Seaworthiness of 20' SeaCraft...

[kmoose]

So we don't get carried away.... In a real, storm pushed following 6' seas (measured at the center of the wave) any and I mean ANY 20' and possibly 23' foot boat can be in very serious trouble. This is especially so with CCs that can take on so much water if the bow goes in that swamp and roll is possible.

Many of us have been unfortunate enough to end up in seas that we should not or did not wish to be in. Some of us including myself have foolishly done so on purpose. I think making recommendations for sea states that a 20' boat is capable of safely negotiating is subjective at best. With the right person behind the helm our boats can get us out of trouble in a pinch but in no way would I recommend heading out offshore in anything more than a forecasted day of 2-3'. Too much can happen too quickly offshore and a 20' boat is not something you want to be in when things get big and ugly regardless of how prepared you are.

This is a pic of a hefty 22' cc I found 30 miles offshore. I did my research and found out it got swamped and rolled in a bad afternoon storm in less than 20' of water off Homosassa. The forecast that day was 2' or less with isolated T storms in the afternoon. I have to wonder if the captain opted to take on the storm on the way in or just couldn't find a way around it. There were no casualties as the occupants were picked up by another vessel after the distress call was made. Salvage was refused by the owner. I guess that was enough boating for him.

[EarToTheWater]

Originally Posted by kmoose

So we don't get carried away.... In a real, storm pushed following 6' seas (measured at the center of the wave) any and I mean ANY 20' and possibly 23' foot boat can be in very serious trouble. This is especially so with CCs that can take on so much water if the bow goes in that swamp and roll is possible.

I think making recommendations for sea states that a 20' boat is capable of safely negotiating is subjective at best.

I compare being offshore to drifting a car. No matter how good you are you are still trying to control a wreck. I agree that there are far to many variables to consider to really nail it down, but I also think there is much to be gained from a healthy discussion! The more people chime in the more I'm thinking your right keep it in the 0-3' maybe 4' depending on interval, wind, long term forecast etc otherwise don't head out. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[76Red18]

I think the t top on my 18 is it's most limiting attribute. In a windy enough situation and caught in a trough, she would broach for sure. An 18 or a 20 with no top, an enclosed transom or splash board, properly designed scuppers, a light motor and load would be hard to stop.
You can't push the open transom issue enough...probably the factor that led to the recent tragedy. That 18 had an open transom with no board.

[cdavisdb]

Low transum is a major factor I wasn't thinking about, CC too. I guess it depends on the individual twenty. A Seafari with a full transum or good transum box is pretty hard to stop. I would not have hesitated to go offshore in a 4 ft forecast(when I had younger kidneys), unless I was forced to run a long way straight into it. Thats not a seaworthy issue, much more my kidneys.

I guess the real danger is either sticking the nose into a sea( in a CC) or taking a big one over the stern in any 20. Seems like either is unlikely for a competent skipper, at least in wave heights (face height) of 8 ft or less. But Moose has a point. It can change real fast, especially on the Florida west coast. Big afternoon boomers can generate some incredible steep waves in very shallow water, and very fast.

Steepness matters much more than wave height. I took a big one all the way over the stern of my 25 I/0 in an inlet, but I was doing something really stupid. The same height wave offshore would have been a non-issue.

[uncleboo]

Although the forecast changed on me, I took my 18 out of Oregon Inlet a couple years ago and had a nice ride out to the point. After fishing for about an hour, the wind picked up quite a bit and suddenly the seas were 4-5' and rather close together. Made a wise decision to start heading in. Took quite awhile, but, made it in safely and the 18 handled it beautifully.

[EarToTheWater]

Originally Posted by uncleboo

Although the forecast changed on me, I took my 18 out of Oregon Inlet a couple years ago and had a nice ride out to the point. After fishing for about an hour, the wind picked up quite a bit and suddenly the seas were 4-5' and rather close together. Made a wise decision to start heading in. Took quite awhile, but, made it in safely and the 18 handled it beautifully.

Thanks! A close 4-5 is no joke! I have no problem slowing down if the situation requires it! I love how ya'll say they plane at low speeds that's a huge plus! I looked at the 18's but I'm biggin enough to count for 2 people

[NoBones]

EarToTheWater have you ever taken a ride in any SeaCraft ?

If not and you want to experience it in a 20 SF
or Lil' Kenny's 23 Sceptre..

I will be more then happy to charge out Ponce so you
can see first hand what the boats are capable of !!

Keep in mind Ponce is rated the 8th worst in the country !

Been in Daytona my whole life so our inlet is second nature to me !

Out going tide incoming wind will prove to you the seaworthiness...

[EarToTheWater]

Originally Posted by NoBones

EarToTheWater have you ever taken a ride in any SeaCraft ?

If not and you want to experience it in a 20 SF
or Lil' Kenny's 23 Sceptre..

I will be more then happy to charge out Ponce so you
can see first hand what the boats are capable of !!

Keep in mind Ponce is rated the 8th worst in the country !

Been in Daytona my whole life so our inlet is second nature to me !

Out going tide incoming wind will prove to you the seaworthiness...

Count me in! I've only seen one seacraft in person, and I've never ridden in one! I didn't know ponce was rated that bad the only thing I've had to compare it to is sebastian, stuart, lil gasparilla pass, and boca grande pass... lol I guess it's one of those things where you'd have to have been enough places to know better

[bumpdraft]

Agree, steepness and interval mean more to me than wave height. Now, I generally wait for 1-2 feet. I didn't use to worry about going out in 6 ft seas in my 18' and sometimes higher when I was younger. I got to the inlet one time in my 23' cc when it was only 2-3 feet offshore and there were standing waves in the middle of an outgoing tide, full moon. The waves were a good six ft from top to bottom and the bow was into one wave before the stern was off the other one. About two feet of the wave came in, hitting the console and putting a good deal of water on the deck. It may have been better in that instance to not have a splash well door. I think, with enough power, I could have got the 18's bow up enough to go over, instead of through the second wave.

[EarToTheWater]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

Out west (CA)I feel pretty comfortable in a 20 Seafari with a 300 lb 20" motor. An extra 100 lbs not so sure....But a 25" transom is a no brainer and a splash wall around the splashwell is a definite plus. My Seafari 20 handles 2-4' mixed-up slop fine, and even better if the if the form is consistent. But come 3' at 18 knots in mixed up seas, and you're doing X-Games tricks. And while she lands pretty softly, and you don't always know if you'll land in the same direction you were going. I call that enrolling with nature. In a CC these same conditions would definitely give a bit more pucker factor.

Not sure if this is what Beaver was thinking of but, here you go:

Thanks for hunting that photo down! 3' didn't sound like a big difference but judging from that photo it's a big 3'!

Originally Posted by 76Red18

I think the t top on my 18 is it's most limiting attribute. In a windy enough situation and caught in a trough, she would broach for sure. An 18 or a 20 with no top, an enclosed transom or splash board, properly designed scuppers, a light motor and load would be hard to stop.
You can't push the open transom issue enough...probably the factor that led to the recent tragedy. That 18 had an open transom with no board.

Thanks! Those TUUCI umbrellas seem like a very nice compromise! The light motor seems like it would be second in priority only to fully enclosed transom. Ability to plane at low speeds 12-13 adds alot in terms of seaworthiness imho.

Originally Posted by cdavisdb

Low transum is a major factor I wasn't thinking about, CC too. I guess it depends on the individual twenty. A Seafari with a full transum or good transum box is pretty hard to stop. I would not have hesitated to go offshore in a 4 ft forecast(when I had younger kidneys), unless I was forced to run a long way straight into it. Thats not a seaworthy issue, much more my kidneys.

I guess the real danger is either sticking the nose into a sea( in a CC) or taking a big one over the stern in any 20. Seems like either is unlikely for a competent skipper, at least in wave heights (face height) of 8 ft or less. But Moose has a point. It can change real fast, especially on the Florida west coast. Big afternoon boomers can generate some incredible steep waves in very shallow water, and very fast.

Steepness matters much more than wave height. I took a big one all the way over the stern of my 25 I/0 in an inlet, but I was doing something really stupid. The same height wave offshore would have been a non-issue.

Thanks! West coast Florida drives me crazy its like driving in a shook up soup bowl! For some reason I keep going back though must be Boca's blue waters! If I ever have kidney stones I'll make the run in those kinda seas seems cheaper than payin a doctor to break'em up with ultrasonic waves

Originally Posted by bumpdraft

Agree, steepness and interval mean more to me than wave height. Now, I generally wait for 1-2 feet. I didn't use to worry about going out in 6 ft seas in my 18' and sometimes higher when I was younger. I got to the inlet one time in my 23' cc when it was only 2-3 feet offshore and there were standing waves in the middle of an outgoing tide, full moon. The waves were a good six ft from top to bottom and the bow was into one wave before the stern was off the other one. About two feet of the wave came in, hitting the console and putting a good deal of water on the deck. It may have been better in that instance to not have a splash well door. I think, with enough power, I could have got the 18's bow up enough to go over, instead of through the second wave.

Thanks! Did that happen heading out of Sebastian?