GREAT BOAT !

[abl1111]

Was out fishing for stripers last night - it was very windy and rough - heavy wind against a fast current. A rolling, short chop of about 2-3' in my shallow Bay. The sun went down and it was plain old snotty out.

Then, as if a switch was turned on, the wind picked up to 30 mph, or more. The Bay got really ugly - QUICK ! I decided it was time to go. It was more rough than I usually boat in. At first, I was a little anxious, but after 5 minutes of seeing how my 23' Tsunami handled the sea, my confidence was fully restored.

GREAT BOAT !

[fishingjoey]

There have been a few times when the same has happened to me fishing out of Scituate MA. I own an 86 23ft cc, and I generally don't go out in anything over 3-4 feet but when I get stuck in it every so often the boat really suprises me. Last year my friend and I ran to the southest corner early in the morning as the morning went on the seas built up and I decided to head back to scituate about 18 miles away. The seas were coming from the south west so I had them coming head on to my port quarter. I just trimed the boat into them and did about 15-sixteen knots and I was amazed how well we rode 3-4 foot seas home all the way. Trim tabs realy help them ride even better.

[Fr. Frank]

If it gets up to 3-5 foot seas, running on plane is NOT a good idea.

Here's why: Wave height is 9/5 of the height of the seas, because seas are measured from sea-level to crest. So in 3'-5' seas, you're talking about waves that are from 5 1/2 to 9 feet high from trough to crest. You need to listen carefully to the forecast. If NOAA says "seas" are 3'-5', then wave height is 5'-9'. If NOAA says "wave height" is 3'-5', then seas are only 1.6' - 2.7'. Knowing the difference can be important.

If you get just one steep-sider or cresting wave in 3'-5' seas, you can stuff even a SeaCraft while running at 18-20 mph, with potentially tragic consequences. If you run off the front of a wave you can drop the bow right through the back of the next wave. Either of those events at 20 mph will just ruin your day. I know, I've done it.

I stuffed a 20' Seafari back in '84, running in to Lake Worth Inlet in a sudden NorthEast winter squall. Seas went from 1-3' with a wave period of 5-6 seconds, to 4-7' with a wave period of 3-4 seconds, all in about 20 minutes time. (It eventually grew to 8'-12') As I was running in from the outer reef off Juno, I was running with the seas at about 18-20 mph, occasionally getting nearly airborne, when I flew over the crest of one wave, and stuffed the bow right into the back of the next wave. Up to that point it had been a lot of fun, a real blast.

The impact ripped my bow rail loose from all 4 forward stanchions and bent it back, and cause minor separation of the cap from the hull along a 4' stretch on the port bow. As the forward cabin hatch was open when we hit the back of the next wave, I must have taken 100 gallons or more of water through the hatch. I slammed my head into the windshield frame, and took a gash requiring 4 stitches. My fishing buddy was standing behind the left pedestal seat, and his weight and impetus ripped the 8 #14 base screws right out of the deck, and he broke his thumb somehow. All because I was in too much of a hurry.

The next time just a few weeks later, being older & wiser, I ran in at the same speed of the waves without any problems, even though the mouth of Lake Worth Inlet was breaking 13'-15'. I just rode the back of a wave in, and it was smooth as silk. It just took longer to get there.

When seas get up suddenly, be prudent, don't give in to an attack of "gethomeitus", use good seamanship, and get back safely.

[GradySailfish]

I too am impressed with how well my 20 Master Angler performs, sometimes she feels like a much bigger boat. My friend said that these boats are so tough and seaworthy that you tend to go places you shoulden't be !

ab, where on LI are you from. I woulden't mind hitching a ride on a 23 one of these days. I run the western south shore, Jones Inlet to be precise.

My next boat will be a 23. I'm curious, does the Tsunami/Sceptre ride worse then the CC becuase the helm station is further foward >

[BillPutney]

Great post Fr. Frank I've been in one of those come to Jesus moments and it definitely changes the way you approach things down the road. I've sailed off waves and had the bow take water down the sides of the cap without stuffing the bow but boy was it close .I was not driving but I quickly took the helm.The sea is not forgiving and if you think it is you're in for quite a surprise.

[BillPutney]

I forgot to say in the previous post that you were right about riding in on the back of a wave.It feels like you are not moving and it is disheartening to look behind you and see a wall of water looming over you . Beaufort inlet on the NC coast can be a bear if the wind,tide and moon are stacked against you.

[NoBones]

Beaufort inlet on the NC coast can be a bear if the wind,tide and moon are stacked against you.

In Florida: Out going tide plus in coming wind = Hail Mary
We know the feeling....

See ya, Ken

[fishingjoey]

That was a very helpful response. The last two seasons have been very interesting to say the least as far as learning how the boat rides. There are many variables I think that affect the ride in different conditions. The amount of weight on board, the wind and where it's coming from the tide, wave directions and timing. directions and I am sure there are many others. You definatly have to pick your days when you own a 23 center console, they are not 40 foot down easters.

[fdheld34]

Father Frank...
I remember in 1985 my father and I were coming in the Jupter inlet on our (really his) 23 cc(we used to live on the Loxahatchee River when it was nice)...I was 13 at the time and he let me have the wheel...what a mistake that was...We were coming into the inlet from the south trying to aviod the sandbar that used to be directly due east outside of the inlet (if memory serves me correctly)..We were broadsided by a small wave probably just a 6-8 footer (in my mind back then it looked more like 10-12 feet)but it thew me to the floor and against the port side and the only thing that saved us was my fathers ability to hold onto the birdsall leaning post wrap around handles and somehow swing himself around and towards the steering wheel and throttles to gain control...That was quite a moving experience in more ways than one...thought for sure we were going to be rolled over!!!!after telling my mother about the incident (with a little exaggeration stuffed into the story)...my father was forced to buy a 38 Bertram the next month!!

[Fr. Frank]

...my father was forced to buy a 38 Bertram the next month!!

I tell you what... the things we men are forced to do to keep the wives happy!!!