How much abuse can a boat take???

[SS194]

I've got a new to me 2001 Larson SEI 190 w/ 4.3 Volva Penta. How much abuse can the hull take? What's hard on it? If I'm cruising at 30 MPH and hit a wake from a boat of equal size, should I be slowing down? I know that there are wakes that are pretty rough, and for our comfort, I usually will slow down.

On the lake today it was pretty choppy. I felt like I was throttling back constantly. I would have much rather just taken the bumps and powered through the wakes at close to 30 MPH.

Just wondering if I'm shorting the life of my hull by hitting wake at 30.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

Always wondered the same thing, especially when I have hit a few hard with a 30 year old fiberglass, who knows how strong it is now ?
I don't like the whacking so throttling back to a slower speed is no problem for me, Lake Michigan almost always has a little chop I try to go only when its real smooth like but have dealt with probably 2 footers and in those I cruise at about 20.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

That's the challenge with a used boat: trying to figure out what the previous owner(s) did or did not do to your boat. I've seen relatively new boats split wide open without any advance indication of a problem and I have also seen forty-year old boats that looked like they just rolled out of the factory. Water gets pretty hard above 30mph. Good luck with yours!

 

[marine4003]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

Larson has a good hull..what takes abuse are all the screwed on parts..windshield..seats ..all the stuff that's in the boat..wakes are best handled at an offset angle,bow down..as close to the passing boats transom as safely possible..the rest is up to your discretion...but,generally speaking..slower is better...for everyone and everything.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

Respect your vessel and she will return the favor. That said, hull design contributes to what wakes and chop each vessle can take. I have a flat-bottom and a v-hull. The flat-bottom beats me up so I naturally slow down or decide whether or not to even take her out. The v-bottom is not a deep V so I take it easy on her with rough waters and across other's wake. Since my vessls and my wife are of the same gender, I'm outnumbered anyway.

I agree with the fixtures, screws and stuff that loosen up first.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

you have to get to know your boat, what it will and will not do. in a heavy chop, some boats just ride better to go ahead and speed up, and get on top the the chop, some will just beat you to death.

 

[SS194]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

I get beat up, so I guess it is wise to slow down. I didn't know that about getting as close to the passing boat as safely possible. I've been trying to stay outside of the wake as long as possible, thinking the wake is getting smaller and smaller. I guess the thinking is that they wake is closer together?

Thanks guys,
Steve

 

[marine4003]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

I get beat up, so I guess it is wise to slow down. I didn't know that about getting as close to the passing boat as safely possible. I've been trying to stay outside of the wake as long as possible, thinking the wake is getting smaller and smaller. I guess the thinking is that they wake is closer together?

Thanks guys,
Steve

closer together and less of it.

 

[capt sam]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

I can tell you from personal experience....alot.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How much abuse can a boat take???

if you have ever ridden in a late 70's trihull, you will know... WAAAAAAAAAY more than the human body can sustain!