do you like high seas?

[OldePharte]

Re: do you like high seas?

Hi seas is when you are taking 30? rolls while on an aircraft carrier. This happened to me while aboard the USS Shangra La. We caught the tail end of a hurricane in the early 60's.

Were you returning from the Med, heading towards Mayport?

The fleet that we were a part of was dispersed (independent steaming) during November in the North Atlantic because of the high seas. There was a carrier that got so tore up, it loaded up all dependents and their goods to go Norfolk(?) for a refit as a result of the storm.

I believe it was 1967 and I was aboard the USS Robert K Huntington (DD781) coming back to Mayport. We were getting ready to refuel, and got hit by a rogue wave that turned us on our side to the point were we actually lost the "bubble." I was under a bridge wing, under water, wondering how long should I hold on. Another wave righted us, and some buddies of mine on a following ship said that saw the water fly out of the bridge wing door as we got right with the world.

 

[pipes]

Re: do you like high seas?

I am from CT and I usually run the CT river into Long Island Sound. I have a 211 Liberator and it runs great in some swells! I took a ride to Block island last year for Labor day weekend, the ride there was nice about 1-3'. That was comfortable! We woke on that Mon. morning and walked over to get some coffee, as we sat and sipped we were listing to rumor of a storm. A few minutes later we noticed the skies. We figured we would take off quick. Now if you know the area it takes about 2 and a half hours on nice water. Well we got going and we hit 6-8' swells easily. We got closer to CT and the boat had problems staying running. We were in rain, no top, all sunburnt from the weekend. We were screwed now. It seemes something had loosened up from all the movement jumping the wakes. We got into the launch and got out of there. Defintely one of the wildest on the boat that summer. But anyway we go out all of the time in 3 footers. I love jumping them doing about 40 or so! But enjoy and be safe!

 

[ilmostro99]

Re: do you like high seas?

The worst I was in was when I was in the Coast Guard. I was on a 180' Cutter in the Pacific Northwest with 40' seas, about another 6' wind chop on top of that, and 100 knot winds. We took a roll of 52 degrees and from what I heard, 56 is the point of no return. Now, that was fun! (but not sure I would want to do it again).

Erik

 

[lucid484]

Re: do you like high seas?

I am from CT and I usually run the CT river into Long Island Sound. I have a 211 Liberator and it runs great in some swells! I took a ride to Block island last year for Labor day weekend, the ride there was nice about 1-3'. That was comfortable! We woke on that Mon. morning and walked over to get some coffee, as we sat and sipped we were listing to rumor of a storm. A few minutes later we noticed the skies. We figured we would take off quick. Now if you know the area it takes about 2 and a half hours on nice water. Well we got going and we hit 6-8' swells easily. We got closer to CT and the boat had problems staying running. We were in rain, no top, all sunburnt from the weekend. We were screwed now. It seemes something had loosened up from all the movement jumping the wakes. We got into the launch and got out of there. Defintely one of the wildest on the boat that summer. But anyway we go out all of the time in 3 footers. I love jumping them doing about 40 or so! But enjoy and be safe!

haha one of my craziest rides was when I was younger(12, I think)...my family was on my grandfathers 60' Chris Craft Constellation...coming back from block island we got cought in a huge storm...waves were 10'+ and imagine being in a 60' ship and having it roll from side to side feeling like it was just going to capsize! had a little bit of water come into the salon and it scared the crap out of me!!! needless to say we got back to Mystic where he had a slip next to the drawbridge and I could barely walk a straight line...my legs were soooo wobbly!

 

[The_Kid]

Re: do you like high seas?

The only time I've been in heavy seas was coming back from a NATO deployment in Turkey back in 73. We were on The USS Pensacola (LSD-38) when we hit a storm about half way back to the states. The seas were running 25 to 35 foot with breakers coming over the bow.

Not sure if the rest of the Marines on board liked it, but I sure did. The bigger the waves, the shorter the chow lines.

 

[marine4003]

Re: do you like high seas?

I live in Ocean Isle Beach NC,and do alot of fishing offshore,if we had the time we go to the NOAA tower just west of the GS, we switch off on who's boat to take..everyone chipping in for gas,probably have done this dozens if not hundreds of times,i can count on one hand when we were scared...i mean REAL scared,storms pop up out of nowhere,all you can do is point the bow at the storm and Pray....came close of not having enough fuel to return..holding the EPIRB like it was the Holy Grail...offering praise to Wellcraft,with promises of monuments built to honor same, but now i'm older and have a family ,so, i pay alot more attention to weather charts, and if there is any indication of a possible big storm....i head to the jetty's and fish there,But i gotta tell ya....i loved every minuit of it..

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: do you like high seas?

My idea of high seas is being halfway between St. Johns, New Foundland and Iceland, in a 327 foot Coast Guard Cutter, in 40 - 50 foot seas. I once watched one of my mates get knocked on his keister by a wave, while standing on the bridge wing. The bridge wing on our boat was 60 feet off the waterline!

As for the ones that like to go out into weather/seas that are obviously too much for the boat they are in, I suggest that you rethink your plan. Risking your own life is sort of dumb, but risking the lives of others when they have to come get you, is not appreciated. I'll also leave you with this information - the last time I was involved in a SAR for people who got in over their heads concerning wave heights, we found two alive (barely) and two dead.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: do you like high seas?

First of all -- to the guy pumping his crap into the water -- I'm with TD. Perhaps you could deal with onboard waste like any mature, responsible boater would -- get it into a municipal sewage treatment plant. I'm amazed anyone would actually need to be told this.

As for big water, it all depends on the boat and the water. I've had a lot of fun in Lake Ontario with our 17 foot SeaRay jumping swells. Probably five feet high but gently rolling -- no breakers, and relatively long frequency. The boat would power up one side, launch off the crest and get just enough air that I could feel the stern beginning to drop faster than the bow as we landed softly in the next trough. Really fun. I've also had choppy 3 footers break over the front...which isn't so fun with an open bow.

 

[dave11]

Re: do you like high seas?

I like to be out in high seas - long wave length, tall height. It is like rocking the cradle for me. In the Gulf we usually get short, crappy, chop. It's not much fun running into those head seas.

 

[INJUN]

Re: do you like high seas?

I enjoy going through it, but not too much fishing in it. I usually go to the leaward side of land to fish when the waves are a bit much. But, when going through the big ones, my mind wanders and I visualze my boat as a huge destroyer plowing through a mighty cyclone. What an adventure! Sea spray in the face is all part of it.

I'm always careful though and keep her at the correct angle to the waves.

It sure beats any day on land.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: do you like high seas?

First of all -- to the guy pumping his crap into the water -- I'm with TD. Perhaps you could deal with onboard waste like any mature, responsible boater would -- get it into a municipal sewage treatment plant. I'm amazed anyone would actually need to be told this.

No kidding Scout!
But you should cut him some slack....he is buying cheap gas and so can't get a free pump out. You don't seriously expect him to pay to get pumped out when he can just dump his s**t into public waters for free.

I would pump out at the marina but I fill up cheaper at the corner gas station. May one day do the sewer connection though.

 

[frankie g]

Re: do you like high seas?

I like to be out in high seas - long wave length, tall height. It is like rocking the cradle for me. In the Gulf we usually get short, crappy, chop. It's not much fun running into those head seas.

I'll second that!

 

[Polar_Bus]

Re: do you like high seas?

My last ride this season I had the not so pleasure of experiencing 8ft swells as I exited my local harbor. Factoring in my smaller (22ft) cuddy, AND my fairly new boating skills, I quickly opted to turn around and head back to port... I must say it was a nervous 15 min out in those conditions, the sea was definately throwing my boat around (and there wasn't even any wind to deal with.