Re: Open ocean in a 21' bow rider, any direct experience?
Thank you! That's the real world I was looking for. Google is great but sometimes too much information can drive you mad. Seems like everyone has an opinion on this topic and the more you read the more opinions you get..
I wouldn't rely on one guy's ability or luck to be your "real world." We don't know his hull or skill, load, whether his "3 footers" were broadly-spaced swells (no problem) or cross-running chop on a current adverse to the wind (big problem) and for how long.
What concerns me is your question (and accepting an "iffy" answer about the bow cover. Bow covers should NEVER bwe relied on for safety as if they are a deck. They are for comfort, and while they will shed spray and light water, your bilge pumps would probably handle that. But there is a high risk that they will collapse under a big load, as well as come unattached--a real problem in high seas no matter how good you are at snapping it on at the dock.
"Open ocean" can be a lot easier than an open shallow bay or an ocean inlet.
"bow rider" could be a boat with bow seating--irrelevant in many respects to seaworthiness; the important aspect is the shape of the hull. Sea Hunt's dual console is a bow rider--with a seaworthy hull. My old Starcraft bowrider made it through all kinds of bad stuff; it had a good design. The same size Bayliner-type boat is a design failure in this respect, and highly dangerous IMO. Even Bill's 16' trihull is safer than your bowrider--so his recommendation does not answer your question; it just supports your false hopes.
Willy says "What's the difference between a CC with an open deck that goes offshore or a bowrider with dual consoles and open bow? Seems to me there is very little difference. The major factor is weather conditions. Be safe!" Not so. The difference is in the hull shape. Once conditions get bad, the difference is a matter of making it. In fair conditions, the difference is irrelevant.
However, you said "new 21' Four Winns H210 is plenty of boat for the small 1-2 seas I'd venture out in." I think you are right, which may surprise those who know my opinion of sofa boats. You would do fine in those condtions, and the "lots of bowriders off shore' do fine in those conditions. The issue is what happens if the conditions change? if you are close to sheltered water and know how to spot weather changes, you are fine. Commit to a long distance with unstable conditions, and you may be in trouble.
All boaters have stories of taking a too-small boat out in too-big waters and making it. Those stories are NOT good answers to your questions or "real world." Else I'd recomment a 15 year old taking a 14' wooden row boat with a 9.9 out jumping 4' swells in an ocean inlet with ripping current, uncharted bars, no boats around, no radio, no pump, before cell phones. Worked for me.
The question is how often boaters in 21' have actually gotten water over the bow.. From what I have read people suggest covering the bow rider with its bow cover to shed water just incase. I won't be out in 4-6 footers maybe 1-3.
