crossing a large wake

[torcano]

I know that one should cross a wake at a 45 degree angle so that the bow cuts into the wake of a passing boat. If I am traveling on plane my boat becomes airborn at times when crossing the wake of a large boat. Should I come off plane every time I pass a large wake? Can I harm my hull by slammimg it down on the water at 20kts? My boat is a 5500lb Searay. Is there a technique to this that I am missing?

 

[tommays]

Re: crossing a large wake

Well

I slow down as it is hard on the boat if you getting airborne and harder on the crew

And pounding over wakes is a big cause of injury to your guests

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: crossing a large wake

Hard to believe you are getting airborn at 20 knots in a 5500 pound boat??? The bow may be rising pretty high, but the back end is not coming out of the water. I would try changing the angle, that boat should come down pretty smoothly at 45 degrees.

 

[torcano]

Re: crossing a large wake

Thanks. I'm sure the stern is still in contact with the water....just a figure of speech. I will try trimming the bow down and see if that helps.

 

[gcboat]

Re: crossing a large wake

The biggest technique you are missing is called throttle control. Yes, slow the boat down. I'd rather have to come back on plane than have someone get injured.

 

[dingbat]

Re: crossing a large wake

Without knowing your hull configuration and how big a wake your talking about its pretty hard to give advise. The only wakes I really worry about at that speed are the wakes of cargo ships.

I head into them perpendicular to their travel then throttle down right before I come in contact with them. Let the wake push up the bow then hit the throttle to punch the bow through the top and back down the other side.

It can be a roller coaster ride but you get very little slamming.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: crossing a large wake

slow down, then power thru. slowing down bring the bow up, powering thru keeps the bow up, rather than taking on water over the bow. presently you are beating hell out of your boat, and passengers. ever had a tail bone bruise.

 

[Fu-Inator]

Re: crossing a large wake

LOL... disregard what I typed

 

[180shabah]

Re: crossing a large wake

Unless we are talking about a huge wake(ship etc.) then slowing down is your best bet. Also, depending on the wave you can trim down a little and let the bow with a much sharper angle pierce it instead of hitting it farther back in the hull where the vee is lest pronounced.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: crossing a large wake

I don't think that the specific speed you are traveling is of importance here, other than to say that, if it is fast enough to get you "airborne," it is too fast.

Yes, you risk damage to your boat, and doing this is not a very good idea. Its also a dangerous thing to do in a boat that isn't designed or equipped for such "aerial excursions. Most importantly, you risk injury to both yourself and you passengers. Among the more serious injuries that you can sustain is spinal cord compression.

Slow down, take the wake at an angle and save both your boat and yourself/your passengers. In the long run, you'll be glad you did.

 

[girlboatie]

Re: crossing a large wake

I encounter the problem with wakes a lot around here. Seems like just when I get up to plane I have to slow down because of a giant cruiser & the equally giant wake. Hasn't been too bad this year because the big guys can't afford the fuel, I guess

One thing that I found important is to slow down gradually; if you cut the throttle suddenly it's possible (with my boat, anyway) to get a lot of backwash over the stern. I learned not to do that again

I just try to pay attention to the traffic and anticipate what's coming at me--and watch the shape of the waves which is always a challenge in my area.

girlboatie in British Columbia

 

[allenx1966]

Re: crossing a large wake

wow, take my wife ... PLEASE... lol
i live on the lake to get airborn, my wife hates it. nothing worse than a wasted trip to the lake with no air! i have an old beater tri-hull and not really worried about my bow at all, if it breaks, so be it,it will give me something to talk about as i sit around the campfire. member the time we hit that wake and the boat cracked up and sank and we spent 4 days in the hospital .... that was awsome!
allen <----- big dummy !