Boating in windy conditions!!

[dalton565]

Hey guys

im just after some general advice surrounding this.
i recently bought a 18ft2" Campion with a 4.3ltr Merc 2005. I have it moored up at a nearby lake, which consists of several lakes interconnected.

One of the lakes is very large and can turn choppy even in relatively calm conditions. What i want to ask is when its like this should i cross it dead slow. As when i have tried to cross while planing (around 20knots) the hull bangs and crashes on the waves.

1. Is this normal ?
2. How much of battering can a hull really take before you get dangerous ?
(i have been told it sounds worse than it is, but im not convinced)
3. Whats the best way to go if its rough ?

i also found that when i went dead slow it throws alot of water up around the windscreen and even into the boat.

i dont usually stay in the big lake too long i just cross it to get to the more sheltered coves for skiing.

Any advice on this topic ?

This is my boat
http://www.campionboats.com/allante/545/specs.php

Cheers

Any ideas for boating

 

[tommays]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

With a 19' powerboat and a 24' sailboat ,when it is blowing 20 and getting choppy i have to go slow in the powerboat as it is pretty easy to make a mistake and stuff the bow under water


Of course the sailboat really comes alive when it is blowing 20 but it tends to be a harsh wet ride due to the design taking on water is not a concern as it is in the powerboat

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

One of the lakes is very large and can turn choppy even in relatively calm conditions. What i want to ask is when its like this should i cross it dead slow. As when i have tried to cross while planing (around 20knots) the hull bangs and crashes on the waves.

1. Is this normal ?
2. How much of battering can a hull really take before you get dangerous ?
(i have been told it sounds worse than it is, but im not convinced)
3. Whats the best way to go if its rough ?

i also found that when i went dead slow it throws alot of water up around the windscreen and even into the boat.

1. In my experience yes but I've been only boating for a few years on lakes and my only other experience is on large fishing vessels in the ocean which don't apply here. I've run a deck boat and a runabout and both had similar experience of banging/crashing in the chop. Obviously, the wider the hull or even better yet a tri-hull would be best to minimize this feeling.

2. Structurally you should be fine. When weather services are offering small craft warnings, you typically are then getting into a chop that is considered 'concerning' for most craft under 33ft in length.

3. I prefer hitting them around 90 degrees at 1/2 - 2/3 throttle. Prevents the water splash in the front but does produce the banging/crashing against the hull. Either way, the chop is usually 8-12 inches and don't suspect it causing any issues with hull integrity.

 

[mike64]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

I get the banging and crashing over chop too-- there's a lot of that on the lake I'm usually on. My 5 year old loves it! It's kind of concerned me, but I figure it must be a common enough thing that the hull is designed to withstand a lot. Like jumbo jets, people worry in bad turbulence, but those jets are designed to take way more abuse than they get in even the worst turbulence.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

A Tri hull is the absolute worst boat you can use in rough water. If you think a V is rough a Tri hull will knock your teeth out. They are great when the lake is like glass but with a little chop look out. We grew up with a Tri hull and I wont ride in them any more, my spine wont take the abuse. Just slow down in the rough stuff.

 

[dalton565]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

I assume by trihull your speaking about a boat like a mastercraft,tige or malibu. Im not talking about a massive swell. Maybe a 10-15mph wind producing waves around 1ft high.

i find im mostly going across the waves rather than straughton. Which probably makes it worse.

Does the engine trim make a difference, should i have it full down ?

 

[mike64]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

i find im mostly going across the waves rather than straughton. Which probably makes it worse.

I thought the best thing was to try to hit a wave or wake at a diagonal(?)

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

Dalton,
when you encounter "chop" it is better to approach the waves off center...at about 20% off the bow....when you encounter chop...drop the bow,using tabs or trim all the way in...the effect is the sharp part of the hull is "slicing" thru the chop instead of the lower part of the hull, where its flatter, encountering the chop...power depends on ride,all boats are different,so the speed you go is determined by the level of comfort. And,NO you wont damage the hull,what you will do, is loosen up fittings / turn your spleen to mush and stress out your passengers, try different methods with trim & speed. after a while you will get to "know" your boat.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

Maybe not a tri hull but a friend mine has a V hull with chines (spelling?) and I find it rides the rough water much smoother than mine. The boat I'm thinking of is a 70's Peterborough.

I'll be honest, I haven't played with trim and usually have it in the middle when at these speeds. One thing I would try (and I will the next time out) is perhaps putting the trim a little higher at a slower speed and see if the bow rides a little better above the wave but I suspect it'll just make it more difficult to see. But you've now peeked my curiosity.

 

[bchboater]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

2. Structurally you should be fine. When weather services are offering small craft warnings, you typically are then getting into a chop that is considered 'concerning' for most craft under 33ft in length.

When you hit the waves and the boat shakes, can that cause the gelcoat to stress and maybe crack? I remember reading on this forum somewhere that having the bow crash down on waves repeatedly will do this.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

I wish it was one of those. I'm talking about a 14' Glastron. Any kind of chop and that thing would beat you senseless.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

I agree. I had a 14' Sunray at it would knock the kidneys loose in a chop as well.

 

[oops!]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

A Tri hull is the absolute worst boat you can use in rough water. If you think a V is rough a Tri hull will knock your teeth out. They are great when the lake is like glass but with a little chop look out.

this is total truth......if you are in a tri in windy conditions.....run for cover

I assume by trihull your speaking about a boat like a mastercraft,tige or malibu. Im not talking about a massive swell. Maybe a 10-15mph wind producing waves around 1ft high.

no the newer big mastercrafts look like a tri but are a vee.

the campions are good boats...no worries with it in a "chop"

if you are a novice boater.....i would suggest staying out of bigger water....especially with you little ones on board.......

when i am boating and the wind picks up.....(depending on the size of the waves) i will not use the straight for the destination approach....but rather use the waves to my advantage.....in a following sea....i will surf the water....and make sure my speed is constamtly corrected to keep the bow from submarining....and allways watch the waves comming behind you...one big one...and your swamped....... in fact....i go so far out of my way to make it a safe and not jarring ride for my passengers....that a 5 minit straight ride can take as long as 1 hr......i dont like to get my passengers wet or put them in a situation where things could get...."dicey"

the best bet is allways to find safe harbour

in a one foot chop....(little) water....i just but my bow into the waves and plane across the top......the banging in your camp is no problem....boats are expected to take this.......

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

on a 1 ft chop, i generally open it up and get on top of them, then throttle back but stay on top, true it is like riding down a washboard, it is not going to hurt that boat. as said cut the waves at an angle. you boat will cut waves very well. it is all about learn what it really can do, and what it won't. i'm sure it came with the bow cover, in really rough encounter you can put your bow cover on, and keep going.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

I suspect I'd avoid these...

 

[jonesg]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

I suspect I'd avoid these...

hehehe, quick break out the surfboards.!

What about 6 foot rollers, 30 mph winds and 15 miles offshore in a 21' triumph, I notice engine is quiet too. The land doesn't seem to be getting any closer but they're flying tryin to outrun storms on both sides.

http://video.google.com/videosearch...nUS218US218&q=triumph boats&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv#

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

Well, there has been a lot of good advice here. I boat lake erie where a calm day is 2ft'rs. I nor anyone else I that I know changes their course because of it. We will adjust speed and trim settings accordingly, but never our course unless its really rough ( I'm talking 5-6 ft and over.Even then, its usually whatever course we have to take to get to where we are going, but slightly off plane etc) If you live on a smaller inland lake where its usually calm, then more power to you, if you live on a great lake, you learn that you're gonna get wet from time to time and you are gonna get bounced around a little ( unless you're happing going out that once or twice a year when the lake is glass). My advice to the OP, don't worry about you're boat, it was built to handle it. Slow it down a little, learn how the boat reacts to throttle and trim, and make for the smoothest, safest ride you can in the given conditions.

 

[ThePerchik]

Re: Boating in windy conditions!!

I use my 1982 Thundercraft Citation bowrider 17' to get to and from a sandbar in the middle of a 4 mile wide bay. The bay gets very rough and I only use to the boat when its blowing 15MPH or more. We go kitesurfing from the sandbar and we need wind. We have gone many a time in 30 MPH winds as well. The swell gets to 2-3 feet. The key is controlling speed and picking the right angle. If heading into waves, so against the flow of waves, i just keep the engine about 50-60% trimmed down and then go at a speed slightly about just enough to be on plane. As i hit one swell i blip the throttle to keep the nose up as i come over the back of the wave as not to burry the nose in the next wave. If going over the back of waves you MUST go either at the the speed or faster of the waves. And i use the same blip technique. I using zig zag between the waves to find areas where its calmer and then gun it through those to make life easier.