Curious, I do most of my fishing on the ICW and see quite a few NO WAKE signs in the marsh in spots I wouldn’t think is. How do you know when its a legal no wake and when someone has posted their own sign near their dock.
The new ones on the ashley at dolphin cove marina are messing me up. is the whole area no wake or only the side nearest the marina? I’ve been meaning to call and ask.
I’m about 99% sure that it’s only no wake within the bouys at Dolphins Cove. Sometimes I’ll slow down there if I’m not in a hurry for courtesy, but I see boats flying through there all the time.
2000 Aquasport Osprey 175 CC
Dirtyoars, You have to be a certain distance from the marina per law, so I run WOT through there on the far outside of the buoy’s.
Watch your depth.
This is one example, the 26th street landing on Sullivan island. When you head north out of there towards breeches inlet there is a no wake on the right before the docks begin. There is no sign coming back right at the inlet which leads me to believe the other one was placed by a home owner.
generally, if it’s just a homemade “no wake” sign on someone’s dock, you don’t legally have to obey. you’re still responsible for damage caused by your wake though.
now, we need to change the no wake zone by city marina back to being only 1/2 the river! who’s with me??? lol
There are three legal (boundaries defined in state law) no wake zones between Sullivan’s Island and the end of the Isle of Palms. The first is from the mouth of the ICW at the south end of the island until just past the Sullivan’s Island Volunteer Fire Department boat landing. The second is from just before Toler’s Cove to just past the Goldbug Island Boat landing. The third area is a seasonal (Summer) no wake zone from about half way up Goat Island to about 1/2 mile past the Isle of Palms Marina. The bouys are maintained by DNR but if the bouys are not there, especially in the case of the first two the rule still applies and you can be ticketed. During periods of high tidal amplitude these bouys have a tendency to drift off site because of the short scope needed to keep them from being in the channel. As it pertains to the other signs you see you are always legally responsible for your wake and there is an additional prohibition for going over no wake speed within, I believe,50 feet of a vessel that is anchored or of a private dock or Marina.
Thank you hungryneck, I understand being responsible for your wake. After posting I did notice the signs I was referring to did not say NO Wake, but SLOW, you are responsible for your wake and do have a DNR logo. How does one get a DNR stamped sign hung on their dock?
Looks like DNR has heard these concerns and is responding, see attached document from News and Courier apparently you can buy a sign for your dock. http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140914/PC20/140919744/1005/dnr-out-looking-for-illegal-no-wake-buoys