How should I deal with these waves next time?

[CaryW]

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

Got caught out in an 18ft SeaRay (closed bow) many years ago in a freak summer storm. The waves were large and very close together. When the bow would go down the outdrive would come out of the water. Luckily I had the canvas top up and it helped to keep some of the water out of the boat. I tried every thing I ever knew about rough water, nothing was working, too big and too close together. I also had 2 passengers in the boat decide to start panicing. Finally figured out to point the bow almost into the wave and then hit reverse while I was going over the wave. I safely backed into a cove that way. Longest day of my life. We saw the storm sink a 32ft Marinette Cruiser.

Things can go bad quickly sometimes. Gotta keep your head.

 

[marcoalza]

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

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

Excellent sasto.

I have no idea where anything was coming from, I was too busy clenching my butt cheeks at the time!
I was heading for the harbour and the swells where coming at me from starboard and harbour was infront of me. I was gonna head for the beach to have a pooh but was pretty confused!

So these wave periods, in a 20 ft bowrider, the smaller the forecast wave period, the worse the condition for me, is that right?

I think on the day the forecast from here.....

http://www.myforecast.com/bin/marine_forecast.m?city=50039&metric=false#wave

.....was 3 secs with .9m wave height. Don't laugh sasto but bear in mind the biggest waves I?ve seen here were in my coffee cup.

 

[kahuna123]

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

Sasto I would have loved to have seen that. We were out about 30 diving last year and got a wild hair and decided to go to the grounds. Fast boat, weather was great. But no one checked the forecast. Turned East at 30. 6 Hours working the throttles of twin 4 strokes with not *** at low rpms and a boat that planed at 15. At one point I was wearing my dive mask. Off on off on. People don't know how nasty 4-6ft with no back and no break can be.

My point is you have to know you and your boats limits. If not you can get into trouble real quick.

 

[sasto]

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

So these wave periods, in a 20 ft bowrider, the smaller the forecast wave period, the worse the condition for me, is that right?

.....was 3 secs with .9m wave height. Don't laugh sasto but bear in mind the biggest waves I?ve seen here were in my coffee cup.

It is difficult to determine the correct course of action while not being there, marcolza. I will speak in general terms.

3 foot (.09M) every 3 secs, on your stbd side, is a tough job in any size boat. You could have zig-zaged and hit them at a 45 degree angle, but there becomes a problem in that also. My fear is not in hitting the crest of the wave, it is the fear of stuffing her at the bottom. With waves that short together. you have little or no time to correct yourself before the next set hits. The throttle can be your best friend or foe.

My opinion is you did the correct thing. 3 footers on your starboard beam can be scary, difficult to maintain course, and of course your going to get wet. I understand your fear, but I truely believe your boat can handle more than that. It is amazing what a boat can handle, but operator error or a rouge wave can be deadly. That doesn't mean I'm giving you the go-ahead to try it!

To answer your question....Yes, the shorter the wave period, the more difficult your job becomes. I will post some photos of what can happen soon.

Point is, you are taking the time to analize the situation you were in and taking advice from others. You are safe. Next time this happens, you will be better prepaired for it.

Keep the dirty side down, marco.

 

[sasto]

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

I worked for Garlington some years ago. This is an an e-mail I recieved with Capt. Steve's analyzation of the events that occured. This event happened locally. We lost a good captain and father that day.


To determine how to do it right, we first need to see it done wrong. The following pictures depict another captain in nearly the same predicament. The differences are the boat of course, and the breaking seas are closely located over an inlet reef, not stretching for miles like mine were.
Let?s dissect this trip with some incredible photos?.

We start as the fishing boat, a Garlington 51, is approaching the inlet. Breaking seas are present, likely from an outgoing tide. We have an experienced captain who has been running this inlet for 15 years, and who is intimate with his own boat. He encounters the first of the breaking seas at a speed greater than the wave itself is travelling. This is a well built boat with wide flaring bows that is capable of handling this encounter.

At this point, the boat is on top of the cresting wave, and about to go down into the trough, just as she has it had a thousand times before.

But this time the 51 had built up so much speed going down the following wave, that instead of going up and over the next wave, she instead plunged into it. This is called ?stuffing? the bow. At this point, the bow acts as a sea anchor and digs in, slowing the forward half of the boat to a crawl. The stern, still wanting to keep up its speed, then gets pushed sideways and a dangerous broaching scenario is now likely. The following wave will roll the boat over.

The rails are going under and the roll is imminent. Everything about the boat?s portside says stop, and the starboard side says go. Something?s got to give. Usually the only thing left is to roll over.

At this point there are two things that can be done from the helm. Turn to port and try to get the boat leveled, or turn to starboard and hope to get the boat to heel over in the opposite direction. If you take off power you take away controllability. You have split seconds to decide? lives are at stake. What are you going to do?

The cockpit is now under water and the bow is starting to rise. In spite of the wave?s best efforts, the boat refuses to accept her fate, and the captain is clearly struggling. He?s turned the helm, but we can?t determine which way just yet.

 

[sasto]

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

Sasto I would have loved to have seen that.

My point is you have to know you and your boats limits. If not you can get into trouble real quick.

I would have made a video, kahuna, but I had me hands full and the mate was on his knees praying.

Know your limits? That is always nice to know. I think I found her that day and also a year earlier. The mate and I traveled from upper Michigan to the Carib. We stopped at Cat Island, Bahamas for fuel. Our next destination was Turks and Caicos. It was early evening and the weather was beautiful. We decided to run overnight at 10kts and arrive at Turtle Cove Marina at daylight. My helm chair is about 14' above the boot stripe. Waves were about another 8' over my head. We arrived 12 hours after our planned time. I was tore up. My young and tough mate wanted to party all night. I followed him.:facepalm:

Don't mean to hijack your thread, marcoalza. Carry on!

 

[marcoalza]

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

To answer your question....Yes, the shorter the wave period, the more difficult your job becomes.

Thanks Sasto.
Really helpful although some of the posts here scare the life out of me!

One last question, on this site there are 3 different forecasts for waves:

http://www.myforecast.com/bin/marine_forecast.m?city=50039&metric=false#wave

The important one for me is?

Mean Wave Direction/Period
Wind Wave Direction/Period
Peak Wave Direction/Period

 

[marcoalza]

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

Garlington 51

I've seen these shots before on boatest.com but now understand what happened to him and in a smaller version what was happening to me.
I think the scary thing is how things can change so quickly and outcomes rely on quick and correct decisions.

Thanks to all of you for posting your experiences and advice.
I'm now going out with the wife in what I'm told is;

Mean Wave Direction/Period 6sec
Wind Wave Direction/Period 4sec
Peak Wave Direction/Period 6sec


Wish me luck!

 

[veritas honus]

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

Garlington 51

I've seen these shots before on boatest.com but now understand what happened to him and in a smaller version what was happening to me.
I think the scary thing is how things can change so quickly and outcomes rely on quick and correct decisions.

Thanks to all of you for posting your experiences and advice.
I'm now going out with the wife in what I'm told is;

Mean Wave Direction/Period 6sec
Wind Wave Direction/Period 4sec
Peak Wave Direction/Period 6sec


Wish me luck!

Marcoalza, I just found and finished reading this thread. Can't think of anything to add. You're already well armed with good info, and the little bit of misinformation has already been corrected.

I'm glad you're looking to take control as opposed to avoiding the issue. You've got a good head on your shoulders.

"Oilydan" has a boat more appropriate for what you've encountered. Gonna trade up, now?

 

[sasto]

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

Good luck, marcoalza,

Continue doing studies of the weather. Make a note of what the forecast says and what you really expierence. Compare the 2 over a period before heading to sea. Always remember they are a forecast and not actual. My guess is the prevailing winds in your area are out of the east or southeast. When the winds change going clockwise around the compass may mean low a front moving in.

Whenever I'm out there in an east or south wind and it starts turning to the west, I usually head in. Once the winds are out of the north, that usually means the seas will kick up with wind waves. Remember swells can travel many many miles.

It amazes me what little weather knowledge is required for a captains liscense or for recrational boating. I have a friend that has a permit for hot air balloons. He is required to take a meteorlogical exam. I'm not.
I had someone very knowledgable to teach me and I continue to study weather patterns. When you think you know it all and get comrortable, Mother Nature steps in and proves you wrong.

Learn weather patterns, speak to local captains and mariners, and get their ideas. But, decisions you make are all on you.

 

[Thalasso]

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

This is the best response of all the responses.

 

[Thalasso]

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

Following seas isn't that bad if you learn how to ride the backside of the wave. If you boat in lake erie you will do alot of that and more in 4-6 footers

 

[Thalasso]

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

This is the best response of all the responses.

Home cookin response is best one.

 

[Home Cookin']

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

thanks

onthe photo of the boat stuffing the bow, the captain, very experienced at that, hit his head and died when he was thrown out of the tower.