drifting for fluke

handball

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 13, 2002
Messages
161
I bought a 1987 30 ft. sea ray weekender in 2003 and love the way the boat handles in most conditions.This is the best riding boat I have owned in my 35 years boating, and can handle our long island sound conditions very well. The boat goes thru chop and wakes softly and without pounding,this is my first real deep vee and I am totally happy under normal running conditions.<br /><br />There is one problem with this deep vee hull and that is when drifting for fluke in even small waves the boat always turnes beam to and developes a real uncomfortable roll from side to side.This also happens from other boat wakes.<br /><br />I have tried turning the rudders but they make no difference in which way the boat drifts.<br /><br />Has anyone else had the same problem? is there anything I can do to minimize this short of buying another boat? I am thinking about trying a small sea anchor from the stern to turn the boat when drifting.<br /><br />Bill
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: drifting for fluke

Hang a drift sock from the bow, Handball.<br /><br />That should keep the bow to the breeze.<br /><br />Good luck. :)
 

cp

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
367
Re: drifting for fluke

Rolling is an unavoidable characteristic of deep vee hulls when drifting broadside to the seas. Turning the rudders only has effect when making way. A sea anchor will help avoid the broadside drift, hence reduce the rolling, but you should be mindful of the sea state if attaching it to your stern. Doing so will make you susceptible to taking water over your transom, i.e. getting "pooped". Tie the sea anchor off at the bow, then you'll be bow into any wind and waves while drifting. The sea anchor will have to be large enough to cause your boat to turn into the wind and seas. There are also inverted mushroom type devices that you can hang over both sides of your boat to reduce the rolling, like the Rocker Stopper, but I've no experience with them. Good luck.
 
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