Producing no wake and not exceeding 5 MPH.
"No wake speed" under North Carolina boating law means operating a vessel at a speed that does not create a wake. This is typically a slow speed that allows the vessel to move without causing waves that could disturb other watercraft, shorelines, or wildlife.
It is essentially the same as headway speed, or "no wake" speed. The minimum speed necessary to maintain forward motion and steering control.
25 feet
no wake speed
I had a friend get a ticket for "no wake" or "idle speed" in Virginia. He was told that Idle Speed is the slowest speed that you can go and maintain control of the boat. I guess if you have an steamship, you can go a little faster than a 14 foot Jon boat.
All vessels operating within the no wake area shall be operated at idle speed. "Idle speed" shall mean the lowest speed at which a vessel can operate, maintain safe steerage, and minimize the production of a wake that could unreasonably interfere with or endanger other persons, property, or water-borne vessels.
The minimum speed under which headway can be made and steering control can be maintained. This produces little to no wake, protecting shorelines from artificial erosion. Typically this is 3 to 5 knots, or more in a current.
No wake speed varies from state to state. In Arizona, the term used is wakeless speed. It is defined as "a speed that does not cause the watercraft to create a wake, but in no case in excess of five miles per hour." The general interpretation is that if your watercraft creates such a wake that it breaks, or otherwise generates what is called "white water", or water that has been disturbed enough that it creates bubbles or visible waves of any size, you are traveling above no wake speed. If you place your watercraft engine in gear, and add no additional engine speed once the propeller engages, you should be traveling at an adequate speed to not generate a wake; idle speed. I would say this could be from 600-800 engine RPM's. Check your specific state's boating laws, however, to find the correct interpretation of no wake or wakeless speed in your state.
In most cases, it is legal for a vessel to travel at speeds greater than "slow no wake" speed, as long as it is within the designated speed limit for that area and the operator maintains a safe speed based on conditions. It is important to be aware of and abide by local regulations regarding speed limits for boating to ensure safety for all waterway users.
No wake speed varies from state to state. In Arizona, the term used is wakeless speed. It is defined as "a speed that does not cause the watercraft to create a wake, but in no case in excess of five miles per hour." The general interpretation is that if your watercraft creates such a wake that it breaks, or otherwise generates what is called "white water", or water that has been disturbed enough that it creates bubbles or visible waves of any size, you are traveling above no wake speed. If you place your watercraft engine in gear, and add no additional engine speed once the propeller engages, you should be traveling at an adequate speed to not generate a wake; idle speed. I would say this could be from 600-800 engine RPM's. Check your specific state's boating laws, however, to find the correct interpretation of no wake or wakeless speed in your state.
Jumping the wake of another vessel on a PWC