Beam sea

[Guest]

Hallo all! Jus' come back from Plymouth aboard me Cruisers 224. Apart from hose from thermo to water pump splitting open at 25 knots in th Sound - which I didn't know about, as temp gauge had only just started to register by time we arrived at Tamar - but luckily managed to get back to Mayflower Int Marina before I lost all power and 'bumped' into one or two raggies as there was a vicious on-shore wind...then opened up engine lid..what a bloody heat / steam..exhausts very hot and water up to lower part of engine...bilge pump just about pumping..engineer said we were lucky..good job I'd practiced 'Pan pan' call before we went out....had a great time!! Anyway to get to my point....brilliant punching through head sea..no slamming..no probs with following sea. But discovered that a beam swell at speed not a good idea in deep vee hull!! I thought the boat was going to tip over at one point. You live and learn!! Yet a similar planing hull boat seemed to have no problem..indeed it was going much faster than us!! Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

[ccscott49]

Technique probably, he may well have been using the seas to his benefit, by zig zagging across the swell, just s thought, I'm sure lots of the guys will help!

 

[Guest]

The other boat was following a straight course, 'cos he flew past us and remained steady. I did fiddle with the trim tabs and the leg in various positions, using the replies to a post about 3 months ago on trimming problems. I always print a useful thread and keep them in a folder on board!

 

[hlb]

Perhaps it was me?? Or some one else with prop shafts and engines in the middle. Or maybe just a different boat that was better in beam seas. What sort of boat have you got.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[petem]

Haydn,

CONCENTRATE!

There's a bit of a clue as to what boat he's got in his post, see 'me Cruisers 224'!

I wonder if the other chap was rolling as well but your own boat felt like it was rolling more.

Pete

 

[hlb]

Oh sorry!! Yes the other boats never seem to be rocking and rolling like you are. Still he could have been slaloming the waves without noticably changing course. Anyway the sea is never rough down Devon....................!!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[Guest]

not at the angle I was at..it suddenly flipped over to a precarious angle..so much so that youngest son sais 'dad, what does that word mean that you've just said!!'

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

What speed were you going? The faster you go, the more hydrodynamic lift the hull will generate which will counteract the effect of heeling over in a beam sea - this may be why the other boat looked more stable. In any case, it always feels worse from inside the boat

 

[rmashton]

Is there an FAQ for these Forums so I can understand the terminology? ie: Beam sea??

 

[Guest]

Approx 24kts.....

 

[Guest]

a sea that moves against you (left to right or vice versa) on the beam ie port or starboard as opposed to a head on sea on the bow or a following sea on the stern.
Theres bound to be someone who can explain that better!!!

 

[hlb]

He means. The sea's going in your ear and not up your nose or eyes or up yer bum!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[neale]

Head sea..you are heading in the opposite direction to the waves and crashing thru them or going up and down them.

Following sea.. the waves are going in the same direction as you and are catching you up and overtaking you.

Beam sea.. waves are coming at you on your side and you are being bounced around sideways.

Neale