Wake

The disturbed flow and wave pattern left behind a vessel or other body moving through water.

A vessel’s wake can include divergent and transverse waves, propeller wash, turbulence and a region of changed current. Its size and persistence depend on speed, displacement, hull form, depth, channel width and propulsion rather than speed alone.

Wake can cause erosion, damage moored craft, endanger people and interact strongly with shallow banks or confined waterways. A posted speed limit does not guarantee an acceptable wake, so the operator may need to reduce speed further and monitor the actual effect.