Spray patterns, 21 and 25

[cdavisdb]

Given what we were in early in the day, the 25 would run about 2 knots faster with more comfort. It lands much softer if it launches off a wave. Running to the last spot, I was sitting down in the back, so could not see the seas enough to have a valid opinion. Even all the way in the stern, every once in a while there as a modest slam. I don't think the 25 would do that. Given what I've been in before, 18 knots with slightly more comfort and far less hard slams is probably close for those conditions.

I've only run straight into a solid 5 ft once, just for rank curiosity and not for very long. Gulf Stream, wind had been blowing steady for 3 or 4 days, 15-18 knots out of the SSE. We were coming home from Bimini and I turned around a couple of times to run with boats going to Bimini. In the 5 fters, I had to slow down to 18 knots and stand up when I turned into it. To do it very long, 16 or 17 knots would have been more reasonable. Pretty much, the boat was staying in the water. For comparison,I was running along side a 30 something Contender type open fish. All his passengers were standing in the stern, the boat was jumping all the way out of the water about every 3rd wave. They did not look happy. I think he was going a bit faster than me, but not much.

The 25 rolls more than yours, less of a problem for divers than drift fishermen, but still an issue. I think monster tabs would tame it down a lot.

I think you would have a hard time matching your bowling alley in a modified 25. To keep a windshield and move the helm forward , it gets narrow pretty quick. Also,I suspect the 25 doesn't have the weight carrying ability of yours. Get a hold of bigfluke, he is the real expert, especially on that sort of thing.

If you would like to come down on a snotty day(After new year), I'll be glad to provide a ride. You will love driving her. She really responds to a good helmsman.