Rough weather what to do?

[martynwhiteley]

This for me has been one of the best threads I've read in recent months, and what's best about the forum.

Having moved to a deep V 38 knt sports cruiser from more sedate hull designs, I'm interested in benefitting from other peoples experiences.

What always worries me, especially now with a single petrol engine, is what happens if you lose drive in such seas. Having experienced a very uncomfortable short chop WAT in the mouth of the Humber last year, I made the passage and valued the experience, but I was tired out from the level of concentration and throttle/wheel control required keeping to a seemingly workable 8 knts or so.

However I was dreading a power failure, as I knew we'd be tossed around like a cork. I doubt I would have been safely able to mobile an auxiliary outboard even if I had one!

Has this happened to anyone, and is it as bad I envisage it? What are the chances of capzising?

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[[2068]]

Re: Get a flybridge boat?

Mostly true, but can also stand bolt upright with canopy off, duck at appropriate moments, and hit the bilge pump manual switch every now and again. This works best when you don't have any small children or dogs that are likely to be washed away, and at least gives you an incentive (and the visibility) not to get it wrong and stuff it.

I would probably have turned back - There's no fun in being scared.

dv.

 

[AJW]

In the eventuality of losing all power then it is going to be uncomfortable if not dangerous. Probably best thing to do first is stream a see anchor. At least that way you are lying head to the seas. Trouble is that Deep V's like to weathercock around and present the stern to the wind & sea. You either need a big sea anchor or to lift the outdrive to reduce weathercocking. Hopefully this would stabilise the motion enough to see whether engine could be fixed or to deploy aux outboard. Also another argument for having plenty of searoom as clearly your sea anchor isn't much use when you are on the beach!

Oh yes and Hi to Slipstream42, I'm guessing thats you Phil!

AJ

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[ipw]

Ive only turned round once [west coast Ireland]but it enabled me to carry on with boating, if i,d carried on my family would have refused to crew and would have caravanned for the rest of my life for my sins

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[MainlySteam]

An interesting thread.

In pleasure planing hulls the most common damage in my experience is failure of the flat bottom panels through slamming - and that may also result in collateral damage elsewhere eg higher in the superstructure/joinery on the opposite side of the boat when the shock wave is reflected - and stove in front windows. Many pleasure boats are lightly glassed when compared to commercial vessels (who also periodically get their windows stove in).

So, probably the message is to keep slamming down and no solid green water over the front. If that cannot be managed then maybe one should turn back. I know of one day in one location where three 40+ foot boats were written off through severe slamming damage because the conditions were not what the crews were used to boating in (it was a fishing contest so while many turned back in the face of the conditions, others did not and maybe should have).

John



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[Deleted User YDKXO]

A mobo will only weathercock under power astern. With no power, they tend to lie beam on. Very uncomfortable but probably not dangerous unless its a very big sea but a sea anchor would be a very good idea. Dont know anyone who carries one though

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[martynwhiteley]

Thanks AJ, sound logic and good advice.

Guess I need to buy a sea anchor!!

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[oldgit]

More than enough for me.

F5 was given for Thames estuary.Bit much for me,ditch crawling that w/end suited me just fine.Always another nice settled spell of weather going to come along later for that type of journey.

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[adarcy]

Re: Don\'t understand

<<or to lift the outdrive to reduce weathercocking>>

Err please explain more. I accept that a powerless planing boat will be knocked about by the waves and, as importantly IMHO, blown about by the wind that's causing such waves. Deep vees tend to get to get blown bow down off the wind as they have as much if not more windage aft but a lot more hull in the water aft. Lifting the outdrives is going to reduce the hydrodynamic drag aft a bit but I very much doubt that that is going to be enough to prevent the bow being blown off unless you know different from experience.

BTW agree 100% w sea anchor becuase that is applying force at the bow

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[martynwhiteley]

Re: Don\'t understand

If you had no sea anchor, would flying a big kite off the stern have the same effect?



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[hlb]

I remember being off Bardsey Island just off Wales. Big overfalls. Making 3 knots but probably going backwards up the rocks. It took hours to make headway. Glad Ive got proper props now. Never ever given a problem.

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Haydn

 

[AJW]

Re: Don\'t understand

Only posting from my experience which is in relatively (in Mobo forum terms!) lightweight RIB's and sportsboats. I found with my 7.5m Scorpion that it would weathercock badly in any wind and even with the sea anchor deployed she would only lay beam to sea. Raising the outboard seemed to loosen the grip on the water at the stern and allow her to lay head to sea. Answer probably was to have a much bigger sea anchor!!

Accept that things are probably v different on bigger boats.

Cheers.
AJ

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[mrplastic]

I take this point about 'searoom'. It's the first time I've come across this expression even though I had plenty of training.

I also appreciate your comments re: illusion of security. It hadn't occurred to me that it might be more dangerous. The depth never became a worry, never dipping below 8 metres but I can appreciate that it might have been smoother further out. When I crossed the channel about a month ago (the first time) the waves were bloody big but more like a huge swell than actual waves if that interpretation makes sense.

So I've learned a lot and all very useful and for that I thank-you all. Hopefully it'll be a while before I have to try any of these methods out!

By the way, my 72 year olg MIL was on board and she thought it was fantastic, really enjoyed it......I couldn't believe it! Ignorance is I guess is still bliss!

CLP








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[mrplastic]

Maybe, but the boat was never slamming. In fact she was extremely soft riding almost all of the time. Still wasn't nice though and slamming or not she was being tossed around like a cork at times. Never felt at risk though nor did anyone else on board...so must've being doin somthing right!

CLP

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[mrplastic]

Re: Read Dag Pike ?

I got the answer.

A dive button.

I'll fit one next weekend, should only take 5 mins or so!.

CLP

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[BrendanS]

Re: Read Dag Pike ?

It works well in places like the Solent where you get short sharp chop. Slowing down gets you home, but going over the tops of the waves is actually more comfortable and much faster.
Not just a racing boat thing.

You can stuff the boat into big waves at very slow speed, as I've managed to demonstrate to various peeps over the past few years, not least this past Sunday <g> I got very wet!!! Despite doing the ducking under the windscreen bit!


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[AJW]

Imagine if you will your boat on the beach with the surf and the waves pounding the bejaysus out of it! Not a good picture!

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[BrendanS]

Re: Get a flybridge boat?

Not true.! <g>

You just get the dry suit on, and start to enjoy it

Trying to sit down and look through windows is asking for trouble. There's usually no one else out there to appreciate it. Never had to hang on for dear life..I'm too busy helming and using throttle control to want to hang onto anything

I'd far rather be out there in the elements, and able to see where I'm going, than be inside trying to prophesise the near future

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[Moose]

A controlled beaching must be better than an uncontrolled beaching. Best not to beach it at all though imo/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif A great big scary anchor seems like a good idea to prevent aforementioned beaching.

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Moose

 

[Moose]

Re: Get a flybridge boat?

Agreed, it is much better to be outside when it is rough. If nothing else you are safer on the flybridge if you are hit by a rogue wave or something because locked in the saloon drinking coffee without a lifejacket is not the best place to be when it is rough,,,,how would you get out? Being outside with good visibilty and a better feel for what is going on is far more important and you can easily get off! Not that you would want too.

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Moose