Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?
I?m feeling like a summary is in order . . .
Bow up in the air, you probably can't see much over the nose. That is exactly how you want to run in a small bowrider when you get into the really bad stuff.
I agree, in really nasty and wet conditions.
In your boat, I would take 3' chops head on with your bow down.
Depending on the size of your cajones and passenger comfort . . . 3? is pretty big for an 18 footer and 16 degrees of deadrise. In fact I think it would hurt a lot, and this approach is probably limited to 18 inch chop. Head on is very dangerous if you have to slow down over a steep crest and then the bow ?stuffs? into the next one as it comes down hard.
although this is tricky and not for the inexperienced, you can run parallel to the waves.
Although I agree, this could be VERY DANGEROUS. If they are nice wide soft swells and far apart, then OK, but the worry is again with a steep exception, if she slides down sideways then you will quickly learn why you should be wearing your life jackets . . .
I took the NJ Safe Boating course last summer, and it was taught by a guy who's been a charter fishing captain for 35 years. He mentioned that in the movie "The Perfect Storm" there are many shots of the boat heading into waves straight on at 90 degrees, which no experienced commercial captain would ever do. The instructor's recommendation was 45 degrees.
Again, this is the safest approach to swells, waves, wakes etc. that exceed your comfort level and the boat?s capabilities for those other examples. The problem is making a mistake can be particularly costly . . .
Is there ever a reason to head into waves with the trim all the way down?
Sometimes, in light chop (see above) this is the fastest and most comfortable approach. When in doubt, this method absolutely sucks.
My favorite condition is drive trimmed up, trim tabs slightly down, 40 MPH running downwind in moderate to even somewhat large chop. Can be a ton of fun, but deadrise and boat size determines what size chop allows this approach.