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#11
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Agree completely about finding a place to hide out if you can. A secluded bay, the calm side of an island, beached in safe spot, etc.
I'd also add that staying calm and being patient is important. If it's going to take you 45 minutes to get back safely, then that's what it has to be. Trying to scream back to the launch in a panic can cause all sorts of things to go wrong. Like Juls said, don't just "pick a speed". Always evaluate the current conditions and adjust accordingly. Sometimes you have to go slow and steady, sometimes you'll get a bit of a break in the weather where you can pick up some speed, and sometimes you can even run the same speed as the waves and stay in a trough. The conditions will dictate how you have to drive the boat. If you have any doubts about the weather, don't go out. If you're out and things start to turn, start heading in ASAP. No fish is worth dying over! |
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#12
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#13
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Wn
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#14
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I've had a couple "white knuckle" rides, and found that standing at the helm versus sitting gave me more control. I could see better, and "feel" what the boat was doing. I was able to absorb the bow hitting the waves with my legs, and see 360 around the boat.
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#15
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I will do something similar when it's bad. I "sit" on one knee which gets me up higher but also allows some shock absorption with the leg. Can get a lot better view of the waves from there along with a smoother (feeling) ride.
__________________
2016 Skeeter WX 1910 / F200XB and T9.9 |
#16
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I would add: Quarter the waves in the general direction you need to go, but also head toward the calm shore as quickly as possible. Obviously, that may not be viable on the Great Lakes, but most inland lakes allow you to do so. Cutting the fetch in half can make a huge difference in wave size. I'd rather go twice the distance in calmer water than straight across the worst of it.
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#17
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#18
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Maybe I'm different that some; I've spent my entire life boating and fishing and connected with the water and until recently in smaller 14-17' boats. Of course to my benefit, I've navigated generally the same bodies of water my entire life here in Nodak country. It's definitely not the Great Lakes but both Devils Lake and Sakakawea can make a grown man pucker on a given day (I'll let others divulge which can be nastier, ha ha). Now granted, over the past 10-years, I've been fortunate to own very capable 18.5'-20' boats compared to I what grew up with and learning to drive those smaller vessels probably provided a great deal of background and respect for ol' mother nature. What I've found over the past several years, on those days that I start to get a little stressed about the drive back and concerned about safety of myself and others aboard; in every case, upon making it back to the bay, it's never been as bad as I typically prepared for or expected. In most cases the capability of my boat and some of my own always seem to exceed my expectations. Maybe that bit of self-doubt and respect for mother nature is probably good in those circumstances. What I find intriguing, again in every case, the passengers are far less worried, stressed, and concerned than I.
To me, boating in rough water is all about knowing your own ability and your boats capability. Knowing, admitting, and having a little humbleness will likely keep most people out of those bad situations to start with and when you end up with the lake gods staring you in the face, you'll be best prepared to know what you need and are capable of navigating, be it to find cover, traverse the water, etc. The last time I faced a nasty ride back, I had 4-5 miles of open water to cover with a perpendicular 35 mph sustain wind and 10 miles of open water for it to build. I had been fishing way up in a bay not realizing what the wind had been doing all morning. We buttoned up the boat, secured everything we could, and made our way across. We worked the trough, running between 13-18 mph, and using the throttle like I was playing a video game. Once back in the bay, I looked to the back of the boat to see can of Coke can sitting in the rear deck pedestal mount like it was cup holder. Not a drop spilled and perched there like we just set it down. Forgot I set there when buttoning up the boat on the other side of the lake. I guess the ride back really wasn't all that bad, lol. Last edited by SLE; 03-28-2016 at 04:20 PM. |
#19
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Everyone has great comments. The only thing I can add is, The old saying practice makes perfect. The only way you can get confident is by staying out for a while in a little winder conditions then you are used too. Just drive around and get some confidence in yourself. I m not saying go out in a storm but if you fish in 2-3 footers but go in after they build, try staying out in 3-4 footers. Just having confidence in yourself will help you one day you are stuck out in a storm. Water is powerful, be safe
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#20
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Really great feedback. I appreciate it. I have only had aluminum boats out in rougher water. I have run fiberglass ski boats but never in more than a little chop. Are fiberglass boats safer? I know no boat is truly safe if you drive poorly, but would it be safer in a boat that rides better? I doubt I am going to ever truly put a boat to its limit as I am terrified of being in that nasty of water. But I also want to be in the safest fishing boat possible.
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