Hood River No Wake Zone

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

For your info. The Oregon State Marine Board approved moving forward with the rule making process for boat operations in Hood River County at their quarterly Board meeting, held October 23 in Maupin.

The Port of Hood River requested a slow-no-wake zone within the artificial lagoon
near the mouth of Hood River in an effort to address congestion and advocate
recreational safety for all waterway users. The lagoon is adjacent to a large
parking lot and is a launching point for kite borders and wind surfers. According
to the Port of Hood River, 400-600 users operate in this confined area on busy
summer days including jet skiers, kite borders, windsurfers, boaters, swimmers,
stand-up paddlers and kayakers.

Marine Board staff will open the public comment process and will return to the
Marine Board at a future meeting with a recommendation.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Tell us more of this lagoon

cgka · Since 18 Jul 2006 278 Posts Obsessed

Sorry for the delayed follow up on this, but need to shed some light on this situation.

The aka "Lagoon" is the body of water immediately in front of the Event Site. The reason for the request is so that permanent marker, or slow zone, buoys can be put into place in front of the Event Site and at the SW corner of the Sandbar launch.
The intention is to create a 'safer' launching and landing zone for kites, windsurfers and SUPers, to respect and show caution when riding.

We've been very lucky safety-wise, but with the amount of user congestion we get, and add to that a few JetSkis whizzing in and out of the basin, the Port, along with the CGKA and the CGWA felt a need to establish a safety/caution zone that could be enforced. To be able to establish permanent buoys, then the zone had to therefore be designated as a "No Wake" style of zone.

This should be a fairly positive course of action for both the kiteboard and windsurf community as it helps to show non-local users which areas of the launch require users to be responsible and launch/land with caution, courtesy and safety in mind.

wakeup · Since 11 Sep 2005 328 Posts always Obsessed

what about schools and instructors that use the cut to get in and out of nichols basin?

Weaz · Since 23 May 2012 360 Posts Beaverton Obsessed

no wake doesn't mean you can't go through it. It just means SLOW.

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

When the water is low, it is necessary for an instructor on a ski with a student to come out of the cut and be on plane immediately, or else it's too shallow.

I hope there is consideration for these professionals who make their living in this way and for the companies who pay $ to the port to operate their businesses I this location.

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

forrest · Wed Nov 07, 12 12:34 pm

You guys might want to send a letter in to the Oregon State Marine Board then. They don't read this forum, and no one here is likely to do it for you.

I'll raise the issue with the Port at the next Waterfront Recreation Committee Meeting.

Can PWCs not get through there by pushing them by hand?

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

Good point Forrest. They could be pushed through at certain times but as it gets shallower, the only way to make it through, is to be on plane. It's not that big a deal for me personally as I work for Gorge Gradients and we don't really ever use that spot. I'm sure a work around could be found though.

Sella · Wed Nov 07, 12 2:48 pm

New rules are always fun. What's the lesser of two evils; a fast moving double occupant jetski that turns like shit but gets out of the impact zone quicker.....or a slow moving exhaust pumping tandom jetski acting like a magnet to lure in the noobs? Rolling Eyes

If riding double on a jetski requires the ski to be on plane to make it out of the heavily used "kook zone" it seems like the fat noob needs to meet the instructor someplace deeper....like the North point of the Sandbar for the ride up to Wells??

Besides that channel constantly changes while little kids swim around kiters who are trying not to tangle their bridles around their necks doing the "wade of shame" so that narrow gap exiting Nichols is already kooky enough, regardless of jetski presence or speed.

Probably wise to embrace the no wake rule or The Hook will end up being the schools exit point.

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

It sounds like the government is so stupid that they are going to stifle all the ways this could bail this country out of its debt by putting an 83% tax on it. Some people will never see the light of day with their heads shoved so far up their ass. If they didn't have to control every thing so much the quality of life would be 100 times better than it is. The government just wants to make sure they don't have to work, why should they when they can just tax us. It's a Fucking joke.

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like turtles...

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

Oh I meant to put that on your yayyy post oops.

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

You still shouldn't toke and post. Wink