boating safety questions

[jekern1015]

I recently bought a new Lund 1875 crossover with a mercury verado 150. My old boat would do 8 mph up at the gorge and when the wind and waves kicked up full throttle was about 6mph. I was never to worried about the boat capsizing even when the waves were crashing over the bow. The new boat does 40 mph up at the gorge and to be honest I don't feel as safe at full throttle let alone at half throttle when the weather kicks up. My question is how do the rest of you drive your boat when the seas begin to white cap and the waves become a little gnarly. I believe as time goes by and I become more comfortable with the boat and how it reacts, my reaction won't be as scared as you would say. Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[SuperD]

jekern,
In your old boat, you may have only been plowing at 6 mph. The new boat will definitely plane in rough seas. Just how hard your spine can take getting slammed with every roller is kind of the speed bumps that will help you find your sweet spot. Trim the nose up a little and proceed at your comfort level. Another thing that comes into play is how wet or dry your boat design is. On a trip to the Gorge where we got caught in a storm I was along side a Duckworth that had water breaking over the bow and the people were getting soaked. I was doing 20 mph and dry. So, your boat will dictate speed to some extent and your threshold for pain will dictate to some extent.

 

[Bduck]

I learned a long time ago literally on the open salt seas never go full throttle. High winds mixed with normal ground swells of 8-12 feet seas is a sure way to swamp a boat. While trying to plane a porpoising effect sometimes occurs and scoops water at the bow. I've never supported the idea of scooting across rough waters at full throttle on plane. While you can still pull speed better than 6mph keep the nose up at a steady pace which is easier to do with the power you have than your old motor and not get out muscled by the wind. It will take longer to get back to your launch destination, safety speaks for itself.

 

[Bogey]

1015, first of all, you're going to LOVE that boat! We bought the same thing (boat/motor) a year ago and it's the smoothest boat "I've" ever been in - and we can have a very smooth/dry ride until it really starts getting western. Now, having said that, I'm not beating my $$$ boat or my fused spine unless there is a REAL need to... I just don't want to knock the crap out of my boat until something comes loose or something - don't need the trouble, I'll just trim that front end up, quarter the waves and go a speed that allows the boat to still glide as opposed to pound!

As you use it more and more, you'll become much more comfortable with it and wonder how you ever lived without it!

Enjoy!

 

[mrmike]

Been there done that, you got rough sea/lake 3/5 ft waves 6 sec apart. White caps your got a serious problem.Your new boat maybe a little lighter than the older one? Your motoring on the wave the next set is breaking on your bow. The only choice is to get on top of them get your boat on plane then go as easy as possible and stay on top. Its rough ride I crack my hull but I didn't sink her. It can happen to any of us. Its happened to me twice out of no were both times stay on top. Good luck.

 

[lowe1648mt]

Don't go faster than you are comfortable at. Pick your weather. If it's to be windy, Don't go if you think the wind will pick up to a point of making you uncomfortable.

 

[hooked]

That boat can handle anything inland waters of the NW can throw at it. We used to fish Roosevelt in a 12' aluminum semi-v, and despite wind and whitecaps always made it back without getting very wet; it's all about how you approach the waves and work your way back to where you want to get. In strong wind and waves WOT is crazy. Just cross the waves diagonally if you get to where your bow may crash under wave crests, and let your deep hull cut across. It may take some zig-zagging, and even major steering corrections for each wave, just remember to take your time and not blindly plow on.