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Wake Enhancement Devices

Wake Enhancing Devices will not be allowed on the lake. Some manufacturers have offer devices to make the wake of boats larger. A larger wake from boats can make the lake very choppy and potentially unsafe or unusable for some users (canoe's, water skiing, etc). Additionally, property damage can occur as well as shoreline erosion which degrades water quality. To help in managing wakes, boats with wake enhancement devices will not be allowed to operate on the lake.

We require disabling procedures be performed on boats with wake enhancement devices before they can be operated on the lake.

BOATS WITH BUILT-IN BALLAST SYSTEMS

  1. Remove fuses that control system.
  2. Plug intake hoses with flat plugs under hull.
  3. Remove impellers that fill the systems.
  4. Remove hoses to ballast tanks and plug the inlets.
  5. Disconnect any wires to fill systems (at the switches and at the pump).
  6. Remove dashboard switches and replace with blanks.

BOATS WITH WEDGES, PLATES, OR OTHER MECHANICAL DEVICES

  1. Remove wedge or plate.
  2. Remove handle for adjusting plate.
  3. Remove any electrical controls as described above.
  4. Put a pin lock through the mounting bracket plate and give the key to the boat owner.

Owners of boats retrofit with water bladders such as "Fat Sacks" must have the water bladders removed. Passive wake enhancement is also not allowed. The most common passive devices are sand bags or free weights. Lead plating is another form of passive device. You can use any boat mechanic to make the changes as long as the technician signs the LOC Wake Enhancement Device Certification and Agreement confirming the changes were made following our guideline. All work performed on the boat must be listed on the Agreement. You cannot certify your own boat. If you are caught using water bladders, passive wake enhancing devices, or any other wake enhancing devices, your boat will be subject to removal from the Lake for twelve months, no exceptions. We do not want to ticket any neighbor so we ask for your support as we try and balance the needs of all shareholders.

Mr. Tim Colhour of Oswego Mobile Marine has also agreed to provide the disabling service and certify that the changes have been made . He will charge $100.00 to disable boats with ballast systems and $50.00 to remove wake plates and disable their associated wiring. He only charges $25.00 if you do it yourself and just need a certification inspection to confirm the changes were made following our guidelines. These fees will be offered on a flat rate basis. If your boat is under warranty, you may want to consider having the modifications to your boat made by an authorized dealer. Please have your dealer contact us to Wake Enhancing Device Continued from page 1 ensure modifications are done to our specifications.

BOATS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AS WAKE ENHANCING DEVICES

Manufacturers are designing boats smaller than 22.0 feet to produce massive wakes. No boat designed to produce these large wakes will be licensed on our lake. The hull design characteristics and description the boat manufacturer uses to market the boat will determine whether a boat fits into this category. Please check with our staff before purchasing your boat to ensure we will be able to license it.

TWENTY TWO FEET MEANS 22.0 FEET. NO EXCEPTIONS

In an effort to clear up any misunderstanding, the safety committee and the board have affirmed that 22 feet is not 22 feet one inch but 22 feet zero inches. A handful of boats that were licensed in error because staff interpreted 22 feet to mean less than 23.0 feet. That was an error. We will not license any boat over 22.0 feet from this day forward, and we will use manufacturer's Owners Manual specs to determine boat size... If your boat was one of those improperly licensed, we will honor the license until you sell the boat or sell your home. We hope you accept our apology for the inadvertent error. Please send your comments or thoughts to me on these and any other safety concerns you have, and I will share them with our whole safety team. Remember we are looking for balance, and with your help we can get there.

©2007 Lake Oswego Corporation. All Rights Reserved.