Should be an easy fix:
1. identify which vessel has the verticle wake: (the name should be on the vessel). Fly by it and record the name.
2. Find the simobject/boat corresponding to the name of the vessel.
3. Open the sim.cfg file of that vessel (notepad), to establish which wake effect is being used.
>> Scroll down in the sim.cfg file to:
[Effects]
Wake = "fx_wake_xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" (extention .fx is inferred)
4. Go to your Effects folder and find the correct fx wakexxx .fx file.
5. Open the effect file (Notepad)
For sections:
[Particle.0] [Particle.1] and [Particle.2] inside the wake .fx file Line: Ground Decal=1 has to be added
ie:
[Particle.0]
Lifetime=30.07, 30.07
Type=21
X Scale=50.50, 50.50
Y Scale=50.50, 50.50
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.04, 0.04
Y Scale Rate=0.04, 0.04
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.11, 0.11
Fade In=0.10, 0.10
Fade Out=0.80, 0.80
Ground Normal=1
Ground Decal=1 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Add)
Shade=1
Face=1, 0, 1
[Particle.1]
Lifetime=20.07, 20.07
Type=21
X Scale=50.50, 50.50
Y Scale=50.50, 50.50
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.15, 0.15
Y Scale Rate=0.15, 0.15
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.05, 0.05
Fade Out=0.60, 0.60
Ground Normal=1
Ground Decal=1 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Add)
Shade=1
Face=1, 0, 1
[Particle.2]
Lifetime=50.00, 50.00
Type=21
X Scale=65.00, 70.00
Y Scale=65.00, 70.00
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.05, 0.06
Y Scale Rate=0.05, 0.06
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.11, 0.11
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.05, 0.05
Fade Out=0.50, 0.50
Ground Normal=1
Ground Decal=1 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Add)
Shade=1
Face=1, 0, 1
Save/close. DONE.
Now, saying all the above.. that's how. The theory behind it, from my understanding is: the line "Ground Decal=1" forces the wake to run horizontal - across the ground (or water) and not verticle into the air.
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Now the much faster fix:
There is a small app to do all the wakes which was made originally for P3Dv3 but also works in P3Dv4x without issue.
The exe has to be run directly inside your effects folder with DOS command navigating to your effects folder(s) and executing the wake fix via DOS two commands). One to Scan first and the second to apply fixes to the wake files.
(Easy to use once you know how and it fixes every wake file - and only touch the wakes files. A very small and a very handy little tool).
The zip File to fix the wakes is attached to this post: (Simply unzip, copy the exe to your effects folder(s) and follow the instructions). DONE
Norm