Wake waveform

[Simon B]

What shape is the wave produced from a boat's wake? Normal wave or like a tsunami wave form steep face flat back etc.

Crossing them seems to be challenging for some boats, where does the force to upset the boat originate? Is it when the bow hits the wave or when the stern and engine come out the other side?

[m chappelow]

Depends on lots of things , size length of hull at the waterline ,type of hull ,speed or overspeeding with a displacement hull, ,deep displacement ,planing ,semi planing ,bow stem shape , ,beam ,stubby / bluff bow ,sharpe bow thats just the boat ,alone ,,then theres sea conditions ,wind ,wind across tide.and natural waves in themselves ,all have some sort of effect on wake /wash to a great degree,weather your making waves or going through them ,.

[chewy]

You get different wakes off different boats, hence boats built for wake boarding produce a decent wake.
As for crossing a boats wake just off the stern tends to get decent air!