What are safe hull speeds for chopy water?

[S]

I have a 18ft fiberglass boat and was wondering what speed others run at when the water is rough? I was worried about possibly cracking the hull?

[Rippin_Eyes]

It all depends on the waves, and how long you want your boat to last!! If you don't stay in your seat you are going way to fast!! The rougher the water the slower you should go. You can shake and rattle a lot of stuff loose ie. gas tank, seat pedastals, ect..

[Walleye Express]

>I have a 18ft fiberglass boat and was wondering what speed
>others run at when the water is rough? I was worried about
>possibly cracking the hull?

S.
Don't know how old you are or your lifes experience with boats. But there are ways to get where your going even in choopy surf, that spairs you and your boat the cracks of time.

Try your best to not go directly into the waves whenever you can. Tacking right or left into the waves is often the best and safest manuver in these conditions. It may add a little more distance, versus the straight line concept, but your back, boat and equipment will thanks you in years to come. That was one of the main reasons I quit tournament fishing.

[Shorelunch]

I was told that it's best to go a little faster and "skip" over the waves, if they're not big rollers.

[eyelunker]

I have to disagree with the post above"its best not go directly into the waves"I have a 1895 yarcraft and the best ride is smooth ,very little pounding, steering right into the waves.If your in tin it will pound you and your boat any direction you go!

[Ford]

My gosh! After reading the last two post, there has got to be more information out there on how to handle a boat in rough water.

[risor39]

The skipping part is only if the waves are close enough together.The longer the boat the better it will handle the larger waves.Sometimes you just cannot go fast no matter what size boat you have.I go as fast as I feel comfortable going.Be safe to fish another day.There are boating courses out there for not only novice boaters but others as well.I'm not an expert but I try to be as safe as I can for my and my equipments sake.Bigger is always better.

[Bob G2]

I am all with Dan on this. In really rough stuff, taking the wave about 15-30 degrees off center will be alot smoother, safer and dryer.
In the big stuff, going directly into a wave will cause your boat to ride more over it. As it slides down the wave, there is going to be more of a down pitch to the boat. Thus may cause your bow to go into the wall of the next wave. This can cause water, and a lot of it, to wash over your bow. With speed, boats can even "spear" that wave, submerge the bow and swamp. If the chop is such that the interval between the waves is less than and equal to 3 times your boat length, then, yes speeding up will yield a less bouncy ride. But if the wave interval over 3 waves is greater than the boat length, then "skipping" over the waves will yield some good airtime, but not a smoother ride. Then having a good chiropractor and/or spinal surgeon is helpful.

What people consider rough is all relative to their on water experience to where they fish and how much risk/damage they are willing to take. When in really rough stuff, going slow, paying complete attention to the wave conditions and keeping your head about you gives me the best opportunity to fishing another day.

[Walleye Express]

Thanks Bob.
I didn't feel like further explaining to eyelunker the dynamics of taking what I consider good size waves straight on and the damage and risk of doing so on Saginaw Bay. After being in boats of virtually every design, make and model in the last 45 years, I thought I'd just let him come here some day and try his (fiberglass) boat at mach 1 agains't some of our 4 footers. ;-)


I've been in those fiberglass tournament boats with the $400.00 ride glide seats going about 50mph in 3 footers on the Bay. Was it a better ride, yup. Was it smooth and bump free, NOPE.

[Skylar]

I guess I don't understand this:

"If the chop is such that the interval between the waves is less than and equal to 3 times your boat length, then, yes speeding up will yield a less bouncy ride."


If I have a 20 foot boat, then three times that length is 60 feet. 60 feet between waves?! I realize it's probably a mis-print, so could you be a little clearer. It sounds very interesting.


Thanks



Than

[Walleye Express]

skylar.
G2 kinda lost me on that one as well. But I kinda know what he meant. On my body of water, (inner Saginaw Bay, where shallow is the optimum word) there is seldom if ever any rollers. In fact, often very little ryme or reason as to why the waves are doing what they are doing at any given time. And if theres 4 footers, expect there to be 2 footers between every 4 footer. I've actually seen waves coming from 2 different directions at the same time on the Bay.

We had the TALL SHIPS come across the Bay, and up the Saginaw River and into Bay City last year. Those old, huge 3 to 5 mast scooners were a sight to see on the horizon last summer while trolling. Was told a few things by a guy who went to the seminar all these scooner Captains put on at the Bay City Yacht Club. Said two of them would not be back next summer. They all said that what the erratic waves did to them, their ships and riggings only compared to being caught in a Nor'Easter of Nantucket. And their worst wave day was only 3 to 5's.

[risor39]

Here is what I think G2 meant. Say you are in an 18ft boat the interval of the waves should not be more than 6ft-9ft 3x6 2x9.You have to get the bow to the next wave in order to ride on top to prevent spearing the next one.I would much rather ride big waves at an angle.If you've ever been on Michigan in 4-6 footers you may get seasick going head on and the going is sloooooow.

[Bob G2]

Thanks Risor and Dan, that is what I meant. That's what I get by going on the 'puter right after getting out of bed.

Dan, I really think what some people consider rough conditions is all relative to what they are used to. Last year while on vacation on Whitefish Bay on LOTW, a couple of guides commented how rough the water was on a particularly windy day. From our perspective on wave conditions, we would have considered it a nice day for boating.

[REW]

One thing that you might do, would be to take a Coast Guard Boating course.
A side benefit of this course; is that you get a bit of reduction on your boat insurance.

These questions you ask are all addressed in the course.
The responders to your questions all had good answers as well.

Summary -
1. In moderate chop - that your boats speed and length can span - however it might work out - the smoothest ride will be directly into the waves. If your momentum carries you from the top of one wave to the next - you will have a relatively smooth ride.

2. However, in scenario 1. you face a fairly significant risk in spearing the boat. This is especially true on larger lakes like Erie. The problem is; that you can encounter "Rogue" waves. i.e. - lets say that you are flying along just fine in a 1 1/2 foot chop - and suddenly there is a rogue wave - that is 4 feet high. Suprising as it might seem; it is not that uncommon. Suddenly, without warning, you are flying along one minute skipping over the waves; and suddenly, the next second, you have buried your nose (speared the next wave) and have 300 gallons of water roll over the bow of your boat. Not a good time!!

3. Obviously in conditions even more begnin, it really makes no difference how you run the lake - upwind, downwind, or cross wind - you will bounce a bit but will be fine.

4. When, we get to the big boys, or to the Nasty conditions; that are often encountered on Erie - where you get 4 footers; with a 2 foot cross chop; one direction; and another 3 foot cross chop the other direction -- actually a very common occurance - where you get relatively shallow water being worked by multiple wind directions; and wind coming off shore and around points - you really only have one safe thing to do. Slow down, and work the waves at an angle.
This is the technique - that is taught in the coast guard courses. You work up the side of one wave at a 30-50 degree angle, and work your way down the other side. You will find that your boat will list to about 20-30 degrees one way up the wave and list the opposite way about the same amount - coming down the other side of the wave.

If you have a shaky stomach - it won't be long, before Mother Nature will let you lighten your load.

After that, you will be fine.

Remember - in big - waves - Mother Nature will win every single time.
Fiberglass, Tin, Steel, and Concrete - all will break, if battered hard and long enough.

So, by using the afore mentioned technique - you don't get battered at all. There is relatively little stress on your hull; because you are simply working up one side of the wave and down the other side. You are not trying to pound through the wave; you are not bouncing off the back side -- you are working "WITH" the wave, and are actually part of the wave.

Sure, it might take you a little or a lot longer to get where you are going. But you will get there; with all parts of your boat and body intact - and your boat will be able to do the same thing day after day after day - without having to be repaired between runs.

This is one of the big differences - as Bob pointed out - between every day fisher folks and tournament folks. Tournament folks are in in for that particular day. i.e. - get their caught weight to the weigh in - just as fast as possible. Get the cash - if the boat breaks - have the sponser get them a new boat the next day.
This is not the way that most of the fisher folks operate. You still would like to use the same boat the next day - and not have to have it in the repair shop for a year - or have to refinance your house to pay the repair bill.

Work with the waves - and enjoy your sport/hobby and your boat for many years to come.

If you haven't already - take the Coast Guard boating course - to be even more safe on the water.

Take Care
REW

[Ric]

What an ignorant statement. My new tin boat runs smoother than my last glass boat, the glass boat being eight inches shorter.

[sock38]

Only thing i can say is if your on a "great lake" is
and remember......the great lakes are alway's refered to as a "she"

and that is......she will let you ride her when she wants to
and she will definatly throw you off when she's ready

if you think the waves are too much in your oppinion...then they probably are...depending on your experience

My gosh.....2 days and now rain
simply amazing....:)

[The_Walleye_1]

I believe that the best speed is the one where you feel the most comfortable and aren't seeing things shaking too bad in the boat. I also agree with the statement that if you are flying off of your seat in your boat, that you are going way to fast!!!
The_Walleye_1