Boat Wash and No Wash Zones

Boat wash is the turbulence created by your boat as it moves through the water. Wash size and influence is affected by the amount of water your boat displaces, the boats speed, it’s planing attitude and other factors such as water depth. This means that a large cruiser moving through the water at 8 knots will displace a large amount of wash - big enough to capsize small dinghies, damage moored boats and contribute to foreshore erosion. A high performance ski boat, however, will create almost no wash when it is planing.

NO WASH signs are placed in areas where wash from vessels can cause damage, injury or annoyance to other vessels, the shoreline or people. Every vessel operator must comply with these signs.

The way you achieve this will depend on the type of boat you are driving, however if in doubt about your vessel’s wash it is recommended that you take the following action:

• as you approach the restricted area, reduce speed;
• at the start of the "NO WASH" zone, take your engine(s) out of gear;
• put the engine(s) back in gear and proceed with the engines giving just enough speed to provide you with steering control; and
• look behind you occasionally, to see if your boat is creating wash. If it is slow down - at a speed just above idle, no boat will produce wash.

When you see a "NO WASH" sign and a speed limit sign, do not automatically assume that you can travel at the maximum speed indicated. It may be necessary for you to travel at a slower speed to ensure your boat is not creating wash.