Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

[Expidia]

I'm altering this post to read swamp in rough seas rather than flip . . .

I'm pretty much risk adverse, so I'm not bringing this topic up because I want to see how far I can push my boat before it flips or swamps.

But I would like to know my boats limits since I've only owned this one for 2 months now. Boat is a 2007 Lund aluminum, side console with a 40 hp Mercury outboard on it.

Winds last Sunday were expected to be 5-10 mph on Lake Champlain when we ventured out for a day of cruising around. Bright Sun and no clouds.

Yet a few hours later as we were cruising the lake suddenly became an ocean!!! I found myself in 3 foot seas with a strong 20-25 mph south winds (lake runs North and South) these winds were not predicted. If the were I would have never went out. Not a problem as long as I kept the bow into the waves and I could only do about 7 mph until I could edge my way towards the shore where the mountains tempered the winds.

So my question is how close was I to being in real danger being caught out there with those unpredicted strong wind gusts?

It wasn't the first waves that I was afraid of . . . it was the SECOND ones

The boat ran pretty dry, but when I get myself in that position . . . I would like to know the limits of my boats lets say "rightability" or swampability for lack of a better term.

So has anyone (other than some dope driving recklessly) seen an aluminum boat flip or swamp in rough seas ???

 

[Mark42]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Boats can easily get swamped by waves breaking over the bow or transom. Following waves can be a real problem. Best to be prepared by wearing a PFD and having a water proof marine radio (about $150 for hand held) to call for help if you get in trouble.

The best advice I can give is to always check the local weather forcast, don't go out in questionalbe conditions and wear your PFD.

 

[8AteEight]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Yeah, Im with Mark42. Ive been in 20ish foot Runabouts all my life, and Ive seen People in 14' aluminums that were dryer than we. All cuz they were experienced, and they knew how to drive the boat.

I think you did right, you found the speed that kept the waves from swamping you; you pointed into the waves, and you kept your calm.

As far as the limits, you only find those when you've pushed 'em too far.

 

[Monkaroo]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Never seen one flip man , but I was caught out on the lake once with my Dad when it got rough like that . I was just a kid then and I'm 48 now . I have never been caught like that again . If I see the slightest indication that it might get bad , I head in and get close enough to get out of it if need be . One clap of thunder or one little flash of lightening and I'm outta there . We were in a pretty good size cruiser with a cabin , and we had a bad time with it . I just couldn't imagine making it out with an aluminum boat with things really rough . Things can go from good to bad really quick , no doubt .

 

[Expidia]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Ya, thanks for your responses so far. It's easy to say don't venture out if the weather is iffy, but that's just not the real world when it comes to boating.

About 75% of the time the weather looks great and the forecasts are fine, except once you are out on the water that other 25% of the time all of a sudden the wind kicks up and you're in the middle of the "Perfect Storm"

Experience can get you out of it I'm sure, otherwise I'd never go out in the first place.

Not venturing to far from shore is not an option either as many times I've been on the Hudson River up here in NY and it might only be a mile across in a certain section, but when that South or North wind kicks up it's like being 5 miles off shore in a heart beat.

The other posters actually termed what my original question was better than I did. I guess what I meant was not as much seeing a boat flipping, but SWAMPING in rough seas.

I bought the Lund because it's hull design was touted to handle like a bigger boat. Since I trailer a lot behind a Saab 9-5 I wanted to stay below 15 feet, due to the constraints of the Saabs 1000 lbs towing capacity.

I felt very confident in getting out of those rough seas that day but it could have turned rougher too. 3 foot seas were more than I bargained for, that day.

I did pick up 2 auto inflatable suspender type vests for $80 each on sale last week at West. I figured I'd have one to wear especially when I'm fishing alone and if I fell over board and was knocked unconscious. $80 is cheap insurance to save my life so I was glad to see these vest drop so far in price lately.

Ever notice when it comes to life saving devices like those signaling beacons or auto inflatable vests used to be priced to the moon. Tough for a family of 4 to come up with 4 vests at the previous $400 price per vest just a couple of years ago. Those auto locating beacons are still a ripoff on pricing.

I did get a portable water proof handheld as the first accessory for my new boat.

I asked about lightning strikes awhile back in another thread and a FL poster had said if they didn't go out each time there was lighting predicted they would never get to go boating. Lightning storms are a daily event, somewhere along the FL coast. They just tend to out run them when they see or hear them coming. Tough to do that though on a lake or a river. I know that from experience.

But as to venturing out on a lake or river with no wind . . . a short time later, all too many times I find myself in the midst of 20-25 mph winds that developed out of no where.

So "Swampabilty" is a better way of what I was trying to find out . . .

How many of you have seen a small crafts swamp due to the onset of sudden rough seas and winds?

Thx

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Last June I was on the lake when an AZ dust storm kicked up. The dust storms out here have high winds, and come upon you suddenly, but the natives like myself are clued to a possible dust storm by the sudden build up of towering clouds. The dust stays low to the ground so you can't see a dust storm coming until just before it hits you. I noticed the towering clouds and headed back to the ramp. About the time I had my boat winched to the trailer the dust storm hit. From the top of the boat ramp it was difficult to see exactly how big the waves were, but I watched several boats take waves across their bow. The dust storm was so bad that I did not think it would be safe to start driving home, so I just sat in the parking lot watching the other boaters struggle back to the ramp. As I sat in my car I started to wonder what type of chatter might be on my hand held marine radio. When I turned the radio on I was amazed at the number of boaters that were still on the lake in trouble. I heard about at least two swamped boats, and when the storm let up paramedics were responding to another call. This particular lake was patrolled by the Sheriff's office, and the deputy's were busy responding to calls using the ocean type vessel's owned by the Sheriff's office. It is my opinion that some of the boaters instinctively wanted to return to the ramp because they felt the ramp would offer safety. For some of these boaters they were at a point of no return, and their best option would be to find a cove to ride out the storm. I was fortunate to escape this storm and learn how quickly the weather can change into a dangerous situation.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

i flip my boat at least once a week ....

 

[F_R]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

I live in Florida and am well experienced with those lightning storms. I don't know of a single thing you can do about them except pray. What are you supposed to do? Out on the water you are a big bulls-eye target and along the shoreline the trees are an even bigger target. In all fairness, the worst lightning storm I got in was in Minnesota. I looked up and saw it coming to my surprise and hauled butt for shore but the storm got there before I did. Fifty feet from the channel to the ramp, I ran out of gas. Before I could get the second tank connected and pumped up, the storm was on me. Blew me up into the rocks and tried to beat me to death. Standing in the water and trying to keep from being driven further up into the rocks, I forgot all about the lightining.

I have also had my little 14' Lund aluminum out in ocean waters way beyond it's safe limits. There is only one way to describe how I got there...stupid! And one word to describe how I survived....lucky!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

the only defense, keep you eye to the sky, and use the weather channel on the vhf.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

the only defense, keep you eye to the sky, and use the weather channel on the vhf.

This is true of most impending storms, but sudden onset of high winds other than clouds appearing is a tough one to see sometimes because wind is of course invisible.

One can spot a rising chop on the water in the distance, but this day in particular the weather was gorgeous and full sunshine!

Even my WeatherSense device that's connected to my Humminbird GPS showed full sunshine on the screen that day.

I received the WeatherSense device as a freebie with the Humminbird purchase and it actually works pretty good.

It also shows rising and falling barometric pressure bars manual says the fishings better during rising and falling pressures. But that day was so sunny I never even looked to see if the pressure was falling. Sudden rising pressures will cause higher winds too.

I never feel sorry for the turkeys I see in aluminum boats especially the ones with the water line a few inches below the gunnel's still sitting there fishing while lightning is hitting the water off in the distance. I'm amazed as I'm hightailing it back to the dock when I see a storm coming and they are still just sitting there.

Since lightning takes the shortest path to the ground at least it's nice to know there are still boaters willing to sit there and take a hit instead of the lightning hitting my boat

Dust storms That's all I need to add to my roster of possible boating disasters.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

You'll figure out pretty quickly that when the weatherman say "5 to 10 mph winds today" it usually turns out to be knots and if you add the two numbers together, you'll come out way closer than he did.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Many years ago we were headed accross Biscayne Bay to Elliott Key in our 19'er. The clouds were not bad but the wind was blowing a heavy chop. About half way accross the bay I decided we needed to spend the rest of the day with the boat on the trailer so we did a 180 and headed back. The next day there was a story in the paper about 3 guys who drowned when their 14' open alumnium boat was swamped three miles off shore (close to the Gulf Stream). If in doubt - - - -

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Expedia,

Sounds like you did the right thing in getting back safely, good for you and there is one more piece of experience you now have to work with. I live in Utah and do a lot of boating at Lake Powell which is located in the middle of a desert. It can go from 100 deg. and sunny and calm, to 70 rain and 4-5 footers in a matter of minutes. Seriously it can come on you so fast you almost don't have time to react. When I was eighteen I was down there with a bunch of friends one had a little speed boat. We got caught in a storm and the front section of the bow hit a wave so hard it tore the tip of the bow right off. That boat was completely swamped in about 1 minute. The only reason it didn't sink all the way was the 40 gal. alum fuel tank was almost empty and kept it from going down. I'm now 40 and have been on lakes all my life sometimes you get that "feeling" and get off the lake in time. If not best to try and find a cove to wait it out in. I have sat on the top of the ramp in my truck and watched 50 foot plontoon house boats go down and take the bouy they are moored to with them. If you do get caught do just as you did keep speeds low, bow pointed into the waves and try to float over them rather than have them break over the bow. Easier said than done I know, but speed control can do alot for you. You can get that bow way up there and hold it there it's hard to see real well but better than going down. It doesn't take long to get in bad trouble that you can't bail out of. I agree with all others in that good life preservers are number one on the list. Watch the weather but as we all know it isn't a perfect science. Good luck on the rest of your ventures.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

You'll figure out pretty quickly that when the weatherman say "5 to 10 mph winds today" it usually turns out to be knots and if you add the two numbers together, you'll come out way closer than he did.

That's funny you say that because for each of the 3 days I was away over this past 3 day weekend on Lake Champlain the winds were twice of what they said each day on the weather report. Even the NOAA report on my marine radio was missing each day by at least 50%.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Expedia,

Sounds like you did the right thing in getting back safely, good for you and there is one more piece of experience you now have to work with. I live in Utah and do a lot of boating at Lake Powell which is located in the middle of a desert. It can go from 100 deg. and sunny and calm, to 70 rain and 4-5 footers in a matter of minutes. Seriously it can come on you so fast you almost don't have time to react. When I was eighteen I was down there with a bunch of friends one had a little speed boat. We got caught in a storm and the front section of the bow hit a wave so hard it tore the tip of the bow right off. That boat was completely swamped in about 1 minute. The only reason it didn't sink all the way was the 40 gal. alum fuel tank was almost empty and kept it from going down. I'm now 40 and have been on lakes all my life sometimes you get that "feeling" and get off the lake in time. If not best to try and find a cove to wait it out in. I have sat on the top of the ramp in my truck and watched 50 foot plontoon house boats go down and take the bouy they are moored to with them. If you do get caught do just as you did keep speeds low, bow pointed into the waves and try to float over them rather than have them break over the bow. Easier said than done I know, but speed control can do alot for you. You can get that bow way up there and hold it there it's hard to see real well but better than going down. It doesn't take long to get in bad trouble that you can't bail out of. I agree with all others in that good life preservers are number one on the list. Watch the weather but as we all know it isn't a perfect science. Good luck on the rest of your ventures.

Well said . . . I didn't mind all that much. It was kinda fun gunning the boat at the top of the crest of those 3 footers so the bow would not spear the next wave.

Same type of thing happens in a following sea with the wind behind me. Kinda like "boat" surfing.

Always better to avoid these type of situtations especially in a small boat like mine, but like you say . . . One minute the weathers perfect and a few minutes later all hell breaks loose.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Many years ago we were headed accross Biscayne Bay to Elliott Key in our 19'er. The clouds were not bad but the wind was blowing a heavy chop. About half way accross the bay I decided we needed to spend the rest of the day with the boat on the trailer so we did a 180 and headed back. The next day there was a story in the paper about 3 guys who drowned when their 14' open alumnium boat was swamped three miles off shore (close to the Gulf Stream). If in doubt - - - -

Pfweew . . . good thing my craft is 14' . . . and 9"

 

[rndn]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

One other option instead of toughing it out to get to the launch is to hold up somewhere along the shoreline. A 14 footer could easily be hauled up on the shore and wait it out until it calms down. If it's a couple of hours, it's well worth it instead of taking a chance on swamping your boat and family. I'm sure Lake Champlain is full of cottages and marinas that could get you protected until it's all over or at least managable. So many people seem to think the only spot that's safe is the launch where you put in.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Your boat would handle much worse, without even getting nervous. That boat is designed by a company that primarily makes walleye fishing boats, and up on the great lakes, 3 foot seas are nothing. My 15 footer is only 15' 1," so I believe the hull design is fairly similar, judging from pictures. We wouldn't have a problem in 3 foot waves, and in fact, once we get it going, if it was like that when we show up, we would still launch, and fish. 5, and we might start getting a bit more careful. I have been in 3 foot waves in the 12 foot Grumman in my sig. With 2 people, it handles it like nothing, and I wouldn't be afraid of larger water. With just me, all the weight is astern, so when in 3 foot waves, the ride was rough, but I still felt safe. I wouldn't want much more than that though. If the bow gets high enough with all the weight in the stern, the wind could pick it up, and flip it, but if done carefully, and heading in the right direction, even a light nosed 12 footer would be fine.

Lightening on the other hand, and we get off the water as fast as we can.

 

[Mr. Ross]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Grew up fishing around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River in a 12' aluminum with an old outboard. If handled properly, that 15' will probably take more water than you can stand

If you are worried about the sinking factor, perhaps a small Whaler is what you need. Learn what your boat will do; don't panic when the inevitable happens. Lund has a reputation as being a sturdy aluminum boat so you should not have an issue.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Anyone ever see a boat flip over ?

Know what you mean! Been on the Hudson (Worked near Storm King, learned to waterski in 3 foot waves.) and I was there on Champlain in a 15 foot closed bow Glastron, out from the music fair, when it blew up into a 5 foot chop. Yes--5 foot --no exaggeration. Standing, I could just barely see over the wave crests. Took me about an hour to get to the marina and scared the livin' bejeesus out of me. And I was in my "indestructible" 20s.

If you are out by the Essex ferry or the Burlington Ferry when it kicks up, tuck in behind the ferry. It "irons" the water and you will have a (slightly) smoother ride. And that bay (I forget the name) opposite Burlington is usually a lot more peaceful than the main lake even during a blow.

But if your Lund is bass boat designed: Down here, some bass fishermen go out on the Chesapeake and tributaries no matter what the weather. I have heard stories (not actually seen) about bass boats being filled almost to the gunwales. As long as the bilge is working and the engine keeps running, these guys tough it out. Not my style though.
Actually, all I am trying to say is that the boat will probably take more than you think it will. But a little fear/respect is healthy. It keeps you alive.