Data used in St. Anthony Falls Laboratory Project Report No. 611 A Field Study of Recreational Powerboat Hydrodynamics and their Impacts on the Water Column and Lakebed

Abstract

The bow and stern waves, transverse waves, and propeller wash of seven recreational boats (i.e., Hurricane SS203, StarCraft Limited 2000, Sea Ray SPX190, Cobalt R5, Cruisers Yachts 34GLS, Nautique G23 Paragon, and Malibu VLX Wakesetter) were measured under two modes of operation (Condition 1 and Condition 2). Condition 1 was planing mode for all boats, and Condition 2 was displacement mode for non-wakeboats and semi-displacement (surfing) for wakeboats. The boats were driven along a track line (termed-pass) that went over pads on the lake bottom that were outfitted with data sensors (ADV (Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter), ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler)) at four water depths (9, 14, 16, and 27 ft). Water quality measurements (turbidity, total suspended solids, and total phosphorous) and bottom sediment characteristics (grain size, phosphorous content) were also analyzed. Underwater video (GoPros) and aerial video (drone) were captured in 2023 testing.