A “No Wake” zone means that boats must reduce to the slowest speed they can travel while still maintaining the ability to steer and make forward progress. When vessels move at these speeds, they produce a minimum wake which is a wave your boat creates underway as it displaces water. These are common in crowded, narrow areas like channels or confined harbors.

A wake would be any noticeable disturbance that is large enough to affect a nearby object such as a kayaker or a nearby boater.  If your vessel is traveling with the bow even slightly elevated while in one of these zones, it is not proceeding at “Slow Speed”.  Whether you’re on your way to a fishing spot, just cruising or heading to the lake, you could be endangered by another boat’s wake, and you might even put another boat in peril by your own wake.

It’s All About Safety

Most people think of these zones as the speed bumps of the water. Public safety is a primary reason for establishing and enforcing these areas, and that is why most of these zones are near boat launches, marinas and docks. Waterfront property owners also need the establishment of these zones in their area in order to decrease wave energy hitting their shoreline.  The reduction of wakes in these areas also has benefits for waterfront property owners and the environment because the larger the wake, the greater the potential for damage or injury.

Here are Some Reasons Why These Zones Are in Place:

• Loons and other birds that nest along the shore choose these locations because they are protected from waves and wakes that can drown nests;
• Inexperienced swimmers and young children can be injured by a boat wake;
• It can disturb nutrients that promote weed growth;
• It can cause erosion;
• Boat wake can cause docks and moored boats to severely rock and potentially cause severe damage;
• Passengers can be thrown off balance or even overboard when another boat passes too fast and/or too close.

As you can see, there are many reasons why these zones are important. Please always remember to look behind you as you ride the water to see and understand the impact of your wake on shorelines, docks, swimmers and wildlife.  Even though these areas seem like they slow you down, we encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery as you pass through our beautiful community.

We also encourage you to read how you can be wake wise on the water in a brochure that is available from the Muskoka Watershed Council at: How You Can Be Wake Wise on the Water and learn how you can become wake aware by visiting: bewakeaware.com.

The Be #WakeAware Campaign is a partnership between The Muskoka Lakes Association, Safe Quiet Lakes and the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations.