Small boat in choppy water

[DAN M VAGOS]

Just wanted to hear what you all think I have a bayliner capri 1989 15' and use the boat mostly in fresh water but I do go in salt water every now and then. So I had it out on sunday in the bay with my buddy and his 15' fourwinns when we found ourselves playing in some big waves well big for a 15' boat I think. I was a little scared I meen I know a little water over the bow is so so but I just did not know if I should be going fast or slow. the boat only has a 50hp force and can do 30mph but it seems that we here jummping the waves and thats what scared me. So small boat, ok hp, do I go fast or slow.

 

[DAN M VAGOS]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

 

[delta229]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

That's tough to answer for several reasons. Moving from fresh to salt water is a big step. Do you understand things like "Following Seas" and such? Handling waves means knowing wind direction, current direction and speeds as much as it does understanding your boat. It's crucial that you understand how to trim your boat properly to match the conditions. Not being trimmed right or moving to slow can result in broaching or swamping. Take some time to "Read, Read" Read". Learn about matching your speed, approach direction and trim for the sea conditions. I live and play on the Puget Sound in Western Washington and can tell you that a lot of inexperienced boaters get in trouble with wind and waves.

 

[DAN M VAGOS]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

I do use my trim to bring the bow up so the waves dont crash over the front. and I only go out like a mile or less Im still in the bay but its a big bay. the waves where coming at me and so was the tide so I just saw my chance and turned back. Thats why I whent over kill and put a brand new 800gph rule pump in lol.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

The problem with speed in choppy waters is the one or two wave that seem to be a bit bigger than the rest and can be too much to handle . . . you typically will not be able to slow down quick enough.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Small boat in choppy water

Been jumping waves in small boats since I was 14 (younger if you count when dad was driving but he wasn't as fearless as a knucklehead 14 year old). 14' whaler was the best; 16' starcraft was a crasher. Even snuck a wooden scow w/ a 9.9 out to jump waves in an ocean inlet. We'd lurk the river waiting for yachts and tugboats and their 4 foot wakes.

But they weren't bayliner capri's with the dangerous scoop bow. Big difference.

Anyway you just have to learn your boat and improve your skills. It's all about reading the waves, varying speed and approach, knowing the boat. generaly you do not run waves or chop like a lake boat on the flats*--it's slow or controlled speed, sometimes the slowest to stay on a plane, but you can't be afraid to use your power to climb or run.

Ever jump one wave and land on top of the next? Will crack your boat half in two. Or you can drill into the next wave and submarine.

Now as a responsible boater 40 years later, if I see a tugboat with a big wake, I just...go hauling *** over there and jump it!

*here's a comparison: I learned to drive 4WD on the beaches and dunes, where you have to go fast through the bad stuff. Then when I started driving 4WD in the mountains on rocks, I quickly learned that the bad stuff is approached slow.

 

[delta229]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

Thats not overkill! Thats a smart move. I have a 800gph primary and a 800gph backup pump. The Puget Sound can get rough quick! You did right keeping the bow up to a point. Just keep enough forward speed up to go through the way and still have steering. Most of the mistakes I see are either going to slow and being swamped from the transom or digging the bow in and either getting swamped or broaching!
Be safe and enjoy your boating!

 

[DAN M VAGOS]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

A wise man once told me after i told him I'm scared of the ocean he told me ( always be afraid of it because once your not thats when some thing wiill happen )

 

[DAN M VAGOS]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

Now I'm scared ****less lol

 

[DXN]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

anyone know of some good reading. I've been searching you tube videos but haven't found one very in depth.
I know to approach at and angle and keep the bow up
I know falling down the front of one wave can cause you to veer when you hit the back of the next one which can spin you and put you in a bad place. (in a vee')
I Know when traveling with the waves(following seas?) you have to try to maintain your speed and try to ride on the wave and avoid the trough. also travel at an angle.

but what do you do in "following seas" when the waves are to close to stay on top(boat is longer than the wave so it wants to "teeter") and to step to keep at an angle. < this happened on a lake in a 15' terry bass boat with a 45 horse

What else do you need to know? I know there's more

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Small boat in choppy water



DAN: What you really need to know is that:
1. A small boat in big water with an inexperienced skipper can kill you
2.The boat can generally take way more punishment than you can
3. First couple of times in really big water will scare the livin' bejeesus out of you
4. Practice your seamanship skills, and in a boat that small, ALWAYS wear your PFD

Here is a 15 footer on Barnegat Bay when it started to blow. Chop was about 2 feet and although it was an uncomfortable ride it was not scary. I have had this boat out in 4 footers and down the East River with again, a 2 foot chop that looked like diamondplate. Some SOB cam blasting up the river in a 100 footer, throwing a 5 foot wake and I had nowhere to go. I took green water over the bow and windshield. Yeah, My mother was saying prayers and my daughter was screaming.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Small boat in choppy water

View attachment 202395

DAN: What you really need to know is that:
1. A small boat in big water with an inexperienced skipper can kill you
2.The boat can generally take way more punishment than you can
3. First couple of times in really big water will scare the livin' bejeesus out of you
4. Practice your seamanship skills, and in a boat that small, ALWAYS wear your PFD

Here is a 15 footer on Barnegat Bay when it started to blow. Chop was about 2 feet and although it was an uncomfortable ride it was not scary. I have had this boat out in 4 footers and down the East River with again, a 2 foot chop that looked like diamondplate. Some SOB cam blasting up the river in a 100 footer, throwing a 5 foot wake and I had nowhere to go. I took green water over the bow and windshield. Yeah, My mother was saying prayers and my daughter was screaming.

It can be someone else's fault but you can still be dead. My thought has always been 18' or more for the ocean or Great lakes-- always since I learned a 16'er is not a good idea on Lake Erie. Today I pushed through the rollers to the opening of the inlet and decided it was not a good day to play there. Watched 3 others go out and come back quickly-- in 21'ers and up. Better to always be safe and go another day than to take the chance on your last day.