crabby captain john
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,823
Re: water over transom prob
ALWAYS anchor off the bow. The waves should be cut by the bow and waves roll under the boat. Having a tight anchor rode off the stern holds the stern low in the water so waves can roll on in. Coming in off lake Erie in 6 - 8'ers I saw a 24' boat riding easy in the swell as I was riding a wave until it broke then scurried up the next. My 1st mate saw the 1st wave roll over his stern I saw the 2nd flood the boat and bring the bow up knowing the stern would not recover. I was on the radio with the CG before the crew of 3 was in the water without life jackets. I looked at my mate and he nodded - we could not leave them with the CG 45 - 60 minutes out. Gave our numbers and 4 waves later I was able to turn the boat -- Denny was young and very strong. Could not bring them on the swim platform as the waves were pushing the boat around at slow speed, he pulled each one over a gunnel. We had water coming over both gunnels and over the cabin - windshield - roof and dumping with the rest. headed toward Canada-- took 15 minutes to find a wave we could turn in. Notified the CG we had them aboard-- they stayed about 15 minutes away until we were 4 miles offshore in 5'ers as we could not transfer them in that water. Coasties met us at our dock. Even though the water was warm they would not have survived hours or more without flotation. It only took TWO waves to sink the boat, we were in front of them. If my mate had not seen the 1st wave go over their stern we never would have missed them. Now I never back down on any fish unless the water is relatively flat. I'll never own a boat with an open motor well either- self bailing, 2 pumps on different batteries- unsinkable,, the ONLY way to go.
ALWAYS anchor off the bow. The waves should be cut by the bow and waves roll under the boat. Having a tight anchor rode off the stern holds the stern low in the water so waves can roll on in. Coming in off lake Erie in 6 - 8'ers I saw a 24' boat riding easy in the swell as I was riding a wave until it broke then scurried up the next. My 1st mate saw the 1st wave roll over his stern I saw the 2nd flood the boat and bring the bow up knowing the stern would not recover. I was on the radio with the CG before the crew of 3 was in the water without life jackets. I looked at my mate and he nodded - we could not leave them with the CG 45 - 60 minutes out. Gave our numbers and 4 waves later I was able to turn the boat -- Denny was young and very strong. Could not bring them on the swim platform as the waves were pushing the boat around at slow speed, he pulled each one over a gunnel. We had water coming over both gunnels and over the cabin - windshield - roof and dumping with the rest. headed toward Canada-- took 15 minutes to find a wave we could turn in. Notified the CG we had them aboard-- they stayed about 15 minutes away until we were 4 miles offshore in 5'ers as we could not transfer them in that water. Coasties met us at our dock. Even though the water was warm they would not have survived hours or more without flotation. It only took TWO waves to sink the boat, we were in front of them. If my mate had not seen the 1st wave go over their stern we never would have missed them. Now I never back down on any fish unless the water is relatively flat. I'll never own a boat with an open motor well either- self bailing, 2 pumps on different batteries- unsinkable,, the ONLY way to go.
