Running at Night on Open Waters.

[Chinewalker]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

One of my rules on night operation is all eyes on deck! That means that everyone onboard is watching the water around us. They might see something you missed! All it takes is one idiot out there with no lights to ruin a fun evening.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

When I said "The biggest thing for me is that I don't run any faster than I can really afford to hit that tree trunk (or whatever)" I was implying nothing over hull speed. Listen to Bubba. Nothing will change lives faster than having that "tree trunk" turn out to be a guy in an unlit kayak when you are 'outrunning the pack'.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

When I mentioned a spotlight, I hadn't realized that the OP was going to be running the 15 miles with a bunch of other boaters around him. I thought it was odd that that the closest boat ramp was 15 miles away, so I figured he was going that far for some personal reason.

The closest ramp is NOT 15 miles away.
The 15 mile ramp is four ramps away, but closest to my home and far from the event.
There should not be "a Lot" of other boats around after the first few miles.
This is why I am preferring the distant ramp.

Remember we are talking Lake Erie. Except for being fresh water, think of it as the Open Ocean, only worse!
Erie is one of the smallest Great lakes but it is still huge. The nearest opposite shore is called Canada and is 35 miles away.
East to West is 250 miles, Not something I could do in one day, or one one tank of gas!

 

[Chip Chester]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

OP stated at the outset that navigation was no problem. Best if that includes knowledge of commercial traffic's usual routes... although those guys will likely stay as far away from the group as possible on that particular night.

On your shakedown cruise, practice your GPS failure contingency. Maybe man overboard, too, just so your crew isn't spooked by what needs to happen when.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

Everyones got "get there-itis". It doesn't matter how fast you haul across open sea...ultimately it all comes to a screeching halt when nearing the destination and you must sequence for landing on small strips of concrete. This is true in aviation also.

Relax, after the grand finale, stay where you're at for awhile(unless you KNOW you've got the fastest boat), let everyone else go full gas only to find themselves DIW while queueing up 10 deep at the ramp.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

I think Erie is difficult for an 18' bowrider in the daytime much less at night. Yours is twice the engine size as mine so that does make a difference and maybe the hull design is different too for all I know. Just my opinion...

Joe

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

This year........ FULL MOON on July 4th, 2012

Thats funny, because I end up seeing a full moon EVERY year.

Last year, as the finale ended, a friend of mine stood up on the roof of my houseboat, saluted, dropped trow, and jumped into the water.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

I think Erie is difficult for an 18' bow rider in the daytime much less at night. Yours is twice the engine size as mine so that does make a difference and maybe the hull design is different too for all I know. Just my opinion...

Joe

Likely a difference in hull designs.
It is a 2012 Bayliner 185BR, Beam is 7'7", 2400+lbs dry, Well over 3000 fueled and crewed.

The engine won't make too much difference until you open it up.
The 220 hp will move 4 adults at just under 60 mph GPS on calm water.
On lake Erie that doesn't happen often, but when it does it is usually right at sunset.
We open it up and go screaming into the sunset. The admiral loves it!
We had a pickup race with a jet ski a couple of weeks ago; Out ran him by maybe 1 mph after I got the trim peaked!

I think the lake is more of a mindset.
I have learned that just because there are white caps on the lake, that doesn't mean it is too bad to go out.
Lake Erie has white caps almost constantly. It is Shallow by Great Lakes standards.
You just adjust your speed, trim, and heading, and take them as they come.
It can be a roller coaster ride, but not something that is actually scary. No Slamming!
1-2 footers at 20-22 mph are comfortable sitting on the Bolster or standing behind the windshield.
Non-boaters actually enjoy sitting in the bow seats. I need to get a video of this!

I know that inland boaters and river runners are going to think that last paragraph sounds insane.
The boat comes back without a drop of water in the bilge.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

you would be a good salt water boater.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

you would be a good salt water boater.

Thank You!

The Great lakes have been described as fresh water oceans, Only worse. This is a true statement.

Three footers on the ocean are just calm rollers 50 feet apart.
On the great lakes they are breakers 10 feet apart. They really suck!

One thing for sure is that it is never the same.
The trip out will not be like the trip back.
That tends to keep things interesting.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

As a side comment and question...

The Great Lakes Tankers/Mega-Ships are usually at least 3 miles off shore and well lit.
They can usually be seen at night all the way to the horizon.

I run into (see) commercial fishing nets from time to time. Usually at least 3 miles off shore.
They have a main Buoy with a set of flags on a pole and a couple of hundred foot string of small buoys like you see around swimming areas except there is NOT a line on the surface tying them together.

I treat these like mine fields and just stay clear.
The word from other boaters is that the nets are hanging near the bottom from the buoy string and it should be possible to drive right over/between them as long as you do not snag one of the lines coming up to the buoys from the nets.

Anyone have any experience with these?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

Clouds may obscure that full moon.

And all to often, fog rolls in when I am out on Lake Michigan, but usually not until after midnight.

Make sure all passengers are prepared for the possible 3 hour journey back to the ramp.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

Thank You!

The Great lakes have been described as fresh water oceans, Only worse. This is a true statement.

Three footers on the ocean are just calm rollers 50 feet apart.
On the great lakes they are breakers 10 feet apart. They really suck!

One thing for sure is that it is never the same.
The trip out will not be like the trip back.
That tends to keep things interesting.

I have been in 7' seas on the gulf in my 19', it was slow going, however never worried.

I was in 5' seas on lake michigan and thought I was going to loose the boat.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

Well I have read through all of the posts and of course the waters you are travling do make a huge diffrance. I run 80 % of the time at night out fishing and about the only thing I can offer is never run faster than your willing to hit a floating object.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Running at Night on Open Waters.

I agree and stand by my statement earlier. I've hit a log during the day that banged one prop. I couldn't imagine doing it at night! Around dusk I'll slow her down, as the sun fades the throttles come back and it's steerage speeds until I'm home.

With that said, let us know how the trip and fireworks are!