3 OPERATION
CROSSING WAKES AND SWELLS
You will not always have flat, smooth water. There will be swells and wakes from other boats, etc.
The best way to cross wakes and swells is with the least jolt to you and the boat. Small swells are not as difficult to cross as larger swells or wakes. Crossing a sharp wake gives more of a jolt than a broad swell.
To cross a wake or swell, change your speed and choose the angle at which you cross the wake or swell. Usually, a slower speed and “quartering” the wake (crossing at an angle) will reduce the jolt.
Two other things you may notice. The first is that crossing a group of wakes or swells is not as easy or smooth as crossing just one wake. The second is that when you quarter the wake or swell the boat will try to steer away from the wake or swell. When crossing at a 45° angle, you may not notice this, but at a smaller angle, say 10°, it can be very strong. Be prepared to steer and balance as necessary.
SHARP WAKES
BROAD SWELL
WAKE
90°
45°
10°