Theory 21/Froude Number/Vessel wakes
Wake Damage Is a Froude Problem
The claim
Shoreline damage from vessel wakes is set by the Froude number rather than by vessel size, so a small fast craft can do more than a large slow one.
01Mechanism
Wave-making resistance and wake height peak at a particular depth Froude number; beyond it, the wave pattern changes character.
02Prediction
Damage should peak at a Froude number.
03Refutation
Damage tracking vessel size would remove the ratio.