displaced water creates the wake. The size of the wake depends on a variety of factors, including the speed and weight of the boat. In this article, we will explore what affects the wake!
Boat Size and Hull Shape
The size of the boat is, of course, going to affect the size of the wake. A small speedboat is not going to create as large of a wake as a huge yacht. But it’s not just the overall size that matters – the hull shape is important too.
The hull is the body of the boat, and it comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. A long, slender hull will create a different wake than a short, wide hull. These can also be called “displacement hulls” or “planing hulls”, with a displacement hull creating the larger wake behind it. The more water that is being displaced the larger the wake will be.
Speed Affects The Wake
Certain areas of water referred to as “no wake zones” focus on reducing the speed in the area to help minimize the wake from passing boats. While the general idea is that the faster you go the more water you displace, this isn’t always necessarily the case.
Because higher speeds can lift the boat slightly more out of the water, sometimes the wake behind a fast-moving boat can be smaller than that of a slower boat. If you’re going for the perfect wake for watersports it is usually best to give signals back and forth with the rider to find that sweet spot.
Weight and Position of Passengers and Cargo
The more weight and cargo on board the deeper the boat will sit in the water and cause the wake to be larger. Not only does the additional weight help to make a bigger wake, but where it is positioned plays a role too.
If the weight seems to be shifted towards the back of the boat, then the wake will be larger and have more of a “V” shape to it. If the weight is shifted towards the front, then the wake will be smaller but wider.
Experimenting with different speeds and positions of weight on board can help you find that perfect wake for whatever activity you’re looking to do! It also helps to make sure you have a full tank at the start of the day. Not only will this give you more time to enjoy the water, but it will also increase your cargo weight.
Boat Wakes and Water Depth
Finally, water depth will alter the wake slightly as well. While in most situations this may not be super noticeable, to get the best wake you’ll want to make sure the water is at least 20ft deep. If the water is shallower than 20ft, this can mess with the wave’s displacement capabilities and alter the output of your wake.
How Does Wake Size Affect Boat Performance?
The size of your wake can have a big impact on your boat’s performance. A larger wake means more resistance for your boat to push against, which can slow you down. Smaller wakes mean less resistance, so your boat will be able to move faster. The perfect wake size depends on what you’re using your boat for. If you’re just cruising around the lake try and shoot for a small wake, but if you are looking to try out some new tricks on your wakeboard shoot for that perfect wake.