How should I deal with these waves next time?

[Luhrs28]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

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.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

Some great advice there friends and I really appreciate it.

Some of you are mentioning 5 foot waves which would really scare me in my little thing but never seen anything like that here thank god.

You said you were in 1.5M waves which is 4.9 feet.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

Is there ever a reason to head into waves with the trim all the way down? seems this would only cause a wave to come over the bow. I would think rising the trim up (not full up, but enough to navigate) would be a better option to aviod stabbing the waves. We encounter some huge waves on the Great Lakes and I usually run at 45 degrees with trim raised enough to keep the bow up, working the throttle in between.

 

[QC]

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.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

Is there ever a reason to head into waves with the trim all the way down? seems this would only cause a wave to come over the bow. I would think rising the trim up (not full up, but enough to navigate) would be a better option to aviod stabbing the waves. We encounter some huge waves on the Great Lakes and I usually run at 45 degrees with trim raised enough to keep the bow up, working the throttle in between.

Again, depending on the particular boat you're running: In a moderate 2-3 foot chop, if You trim the motor all the way down (in) and lower the bow, you will begin to kind of skip through the waves at moderate to high speeds. The "bounce" will be more frequent but less jarring and the water will be splashed outward towards the side. Problem is when you hit that random 45 degree that came from some other boat's wake or anywhere else, it will splash you over the side a bit. The best way I could describe it is the ride goes from
the pattern of 1...splash....2....splash.....3...splash... with the bow going up and down alot, it goes more to a 1...2..3..4..5..6 etc... type of rhythmic pattern where the bow isn't rising or falling as dramatically.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

You said you were in 1.5M waves which is 4.9 feet.

You're absolutely right but that last 0.1.......

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

You're absolutely right but that last 0.1.......

LOL...0.1 is the scare threshold!

 

[frozenhawaiian]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

as has been said, take the seas diagonal,also come down off a plane, trim up also give it some gas on the way up the swell and ease off on the way back down, it takes time and it takes practice. a lot of people go way to fast in rough seas.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

Looks like everyone has told you how to keep it from swamping, so I will just add something specific about the Tahoe. They tend to be lower in the front than most boats. My father has a 215 deck boat, and that is even worse, but we found out after a trip on the Gulf out of St Pete, that his front storage compartments had no drains, so they were full before we even left dock because it was raining about 20 minutes prior. So check your front compartments and make sure they are empty, and do like everyone suggests and try the 45 degree method, and keep the bow up. My Q7 doesnt have nearly the problems my father has, but it still sits low and I have to play with it to keep it above the waves.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

his front storage compartments had no drains

Thanks for that mnypitboat, thankfully mine has drain holes but because of the size of them it would take a while to empty into the bilge, which may not be such a bad thing as it would give the pump some time to empty whats already there. Maybe.
Best really not to have any water in the boat!

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

Thanks for that mnypitboat, thankfully mine has drain holes but because of the size of them it would take a while to empty into the bilge, which may not be such a bad thing as it would give the pump some time to empty whats already there. Maybe.
Best really not to have any water in the boat!

Mine were really small when I got it too. I took out the pretty black plugs with tiny holes in them and drilled the holes out to about an inch. I do not want any water to sit in the bow, especially when I am going through rough water. We almost swampted my Dad's boat in St Pete. I was not used to his boat and went into a 100ft freighter's wake like I always do in my own boat, and put the bow under the second one. It was our first evening that we arrived, so we were going out to dinner and were wearing nice cloths. My wife was soaked from head to toe. At the time we were puckering our butcheaks, but now looking back, having survived, it was kinda funny. It definately taught us a lesson though. We brought the boat back to the condo we were renting and bailed out the front compartments with plastic cups. The next day I went and bought a drill at their local Walmart(we were on vacation so we had no tools) and drilled big ***** holes in those compartments and the next time we encountered large wake and chop we followed proper procedures for handling them. And had a little fun too. I think I powered over the first one a bit too hard because we were out of the water for what seemed like an eternity and my wife's but was off the seat by about 8" when we landed. I bet it was only a split second, but it seemed like forever, but it put us right where we needed to be for the next one.

After that mishap, aside from a very rough ride, being a Tahoe Deckboat, it was an awesome week. I think that no matter how many years you have been boating, or how many boats you have driven, sometimes we all get a little complacent. I had driven his boat on lakes for years, but this was totally differant. I have been in and driven dozens of boats, and was taught to drive 60ft cruisers back in the mid 80s by the Rat(Walt Disney World), been to the Bahamas multiple times driving a 36ft Scarab, owned and been around boats since I was a little kid in the 70s, but it only takes one time to become complacent, and not pay attention to get you into real trouble. Huge lesson learned!! So be careful out there. Read Read Read. Take boating courses from differant providers if you can. You can never be too prepared on a boat.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

With all do respect you need find a experienced boater to take you out in some snotty water and see how he or she works the boat...and the reaction they take from your boat in such conditions..Its highly unadvisable for a new boater going to sea wind and currents can be treachous and come from no where and in such occasions you need to be confident and have your wits about you...Good luck

 

[marcoalza]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

drilled the holes out to about an inch

Do these holes simply drain into the bilge? I assumed that there was a pipe behind them.
Mine drain really slowly. So I think I'll do the same.
Thanks for your time my friend.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

you need find a experienced boater to take you out

I appreciate your suggestion and you're absolutely right, but it's a little difficult here.
Not many people to ask and the weather & sea is not normally bad.
I did a 2 day safe boating course on the calmest days I've seen!
I've learnt more talking to you guys.

Any volunteers from iBoats fancy coming over for a few days........

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

Do these holes simply drain into the bilge? I assumed that there was a pipe behind them.
Mine drain really slowly. So I think I'll do the same.
Thanks for your time my friend.

Mine had no pipe behind them. But then again, my Dad's didnt even have drains, so you may want to check to make sure there are no tubes behind them before you drill them out.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

the best set up for drains for the front lockers is for them to drain overboard via through-hulls in the bow. Boats made for recreation such as fishing have this, so you don't get fishy water in the bilge. Your melting ice drains straight out. But they are also made so that water generally doesn't get in the top in the first place. Some boats, apparently, aren't really made for outdoor use.

If you drill new holes, consider whether the water will drain on top of your floatation foam--you don't want this. You want it down to a vacant part of the bilge so it can quickly and harmessly move aft and be pumped out. So consider if you are drilling just for emergencies, adn plan to keep the boxes dry, or if you plan to regularly drain out them (like from melting ice). I don't suggest modifyiong your rig to add overboard drains.

 

[sasto]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

In a big boat (60' and above) I normally take the waves head on. But we are speaking of a bowrider. You should be going slow enough that the trim should be down with no ill effect. If you were to have the trim up while cresting a big wave you may loose all rudder and steering. No control of your vessel, and she may breach a wave.

As dingbat pointed out wave period will determine my course of action. Wave period is the time between each crest. These are usually measured for swells, not wind waves. Mix in 5' swells from the east with a wave period of 5 seconds, and wind waves (chop) from the north and you have a blender effect. Swells can travel over 500 miles, whereas wind waves are generally local.

In the conditions you describe with swells only I would do my best to keep the prop in the water at all times. I really doubt a little trim would help. I would have taken the swells at about 10-20 degrees and in a zig-zag pattern. After cresting a swell I would have attempted to to approach the next set at a small angle.

Head on in swells can cause 2 things. You may loose rudder and steering at the crest of the wave, and you may stuff her at the bottom. Many factors apply here and it is difficult to give advice unless we have been there. Every situation is different.

Was this a head sea....or a following sea! This also determines what I do with the throttle.

Glad your home safe, marcoalza!

.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

Was this a head sea....or a following sea!

Following seas just sux in general

 

[sasto]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

Following seas just sux in general

How true you are, dingbat! Loose your rudder/skeg/prop and the rest is history.

A short story:
Hurricane Wilma was bearing down on the Gulf, across the state from me. She decised to make a turn and cross the state. My plans were to head to the Bahamas in a couple days, I left as soon as she turned. I headed to Grand Bahama, keeping an eye on Wilma. She decided she was going to follow me to Grand Bahama so I headed south to an out island, San Salvador.

Westerly swells picked up to 10' across my starboard beam. Riding Rock Marina in San Sal is highly protected. The entrance is appx. 30' wide and the marina is about an acre, all surrounded by an 8' concrete wall. I weighed my options, there wasn't many. I was forced to ride into the marina atop a following sea. Mother Nature was angry, and I put on a diaper. I somehow made it into the marina and found myself facing a concrete wall appx. 70' in front of me. I'm in a 64'er. Little or no rudder. I jammed both throttles in reverse and put the coals to her. I really expected to blow out some windows due to the twisting and shaking. She went beam to and I landed less than 2' from the concrete bulkhead. I call it luck!

I tied her up with every line I had, changed my diaper, and headed to the bar for a rum and coke.

If your ever there, check out my signature at the end of the bar, along with a photo.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: How should I deal with these waves next time?

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.

That was a typo, please let me reiterate I wouldn't-WOULD NOT take on 3' waves head on in that boat. Sorry for the confusion!