Wakes from other boats.

[Jmnemonic]

Hi,

I continue learning to handle my boat, my big problem now is wakes from other boats, I have tried to pass throught these wakes by front, by side and my boat always jump.

The best way i've found to solve this problem is to slow down, stop planning and pass throught the wake slowly and continue after that, but i think there should be a better way.

My boat has a V hull, is a 19' with an 90hp outboard, cruising speed
18-20 knots

Any advice?.

Thanks.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Wakes from other boats.

I'll chime in here and ask why you're concerned. Is the wake big enough to upset your boat? Seems like a 19' anything would handle the wake from another boat pretty easily. My rig chine walks sometimes if I hit others wakes at a funny angle but it's not anything that really worries me.

If you're concerned that your boat can't handle the pounding it might take crossing those wakes on plane I'll submit that your hull will be fine.

 

[Tig]

Re: Wakes from other boats.

Wakes are like rough spots in the road. Be aware. If I'm around the big soft plane cruiser wakes or in the seaway, then wakes have to be maneuvered through carefully. If they are not too big I trim in to drop the nose and turn into them at an appropriate angle. I find that trimming the motor in, helps to prevent the spine jarring pound of bad jump.
If you boat is light, wide and shallow V you can expect it to jump easily and land hard. Drive accordingly.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Wakes from other boats.

When you say jump do you mean it leaves the water,or do you mean the bow pounds up and down and makes the ride uncomfortable?Normally you would trim in and slow for a wake.Some boats the bow rises excessively when slowed exagerating the pounding again trimming in would help.More than one or two in the stern would make the bow rise as well.Normal slow speed would be about as the bow starts to rise to assist it going up on the wave too slow and a large wake wave might simply wash over it.Some boats pound more than others because the bottom is more flat. Sometimes a boat is refered to as a V hull simply because of the V shape at the bow.Others have a slight V all the way back ,a modified V or a Deep V .
A deep V might have a deadrise of 18 or 20 degrees and ride quite smoothly.
If you have trouble with bow rise you might consider something like Smart Tabs for better control.

 

[convergent]

Re: Wakes from other boats.

Are you talking about wakes from similar sized boats, or something huge like a tug boat or larger watercraft that really throw off wakes that could be dangerous. If you are talking about similar size boats, then you don't need to stop to go through them. The only wakes to me that are really dangerous are when you find your self running along so you are parallel to the rise and fall... this can cause the boat to flip to the side really far and I've seen people get ejected from a boat like that (other boats). You should try to hit the wake perpendicular or maybe 45 degrees... something in between. And I generally just motor right through them at speed. If you are planed off and trimmed up a bit you might get a little air, but there is really not a lot of boat in the water at that point to have it hit hard. Just be prepared for an unpredictable move of the boat as you go through it and hold the steering wheel steady. Sometimes I will slow down a bit if it looks like I'm hitting the worst part of one, and in that case I do plane down a bit too so that I have more control. It will come with experience and its not uncommon for it to sound like you are taking a pretty hard lick to the hull when you hit one, but that is normal.

 

[Jmnemonic]

Re: Wakes from other boats.

Thanks all,

Convergent, I'm talking about wakes from boats of all sizes, but in this area there are some ferrys, making turistic trips, this ferrys are about 150' feet and loaded with 30 - 40 people.

steelspike, I mean the bow jumps, i dont know if totally, but for me, the feeling is like as i were jumping, and then having a hard landing.

I dont know if this can help, but I think my boat has a better performance loaded with 4 or 5 people than just with 1 or 2 people, is like more weight make its more stable.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Wakes from other boats.

I generally try to take another boats wake at a slight angle and let the boat roll with it. Taking a wake perpedicular is too harsh for me especially at speed. I have been airborne (prop out of the water airborne) in both boats from doing that when a cruiser wake caught me off guard.

But, do you want to attend Wake Running 101? Classes are held every Summer weekend from 10am-sunset on The Lake of The Ozarks. Advanced classes are held every holiday weekend. Extra seat cushions are highly recommended.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Wakes from other boats.

practice practice practice. If you have a boat with seating in the bow, be sure it's not overloaded, or learn how to compensate.
Hull design matters. Some bowriders that are made ot look sleek, look unseaworthy to a real boater. If you have one, know your limtations--by practicing. Taking green water over the bow is not the end of the world, but try not to do it, and once you do, think hard about the wave and how you drove so you can learn from it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Wakes from other boats.

I was thinking about this post today; I was out in my 21' and caught some nice air going over a tug boat wake. Going over waves is patr of the fun of boating; you don't want to go along like freshly laid asphalt?
But Saturday my wife and I went out for fishing, dinner at a marina and to watch fireworks from the bay. It was blowing and sloppy choppy. Much harder to manage; even turned back at our initial run into the bay to let it lay down some. Slammed a couple of hard ones--not good for her or me.
Boat wakes area breeze, once you know your boat--they are uniform and there are three of them. Swells with cross-chop, wind adverse to tide, that's when it's tough because every wave presents a new dynamic. But if you are going to be ab oater you have to learn how to deal with all ofthem, whether it;s fun or work.