Happened to us multiple times not to far off shore though. Grab on tight, slow down make sure your kill switch is around your wrist and I try to go around the chop as much as possible.
That's one of the reasons I carry a VHF radio. I have it set to give me automatic updates to the ever changing conditions in the Chesapeake Bay. I also echo what Weimed said. In addition I break out my back up motor and look for protected water to dock. Having to retrieve your boat from a different place than you launched it , is not as bad as losing it all together because of bad weather
Boating at a protected area is quite different than doing so off shore. What would you do if being 15 miles off shore from launching point at a small inhabited island, with nothing in middle but with other different type of boats around same island ? To your luck all of them must return to same launching point, marina, boat ramp, whatever. General water conditions are not ideal for a smooth pleasent ride, but not that extreme awful to put your life in jeopardy
Boating at a protected area is quite diffeerent than at off shore. What would you do if being 15 miles off shore from launching point at a small inhabited island, with nothing in middle but with other different type of boats around same island ? To your luck all of them must return to same launching point, marina, boat ramp, whatever. General water conditions are not ideal for a smooth pleasent ride, but not that extreme awful to put you life in jeopardy
Honestly I do not think I would have the guts to go 15 miles off shore on my dinghy. I would say 5-6 miles out ok but I do not think I would risk any further. 15 miles out I would be back in less then 30 min in protected water. My 15hp merc is a beast. I was clocking 22mph and the pitch wasn't even set correctly. Once i set it properly i will prob get like 24mph
If you have ever been offshore when the weather made a quick change, you would know the speed in flat water is not even a factor to consider. You go to displacement speed and learn to pray.
We went from manageable seas to 8 footers with breakers in a matter of a few minutes once and had to claw our way home. Every wave that broke into the boat reminded us we were in far over our heads and might not make it. An inflatable would have been upside down in a few minutes. The trick is to make sure you do not get in a situation like that to begin with.
Honestly I do not think I would have the guts to go 15 miles off shore on my dinghy. I would say 5-6 miles out ok but I do not think I would risk any further. 15 miles out I would be back in less then 30 min in protected water. My 15hp merc is a beast. I was clocking 22mph and the pitch wasn't even set correctly. Once i set it properly i will prob get like 24mph
I'm with you I can't see a need to be further into the Atlantic Ocean than 2 miles With that being said. I have made sure to have everything the Coast Guard says is mandatory for off shore trips (greater than 10 miles) no matter where I am
There's a slow or fast way to get home, will depend entirely if having a healthy engine delivering it's near or full HP output. Driver must know his sib/rib well and its cruising capabilities or limitations. Do it all the time when encountering seas that turns unexpectedly windy, choppy providing uncomfortable riding seas specially at plane. Will post some pics as soon as a cruising samaritan is spotted on my umconfortable & unpleasent return home course and pics are shot to have a look on cracy method.
Myself I can handle a pretty good beating, but often the crew (Read girlfriend) won't put up with much. We have been out at the Golden Gate when the tide and winds were running opposite and I could not change course or speed for fear of loosing crew members overboard, and completely soaking them. We have taken waves over the bow loaded with scuba gear, and four people on board. There is a reason I have an elephant trunk and bilge pump onboard...
Usually the one that gets soaked under harsh wind, chop water cond is the tiller driver, specially a non diver wearing non water clothing. Generally wify, girlfriend sits towards bow or at bow, Probably will not get soaked as driver, but definitely will complain much about the bumpy ride back home, all complain same, ladies issues. Was wondering if boating under those near extreme conditions is a men's theme ?
Yesterday found a slow good Samaritan, my ticket to ride back home, was wondering if system still is cracy enough not to show uploaded pictures and frustrating posters, as you know, a pic is much better than 1 K written words. Is it possible to see the light at the end off the tunnel, or not yet ?
Today will check if finding a fast Samarritan to shoot pics at and compared them to the slow ones, to get (for me) the best ticket to ride back home.
Hi Ronald, not really stranded but very frustrated as not to see uploaded pictures, will try again. Thanks
The least the computer genius deserves for screwing the Forums is winding a heavy chain and anchor included on his neck and trowing him into the deep blue..
I can edit wantever needs to, including strange out of this world letters that appears after posting, but can't see on my last post pics that have uploaded but aren't visible, cracy system issuess. On the contrary seeing pics posted by others that are visible.
I can edit whatever needs to, including strange out of this world letters that appears after posting, but can't see on my last post pics that have uploaded but aren't visible, cracy system issuess. On the contrary seeing pics posted by others that are visible.
This is the most recurrent error the system is displaying : There has been a database error, and the current page cannot be displayed. Site staff have been notified. At this pace should have zillions of notifications by now..
