Boat Length vs Boat Weight

[rlb2252]

For operating in big water, what's more important boat length or boat weight?

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boat Length vs Boat Weight

Length..but then, weight is proportionate to length....and in heavy seas..the crafts ability to drain off water and recover from waves, is more important than length or weight. and more often than not..the operators ability's to pilot a vessel in heavy seas is more important than anything. A good offshore boat..center console, foam filled ( Boston whaler) with dependable outboards, radar - GPS and a seasoned captain, will survive. The same craft with a novice at the helm will , probably invert the boat..or pitch-pole it.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Boat Length vs Boat Weight

Also beam....so in the end, length, width, weight, and hull design all play factors in stability. Sorry, it confuses things a bit. But such is life!

EI: a 20' canoe would suck in 2' waves, but a 3000 lb, 20' bow rider with an ~8' beam and a modified deep V hull would be comfortable enough to watch the fireworks in the same waves. heh...


Ian

 

[dingbat]

Re: Boat Length vs Boat Weight

Good hull design and weight is what buys you a good offshore ride.
A 20' boat with a good offshore hull design will run circles around a 24' "lake boat" when it gets snotty.

 

[cronx]

Re: Boat Length vs Boat Weight

I'm curious. I have a Regal Commodore 277XL. It has a 10' beam and loa 27.7'. Is it considered a category D boat? I am curious what kind of weather can it withstand, and what are the limitations?

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boat Length vs Boat Weight

I'm curious. I have a Regal Commodore 277XL. It has a 10' beam and loa 27.7'. Is it considered a category D boat? I am curious what kind of weather can it withstand, and what are the limitations?

Its not as much the boat as the skipper, your boat will handle alot more than most people can, in the hands of a good captain..6-8 footers w/70knot winds...in the hands of a novice 4-5 waves and 30-40 winds...bye-bye boat. its knowing how to "read" the waves, throttle accordingley, following seas..quartering seas..wind direction, wave height..frequency..how to navagate without electronics,just a compass..ect...and the only way to know..is by experience, look at the football players off Fla. good, stable,capable boat. Boaters made VERY BAD DECISIONS , due to inexperience = Dead.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Boat Length vs Boat Weight

Category D Boats - designed for trips on small lakes, rivers and straits, during which the wind may blow up to and including Force 4 on the Beaufort scale* and the waves may reach 0.5m significant height at the very most.

*Force 4 on the Beaufort scale:

Moderate breeze: - 13 ? 17 mph
Fairly frequent white horses. Dust and loose paper raised. Small branches begin to move

 

[cronx]

Re: Boat Length vs Boat Weight

70 knot winds? That is hurricane grade, kind of doubt it would survive.

So closer to boat category C with winds up to 25 knots and waves up to 13 feet sounds about right?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Boat Length vs Boat Weight

70 knot winds? That is hurricane grade, kind of doubt it would survive.

So closer to boat category C with winds up to 25 knots and waves up to 13 feet sounds about right?

Depends on what you?re trying to accomplish.

I'm offshore 30-35 days a year. Couldn't tell you want category my boat is. Don't care. It?s my experience as a Captain that determines weather or not we leave the dock that morning. The boat will take a heck of a lot more than I can anymore.

If you?ve never done it, fishing 6-8ft. ?Atlantic? waves on even a 50'er is absolutely no fun at all. I've done it numerous times during tournaments but I certainly wouldn't do it for fun.