Dealing with Chop

louxwe · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 10:38 am Post subject: Dealing with Chop

Got out for the first trip of the year and go my first sheepshead.

I boat in the gulf coast and bays near Destin and was wondering if there are any tips/tricks to boating in chop. Any bit of chop (and we get a lot here) seem to beat the hell out me and I have to really slow down. Trailing seas not as much but heading into the wind/chop I had to slow down to 7-10 knots and still was pretty rough. Is that just the way it is with the c-dory. Just kinda bummed watching everyone else zip past and it really adds a lot of driving time to my trips. I am in a 2006 CD22, with Honda 75, at full throttle and another guy on board I'm topping out at 21-22 knots but it needs to be very flat to get that.

Also while I was getting beat up in the chop heading out, all of the sudden the engine just stopped... like completely. Turned the ignition... nothing, no cranking over, no chugging, nothing at all. Then mysteriously several minutes later, it just cranked back up. My only theory is that the safety kill switch was loose or maybe something in the ignition... ???

DavidM · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 12:05 pm Post subject:

You can often get a better ride by angling off of directly into the chop, but it won't help that much and will add to your trip time.

That is the nature of the C Dory. Also and don't blast me for touting another brand, but my Atlas Pomano 23 with a downeaster full keel hull handles 2' of chop at 15 mph ok. More than that and I stay home.

David

thataway · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 12:33 pm Post subject:

I see that you have trim tabs. Did you put them all of the way down? Or at least adjust to attempt to get the best ride?

The other item which really helps is putting a Permatrim (that is the best foil, cheaper ones don't do as good a job. With the Trim Tabs and the Permatrim, it will help to get the bow down.

Real two foot short chop can be a challenge for many boats, including Down East types. Which do have a sharper entry, with soft chines, are limited to top speeds lower than the C Dory with hard chines. There are always trades offs--for example the semi displacement boats do not handle the down wind/seas in heavy seas, where the C Dory excels.

We have had power boats up to 42 feet (with a deeper V). where the Gulf seas can be a challenge. My Caracal Cat will run with the smaller Regulators or Contenders (24 to 26* dead rise) in short chop.

Get the bow down--it will throw some spray. The original C Dory with a flatter bottom, was designed around a 70 hp 2 stroke Honda. Some are using up to 115 HP currently. Keeping as much weight out of the stern as possible is also good. But we always seem to run heavy boats...

Some will say put a lot of chain in the bow, and several East Coast dealers rigged all of their boats that way. The down side of this is that the bow is permanently depressed at the expense of down wind performance--and you don't want to have the broaching or bow steering effect which cane come with certain boats.

Get the Permatrim and go out and play with various trim angles. Yes, altering course will help.

Chester · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 5:50 pm Post subject:

Even simple things such as placing your heavy cooler forward in the porta potty space will help.

hardee · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 10:35 pm Post subject:

Bob is right about getting the bow down. You will need to use the trim tabs. If you can't get it down with them fully deployed then you need to add the Permatrim. Getting the bow down will help "cut" your way through the chop. The C-Dory has a pretty flat bottom. That is on of the reasons we have such fuel efficient boats. I would be careful about adding weight into the bow, as that can and probably will cause some bow steering which can get really uncomfortable if you are dealing with following seas. Those guys that are blasting past you are running deep Vee hulls, and burning twice (or more) fuel than you are. Maybe you need to step out of the "fishing" mode and get into the "boating" mode for a bit on the way to the fishing grounds. Leave the dock earlier, enjoy the sunrise, and the calmer water, and then enjoy a flatter riding boat, an indoor cabin, and a quieter ride and a lower fuel bill at the end of the day.

AS to your engine quit issue, you may be onto something there as the sudden stop can be indicative of that kill switch having a loose connection.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

thataway · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 12:01 am Post subject:

We have caught a lot of fish all over the World "Trolling" at 6 to 8 knots (I have seen boats which troll and catch fish at 20 knots in the S. Pacific...) The point is that you can catch fish on the way to the marked points you have for the Sheepshead.

louxwe · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 12:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks I will work on keeping the nose down more, didn't really mess with the trim tabs, played with trimming the engine. Also, had a full tank of both fuel so more weight in the back than usual. I have tried trolling in the bay here but I never caught anything or seen anyone catch, but definitely a possibility in the gulf.

Hoping that the engine cut out was just the kill switch or something, not a fun feeling floating in the bay with no engine.

thataway · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 4:43 pm Post subject:

Check all of your connections, take apart, burnish with SS wire brush, put on a conducting grease or corrosion block, and tighten up all fittings.

Trolling in the bays is not real productive, As you get offshore you have a better chance, Might as well if you have to go at a slower speed. Never know what you might get.

WeekiTiki · Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 2:49 pm Post subject:

Yea, been pretty nasty here as of late

What's worse is chop in narrow rocky channel of Hernando Beach

Coming from broadside

Foggy · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 12:55 pm Post subject:

Small boats are most comfortable in small seas.

Big boats are more comfortable in bigger seas, up to a point.

In other words, length is ride and the best ride usually costs the most.

Aye.

davidJ · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:08 pm Post subject:

Iouxwe, being how this was your first time out in the boat, your engine problem could be that your leg bumped against the key, turning your engine off. It's normal to reach down and turn the key to re start and nothing happens because the engine is in gear, it must be in neutral to start. This happens all the time on my CD 19.

The trim tabs really do make a difference in chop. we normally run at 20 to 25 in 1 to 2 ft. of chop. The only time we drop down below 20 is when we get 3 ft. or bigger waves. We usually get bounced around a bit, but my 19 is lighter and shorter than the 22, so yours should run a bit smother than mine.

Sheepshead · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2020 3:31 pm Post subject:

I keep a 5 gallon bucket of loose diver lead as adjustable ballast.
It usually rides in the place where many would keep the port a potty.
That and trim tabs help keep the bow down pretty well.

I replaced the normal weak bucket handle with heavy duty rope.
That allows me to easily move it around to wherever needed using one hand and locked arm/ elbow.

If its choppy, I try to stay inshore.

WeekiTiki · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 12:29 pm Post subject:

Knew before I ever rode in these boat that they were not going to handle the chop

Way too light

The question is are they worse than what I expected...

Not really

Didn't have much faith in the ride

But was looking for something more fair weather that sips the gas

SerenityPC · Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:21 am Post subject:

Yes its just the nature of the beast . I boat in the same area Panama City ( well whats left of it after Michael )

Just have to slow down and trim down to beat it , or it beats you ...
docking in the wind can be a challenging as well

But what make a C Dory bad makes it great. Light weight .
Not a boat in its class more fuel efficient with the same room and
amenity as a C Dory. not to mention its classic beauty. Just have to enjoy the good and learn how to deal with the bad .

hardee · Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 12:55 pm Post subject:

Every boat is a compromise in some way. The perfect boat for fishing little flatland lakes, isn't worth a dime in the Ocean, and the big deep vee will get you there, but rock you like crazy while you are fishing, just walking from one side of the boat to the other, let alone if there is a chop running. The open bow, low profile can take 12 people, but when it rains, they are all going to get wet, and if it's choppy they will get wet anyway. The pilot house cabin cruiser will keep them dry but maybe you won't "cruise" at 40 mph.

So, figure out what you are going to do on your boat, and where you are going to use it. Then get the boat that fits those things best and learn to deal with the other factors. The little flats boat that runs up on the trailer and scoots from one tourney to the next, hardly ever touching a dock isn't a problem to dock in a crosswind but it sure isn't going to take you and the family out for a weekend cruise.

Learning to operate your vessel, even in adverse conditions, is part of boating. Learning should be part of the enjoyment, because you develop skills, practices and habits that make your boating more fun and safer.

SerenityPC said: