Safety

wendyg · 07-08-2011, 11:53 AM

Just wondering if my husband is handling the water and the boat properly between speed, steering, and trim tabs. I grew up boating on the intercoastal of the east coast of Florida...very different experience...

Rattlesnake Guy · 07-08-2011, 12:44 PM

Most days on the lake you can pretty much go in any direction or speed you choose. On a windy or choppy day as you describe, you need to let the waves dictate your driving.

When we go from point to point with a cross wind, we think about which route will offer the most land protection. Waves get larger the longer distance they have to form. Rather than go across the waves, we drive in more of a Z pattern. Intentionally driving 45 degrees into the waves and then 45 degrees with the waves.

Often times the really big waves, the ones big enough to turn your boat, will come in patterns. You will see a few medium waves followed by a large. Once in a while, you see an opening where a section of of water is relatively lacking in waves. I find steering around the worst of the waves to be a reasonable strategy. You have to pay attention.

We have a bow rider as well. When the wave height causes the need to slow down, I use the tilt of the motor to lift the bow to avoid the risk of a wave crashing over the bow. My wife often leaves the bow cover on as an extra safety in the case that a wave does crash the bow, the water would be shed and not over weight the front of the boat at the worst time.

I think you will find it is a matter of experience. The biggest challenge I have now is trying to do all the right things for the safe passage of the boat and accomplish the secondary goal of keeping the passengers dry. It can be very cold in April to be getting wet.

ThePlut · 07-08-2011, 12:52 PM

I follow the same general rule in rough water, slow down and bow up.

Can't speak to your specific circumstance because I wasn't there to see it, how your husband was driving, how your boat was set up. A 24' bowrider can still be tossed around pretty good when Ms. Winni is angry... That can be mitigated by good piloting, but not eliminated.

There are captains out there who provide piloting lesson, who will come out to your boat and give you a class on boat handling. I did this myself 5 years ago and found it invaluable as he noticed things about my boat's handling and gave me specific ideas/techniques to compensate for them (for example, he thought the boat was very bow light...). That might be worth looking into for you...

07-08-2011, 12:52 PM	#3
ThePlut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 150 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	I agree I follow the same general rule in rough water, slow down and bow up. Can't speak to your specific circumstance because I wasn't there to see it, how your husband was driving, how your boat was set up. A 24' bowrider can still be tossed around pretty good when Ms. Winni is angry... That can be mitigated by good piloting, but not eliminated. There are captains out there who provide piloting lesson, who will come out to your boat and give you a class on boat handling. I did this myself 5 years ago and found it invaluable as he noticed things about my boat's handling and gave me specific ideas/techniques to compensate for them (for example, he thought the boat was very bow light...). That might be worth looking into for you...

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07-08-2011, 11:53 AM	#1
wendyg Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 32 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Just wondering if my husband is handling the water and the boat properly between speed, steering, and trim tabs. I grew up boating on the intercoastal of the east coast of Florida...very different experience...

07-08-2011, 12:44 PM	#2
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	Most days on the lake you can pretty much go in any direction or speed you choose. On a windy or choppy day as you describe, you need to let the waves dictate your driving. When we go from point to point with a cross wind, we think about which route will offer the most land protection. Waves get larger the longer distance they have to form. Rather than go across the waves, we drive in more of a Z pattern. Intentionally driving 45 degrees into the waves and then 45 degrees with the waves. Often times the really big waves, the ones big enough to turn your boat, will come in patterns. You will see a few medium waves followed by a large. Once in a while, you see an opening where a section of of water is relatively lacking in waves. I find steering around the worst of the waves to be a reasonable strategy. You have to pay attention. We have a bow rider as well. When the wave height causes the need to slow down, I use the tilt of the motor to lift the bow to avoid the risk of a wave crashing over the bow. My wife often leaves the bow cover on as an extra safety in the case that a wave does crash the bow, the water would be shed and not over weight the front of the boat at the worst time. I think you will find it is a matter of experience. The biggest challenge I have now is trying to do all the right things for the safe passage of the boat and accomplish the secondary goal of keeping the passengers dry. It can be very cold in April to be getting wet.