Cruising speeds and group travel

[Larry H]

(Tom, this advise does not apply to you!!)

Even at Tom's slow 20 knots a log or other debris can come up on you real fast!

The most dangerous time is on a sunny afternoon travelling into the sun glare in 1 foot or higher chop. A half sunk 1 ft or larger log can hide in the trough and if run over, can damage your boat, prop, or motor.

Never run faster than you can see and turn to avoid stuff in the water!

When running in a group, always be prepared for the boats ahead to slow, stop, or turn to avoid debris.

I consider it unsafe for boats to run side-by-side. Accidents have been caused by one of the side-by-side boats suddenly turning into the other boat. Lack of attention or steering failure can cause this type of accident.

In an overtaking situation, the rules of the road state that the overtaking boat has the duty to remain 'well clear' until the pass is accomplished, and the overtaking boat is well clear ahead. The boat being passed should maintain course and speed.

[C-Hawk]

[quote="Larry H
I consider it unsafe for boats to run side-by-side. Accidents have been caused by one of the side-by-side boats suddenly turning into the other boat. Lack of attention or steering failure can cause this type of accident.[/quote]

Coming back from Catalina a few years ago, we had 5 - 6 boats in the group. Including one "newby"
There were two boats ahead of me- one to port (newby) and one to starboard.
We saw several dolphins running with us when the boat up on my port started yelling (into the radio) "whales, whales", turned starboard and headed straight toward the other boat.
The other boat had to turn away to keep from being t-boned.
We finally got the "newby" settled down and told him that what he was seeing was dolphins, not whales.
That was an interesting trip- going and returning.

[Larry H]

Roger,

That would increase the pucker factor for sure!! LOL You might have been involved in having to perform a rescue.

The rules of the road do not specifically address running side-by-side. I would consider doing so to be using poor seamanship.

However, if two boats were exactly side-by-side, the boat on the port would be the give way vessel and the boat on the starboard side would be the stand on vessel. That would follow the crossing rule, where you yield to the boat on your starboard.

I think boats travelling together should be in line or in a staggered line like motorcycles on a highway. The wakes might be a problem though for the boats last in line. Whatever the arrangement, allow enough distance to deal with boats stopping or turning.

Roger,

Do you have a delivery date on C-Hawk?

[thataway]

We don't like running in groups--just because of the safety, and various speed issues with the different boats. (Of course, I have in essence done this for years in racing sailboats--but there the rules are a bit different, as is the level of experience and awareness.) We will often run ahead and then wait in some nice cove or pretty spot.

If you Anne was running at 1800 RPM, she was probably going about 6.3 miles an hour--and would take 10 hours to make that run...You may want to kick the speed up a bit

Each of the types of the boats hase a different top speed and a different most effecient, as well as comfort speed .

A great comparison is at Boat Test.com.
http://www.boattest.com/engines/Honda/C-Dory/boat_engine_detail.aspx

According to their tests the 22's most effecient planing speed is 14.2 mph and gets 4.51 miles a gallon at that speed. At 2000 PRM, it will get 6.6 miles an hour and 6 miles a gallon.

For the CD 25, the most effecient planing speed is 15.4 miles an hour and gets 4.05 miles a gallon (@3500 RPM) at 2500 RPM gets 8.8 miles an hour and 4.13 miles a gallon. If you drop to 5.9 miles an hour, you will 6.56 miles a galllon at 1500 RPM. (longer water line than the CD 22).

The Tom Cat 's best planing speed is at 20 miles an hour and it gets 3.2 miles a gallon--low speed running is 7.4 miles an hour and 3.5 miles a gallon at 1500 RPM, if you drop down to 1000 RPM and 5.9 miles an hour, you can get 5.58 miles a gallon.

The top speeds in the test was 32 miles an hour for the 22, 35 miles an hour for the 25 and 47 miles an hour for the Tom Cat. We find our most comfortabel speed in the 20 to 25 miles an hour range. At 17 mph or below the boat becomse much less effecient.

Remember that these tests are in very light, new boats, and may not reflect what you will get with the boat loaded for crusing...

[IT-SEA-BIT-C]

when travelin with a group /first one there wins

[Sea Angel]

Bob,
Those are good figures for the CD25, at least as to Sea Angel's runs. I do run heavy at that.

Art

[starcrafttom]

Larry you have to remember that hitting the pass on a out going tide may be good for your milage but if the wind is out of the west it could be a really bumpy ride. I would rather run against the wind and current if the wind and current are going the same direction with each other. If they are against each other then you could end up with a rough ride and have to slow down it 15mph or less.

[Pat Anderson]

Amen!

thataway wrote:

Remember that these tests are in very light, new boats, and may not reflect what you will get with the boat loaded for crusing...

_________________

DAYDREAM - CD25 Cruiser
CRABBY LOU - CD16 Angler (sold 2020)
Pat & Patty Anderson, C-Brat #62!
http://daydreamsloop.blogspot.com

[starcrafttom]

heres a chart of the current that day , not to be confused with the tide. I got this and tides from this link.http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/sites_uswest.html

you can pick from any current or tide marker on the list. Then pick what date and times you want to look at for planning. You have a choice of just the numbers or a graph. just print it out and keep it on the boat. I use this all the time for both fishing and traveling.

[thataway]

I think that the boat Test reviews are good for "relitative" performance comparisons. I have never got the "mileage" which they claim, even with light boats. I would be delighted to get 3 miles a gallon with the Tom Cat or 4 miles a gallon for the CD 25.