Heaving-To in a Powerboat

[Salty John]

Re: I have a fairly deep keel on my new boat and wonder how it would work with a sea anchor held at an angle just like the raggies do - some fishing boats do this in the Pacific.

Probably worth a try. If the sea anchor line were run through the bow roller you could use a line taken from the sea anchor line to an aft quarter to bring the head off the wind the right amount for the conditions. Or, if the idea was proving a failure, releasing it would put you back bow to wind.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Unfortunately yes, I do have some experience. The practice of "quartering" a powerboat is useful in heavy seas & weather. Taking the waves at an angle of approx 30-40 deg against the waves will protect you from dipping the prow and getting wet. It serves to elongate the trough of the waves and therefore appear to give a longer sequence. You still have good viz (err relatively) and you can therefore watch out for the breakers. Breakers will (even at 40 deg) turn your powerboat beam on and give you an uncomfortable, or even dangerous roll. To avoid this, when you see the breaker coming, turn and head it straight on at slow speed using throttle to drive up the wave and taking the power off as you tip over the crest - but don't for goodness sakes take the power off too early.

Better still abandon the trip and go to the yacht club for a few jars and a roaring fire. Mmmm - thats better!

 

[DauntlessNY]

In deciding on a piwerboat to take me around the world, how she behaves in a following sea was paramount.

Since then I've discovered that my Kadey Krogen 42 handles large following seas superbly. Thus that's still my safety route assuming I have the sea room.

I've also discovered that when stopped in the water in big seas, she rolls less and bobs more. So far, I've never had any green water over the cap rail, whether stopped or not.

Richard on Dauntless
Dauntlessatsea.com

 

[[2068]]

Did you get a license to exhume this thread?

 

[LittleSister]

Did you get a license to exhume this thread?

Are you saying they don't make waves like they used to?

 

[rubberduck]

Interesting thread though, we always take a head sea or large wash at a slight angle, seems to work for us.
Anybody still in touch with Gludy.

 

[Cathy*]

Since this came up as new post I started to read from the beginning without noticing the date. No wonder the videos are no longer available. Damn shame they sound interesting.

 

[Bouba]

Since this came up as new post I started to read from the beginning without noticing the date. No wonder the videos are no longer available. Damn shame they sound interesting.

Same thing happened to me. But very interesting, although some of the yachting terminology has confused me. But storms are a concern as are rogue waves, the thing that I really wonder about are big ship wakes (anybody got a suggestion about what to do?)

 

[rubberduck]

Same thing happened to me. But very interesting, although some of the yachting terminology has confused me. But storms are a concern as are rogue waves, the thing that I really wonder about are big ship wakes (anybody got a suggestion about what to do?)

Big ship wake take head on at angle, tried & tested in north sea, learnt on Thames around Tilbury where there was no escape.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Anybody still in touch with Gludy.

Not me. I read this thread as a new thread and stupidly thought he was back from the other side!

 

[MrB]

Nearly a 14yr old thread, gotta be a record!

 

[PilotWolf]

Since this came up as new post I started to read from the beginning without noticing the date. No wonder the videos are no longer available. Damn shame they sound interesting.

Me too!

W.

 

[stelican]

Interesting thread though, we always take a head sea or large wash at a slight angle, seems to work for us.
Anybody still in touch with Gludy.

 

[rickp]

Dauntless - Suspect we met at Shelter Bay before our respective canal transits! Hope things have gone well since...

In answer to rubberduck's question, Gludy made it to NZ, and the cat is now up for sale.

 

[PilotWolf]

Me too!

W.

That said I've dodged in some serious weather, 9-10 tried filming it but never looks as bad when you replay it.

I actually love bad weather, keeps me on my feet for on thing. My now estranged wife, then fiancée loved some of the worst weather I have ever seen in the Irish Sea.

W.

 

[BruceK]

That said I've dodged in some serious weather, 9-10 tried filming it but never looks as bad when you replay it.

I actually love bad weather, keeps me on my feet for on thing. My now estranged wife, then fiancée loved some of the worst weather I have ever seen in the Irish Sea.

W.

Not the Welsh Med surely?! We have a reputation to upkeep. :disgust:

 

[PilotWolf]

Not the Welsh Med surely?! We have a reputation to upkeep. :disgust:

Yep, off Milford Haven, I have never seen seas build so quick as there.

W.

 

[BruceK]

Yep, off Milford Haven, I have never seen seas build so quick as there.

W.

Ah well. If I may point out. That's not the Irish Sea (St Georges Channel) but more importantly not the Welsh Med. Nothing but blue skies and calm waters here. :encouragement:

 

[PilotWolf]

Ah well. If I may point out. That's not the Irish Sea (St Georges Channel) but more importantly not the Welsh Med. Nothing but blue skies and calm waters here. :encouragement:

Well it was the bay north, Celtic Sea?

The locals warned about getting trapped in there with a westerly, the survey chief decided I didn't know what I was talking about until we left I have never seen seas gets so big so quick...

W

 

[BruceK]

Ja, no. I can imagine. I've headed down that way a good few times and my guts drop just about the time I hit The Tripods on the way into Bardsey Sound (or Devil's Ridge and Hells Mouth on the return). I've even had the CG and Coast Watch call me during one transition presumably to find out if I was sane and sober at the time, a pointless call to be honest as I clearly could not of been, but hindsight and all and I can confirm that all that ply those waters must surely wish they had taken a berth in the Welsh Med where the worst we get is some mild chop that when severe could cause a full gin glass to spill a bit. Even Cardigan Bay has put the wind up my crew with lamentations of "Have we died yet? Can we go home?"