Big wave boating technique

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Big wave boating technique

I remember my first experience with big water! I remember it well! It is ETCHED into my memory.

I was returning to Peekskill New York from an on water cruise to Canada via the St. Lawrence Seaway and Chambly Canal. Yes, I did it in a 15 footer with full canvas and even slept on board. Four days up, four back. Did it two years later with my wife.

I was alone, stuck in the middle of Lake Champlain in a 15 foot Glastron closed bow runabout powered with a 55 HP engine when weather blew up. Wind was whipping right up the lake so with that reach, the waves were 4-5 feet. That is no exaggeration because I was standing in the boat and could just see over the tops. I just kept a bit of throttle on, tried to quarter them, and make a bit of headway. I learned real fast not to keep the bow directly into the waves. When I finally made it to port after about two hours, I was wet and beat-up and almost kissed the ground. No joke when I tell you I had the livin' bejeesus scared out of me. Almost as bad as the time I was in an elecrical storm (at the dock). Guys in the 30 footer next to me were saying " Don't worry. If lightning hits you you won't even feel it." Thanks buddy!

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Big wave boating technique

I know your lake, I boat on it it all the time. I grew up around Hillside beach (just south of Victoria Beach) in the summers with my parents building our cottage. I'm a lot older now and have my own 16' Walleye boat and have learned a few things.

I have been in and on that lake when the waves were breaking at 6', the pitch/period between waves were just long enough to dig the bow in and break over the transom on a boat your size. It goes without saying many people have lost their lives on this lake and Lake Manitoba which is even shallower in the South Basin.

There is nothing to discuss with your scenario...you get off ASAP and beach the boat and find a phone to get back to where you are staying, navigating these waters is extremely dangerous even for the experienced fishermen who work these waters regularly, I don't care if its on the rocks where you have to ditch it you do what you have to do to get off if it gets big on you. Our cottage was 300ft away and 20 ft up from the shoreline and we had waves hitting our windows when it starts to blow hard off the prairie Westerlies.

You save your life and those in your boat and get off ASAP, I had a run in with those winds on the Lake Manitoba South Basin and I was 500ft from shore, the waves broke at 4-6ft over the bow but since it was so shallow (6 ft deep) we could get up on plane and ride the crests, the wife and kids sat on the floor while I tried my best to deal with the waves breaking over the bow...the pounding was horrendous and the kids were crying and I was soaked. Everyone in the boat was bruised from hitting the floor and gunwales, I had trouble staying in my seat. The wind was only gusting to 30mph but it came up in less than 5 minutes, I barely had enough time to stash the fishing gear before we took off to shore...it took 20 minutes to make that 500ft, 2 minutes to get out there when it was calm.

If this same scenario had happened on Lake Winnipeg with shore 2 miles away I don't think we would have made it, the deeper water makes the period of the waves longer and the troughs deeper, no place for a 16-18 ft boat thats for sure. I have personally seen waves over 12 ft on Lake Winnipeg on many occasions.

Boating in our area is ruled by one thing, the weather...you read the clouds and check before you leave and watch the time. You see thunderheads on the horizon or the wind starts picking up...you go home now...as fast as possible. Sorry if this doesn't fit your scenario but I have seen too many people drown in these lakes (volunteer firefighter) to know what happens to people on a large shallow lake. 4-5 people die by from just swimming in the lake each year, have respect for it.

Don't forget that when the waves start breaking it takes 10 times longer to get where you want to go because you have to tack them to get anywhere. I suggest you talk with some fishermen who ply that lake and ask them what they do and I am sure you will get the same answer, I know because I have talked with them.

You need a VHF radio so the coast guard at Gimli can find you in an emergency, their Zodiac can handle just about anything the lake can throw their way and the 16 metre Vatka cutter can too...just don't expect rescue for at least a few hours if they are up north...the helicopter will take time to dispatch.

I apologize if I sound harsh, but your scenario is not realistic...you get off ASAP no matter where that puts you, end of story. Any one of those cottagers on the lake will take you in an emergency, we are Canadians...thats how we do business.

 

[timmyjoebob]

Re: Big wave boating technique

First, everyone should have on PFD's. Make sure your crew is aware that these waves could toss them around, even overboard.

Secondly, I agree with the point A to point B scenario. At an angle, tacking back and forth. The angle will depend on the boat. Steerage is important, maintaining throttle and the proper angle. The waves will try to push the boat parallel to the waves.

However, you might need to get from B to A and head downwind. That's another scenario altogether. You want head directly downwind as much as possible, keeping between the crests of the waves, maintaining speed to keep the boat about a third of the way back from the front wave's crest. If you can't stay between waves (the waves going faster than you can), make sure you stay "square" to the waves coming behind you.

If you must run parallel to the waves, do so as little as possible and do so in short bursts, sort of zig-zagging your way to your safe port.

(Thanks to US Power Squadron's ABC)

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Big wave boating technique

I know your lake, I boat on it it all the time. I grew up around Hillside beach

There is nothing to discuss with your scenario...you get off ASAP and beach the boat and find a phone to get back to where you are staying,

I apologize if I sound harsh, but your scenario is not realistic...you get off ASAP no matter where that puts you, end of story. Any one of those cottagers on the lake will take you in an emergency, we are Canadians...thats how we do business.

Hey Chuck, my scenario is what it is. A topic on how to run in larger waves NOT about risking my life to get home. You underestimate my ability to make that decision.

Believe me...I have the greatest respect for this lake. Being near Pine Dock and Matheson Island there are more commercial fisherman than there are recreational cottagers. (that's changing though) We are friends with numerous fisherman and have spent many evenings on the deck talking about the lake. (seems to be a natural course of conversation with a fisherman )

What's exceptional to this area is we can boat in relatively calm waters 80% of the time because the shore has many bays. This is very different from the south basin where you are exposed. Often we see huge white cap rollers in the channel, but we can canoe and waterski in our bay.

I'd take my canoe out and play in these waves, but I won't take a motor boat.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Big wave boating technique

in my experience there is no correct answer..... each boat and each wave is different...... this sounds to me like one of those questins that can't be answered except by years of experience... my first experience with big water was as a STUPID kid in a 12 alum and 7.5 outboard on lake erie and worse yet sandusky bay....... the former is well known as a shallow lake and very unforgiving and the latter is worse for small craft I had absolutely no business on that water in that boat..... waves from every direction at the same time along with wakes from large vessels..... I later had an 18 starcraft alum center console with an 85 hp ob..... was out there all the time in that one and it was all about reading the waves and fast reaction. The second boat was fine there in good weather and handled it very well but I still learned to never treat one wave the same as the last......

 

[waju]

Re: Big wave boating technique

Tacking by quartering the waves (40ish degrees off the bow or stern) works best for me. I don't like pounding the boat if necessary so I go slow. If the waves are large enough that you risk diving into the wave ahead of you in a following sea, try a drift sock or small sea anchor to help control your descent when you come off the crest of a large wave. A lot of fisherman use this to slow wind drift while fishing. I keep one on board for emergency just in case I lose my engine out in the rough. Throw it out and it'll keep the bow into the wind like an anchor. I can't use an anchor due to the depth of water around here (several hundred feet at times).
http://www.charkbait.com/cs/csd_sea_anchors.htm

 

[Dick Sorensen]

Re: Big wave boating technique

For What it is worth.....the only way to really answer your question is for you to take that boat out when the weather isn't exactly perfect and work that water. As you become more confident go out in increasing harder situations.....not huge jumps in skill levels....little steps. You'll aquire the knowledge, and more important, the experience to handle the situation. Remember, sailors have been staying alive for centuries in small boats on big water.... just get out on the water and learn. Get a few bruises, get scared alittle, learn how your boat handles. You'll do fine. If I may, just a personal observation from all the posts.....I'm constantly flabbergasted by the requests/comments/etc made by intelligent human beings who haven't taken the time to get some education, gain some hands on experience (the only real teacher in my opinion) and yet will cheerfully venture forth into an environment that can kill you in less than 3 minutes!