Volunteers needed for wake testing

Written by

Lake Beulah Riparian Owners:

Many of you know that the Lake Beulah Management District retained a consultant to help us gain a greater understanding of the effect that boats of various types have on our lake.  With that in mind we are seeking owners to volunteer the following types of boats. 

  1. 23 – 24 ft surf boat
  2. 23 – 24 ft deep V sterndrive/outboard with 250+HP
  3. Pontoon with 250+HP
  4. Jet boat (e.g. Yamaha, but there may be others. Yamaha makes a surf-specific boat)

We seek to test the following types of operation:

  1. Startup
  2. Surf scenario:
    1. Surf boat operating speed
    2. Other boats:  Plowing, or transitional speed (pre-planing, but not slow-no-wake).  The focus should be generating a large wake and a high bow angle. 

Target depths will be 15ft, 20ft and 25 ft.   A wave propagation study at planing and “surf scenario” speeds will be the second phase of the test.

We would like riparian owners or their designees to operate their own boats and are planning to test boats on Wednesday July 23rd or Thursday July 24th, depending on both weather and water conditions.  There will be a pre-test briefing for any questions.  If you would be willing to participate, please contact Pat Bergin ([email protected])  or Chris Kubicek ([email protected]).