Cruising speeds and group travel

B

BaseCampAnne

New member
I am planning on going to 2-3 gatherings in May and wonder if there is a protocol or system of boats traveling together?

I am also curious if anyone knows an approximate speed for several boats going together?

Today I was averaging @1800 rpms? and am not clear how to figure how long it might take to get to Hartstene or Friday Harbor from Everett at that speed.

Thanks in advance,
Anne
 
Anne...not to belabor the obvious, but time = speed x distance! Do you have any trip planning software like RayTech Planner (free) or Coastal Explorer (spendy)? It will help you answer these questions...As far as boats traveling together, you just have to decide whether you want to keep up with the leader or hang back with some of us who like to go slower!
 
just a quick look at the map shows 63 miles from Everett to Friday harbor. So 63 miles at 18mph is 3.5 hours. At 15mph is 4.3 hours. At 10 mph is 6.3 hours. Slow is ok if you have the time. I dont so its 18 mph or better. If I trailer up its 1 hour to the ramp 45min to get launched, parked, set and go. Then 27mile to Friday and 1.5 hours more. So 3.5 by boat or 3.25 by truck/boat.

Thats if I dont fish on the way. And please no fuel burn comparisons, I'm trying to have fun here.
 
Google Earth is a top choice of mine. I can ruler out a route quickly, I checked Tom, and got 68 miles Everett-Friday Harbor. My proposed route went from Everett north between Camano and Whidbey, up and out through Deception Pass, West to Cattle Pass and that way.
 
Cattle Pass can have very rough conditions depending on tidal current.

An alternative is to go from Deception to Lopez Pass, then north past Spencer Spit, around Upright Head and then to Friday Harbor.
 
thats the same way I went but I was using a map and these two legged thingys to measure with. Larry would be proud of me. I got 62 miles using ray planner just now.
 
Hi Anne,

Traveling with a group can be good or bad, depending on the group. You are responsible for yourself in any group outing, and shouldn't feel like you have to run any particular speed if you aren't comfortable with it. In a good group outing, you will have a departure time and a destination... then you make it work to get yourself there.

If you are following behind someone who consistently swerves back and forth, it can be uncomfortable due to their wake. I'm a "straight line" kinda guy, so in that case, I will break off from the group, do my own thing, and meet up at the destination. Sometimes the scenery is such that you just don't want to go fast. Or you might decide it's time to make lunch. Or the water is perfectly smooth and you want to run the throttle up.

Group travel can be really fun, with the commentary on the radio and the shared experience. Just keep in mind what feels best for you. Even running with a group, make sure you are doing your own navigation.

If you're running slow, it can feel like a parade... Joan has to keep on me constantly to keep me from getting on top of the boat and using my beauty-queen wave. :wink Running flat out can be tougher because there is a lot of wake being tossed by all the boats. With most groups, a dynamic will be established, depending on the size/type of boats and the conditions.

Good luck and have fun!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Anne, keep in mind that the most economical fuel consumption (unless you're really crawling) occurs (usually) just after you come up on plane. On a 22, that's around 10-11 knots. That varies depending on load and whether you've got trim tabs/permatrims, etc. If you're going a long distance, and not in too much of a hurry that's a good speed for the group to travel at.

Charlie
 
When cruising with boats that don't run the same speed, the faster boat
will often run on ahead and then wait for a bit, repeat. At least that's what
I've done or others have done for me. That way all boats can run at
their most efficient speed while still traveling as a group. The faster boats
will usually end up several miles ahead, and then wait until they are a few
miles behind the slower boats before starting again.

Mike
 
Yeah, what Jim said. Over time, smaller traveling groups form with those like Tom (Susan E) who always zoom ahead at 20 knots (knocks your fillings loose) [on edit - OK, 30 knots] in one group, and those like Brock (Bambina) who always mosey along at 10 knots in another [on edit - OK, 8 knots] , and the rest of us somewhere in-between. We all get to where we are going eventually and gather up for the merriment!
 
Another thing to remember, if everyone gets to the dock (moorage,anchorage etc.) at the same time there is no one available to help us less experienced members secure our boats. :wink Jack
 
Deception Pass,

This thread asked about going to Friday Harbor from Everett.

If folks are going thru Deception Pass here are the current predictions for Fri 5-16

Slack Max Speed Slack Max Speed Slack Max Speed
0811 1107 +6.0kts 1435 1711 -6.4kts 2032 2309 +5.2kts

Slack is the time when the current is still or reverses. Max is the time of maximum flow in knots and the + indicates flood current at maximum flow going toward the East. A - indicates the ebb current going toward the West.

These currents are fairly strong so the safest and smoothest time to transit during the day are at or near slack. That would be about 8:00am or 2:35pm.

The most difficult times would be 11:07am and 5:11pm.

Boaters experienced with Deception Pass go thru at almost any time, but beginners should go at slack for the first few times.

Here is a link to the NOAA current predictions;

http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/currents08/tab2pc2.html#120

These prediction tables can be printed to carry aboard.
 
Pat, 20 knots is not fast. It’s in the middle. 30 is fast and only for our boats. I run where I am comfortable and happy. 10 knots does not make me happy. It’s kind of irritating to tell you the truth. Unless I am exploring an island or bay it’s just too slow. A lot of time I am covering water I already know very well. You have to understand that most of my fishing buddies travel at 30 to 40 knots. If you’re not retired and need to get there and back or fishing a derby and have to get back for weight-in 15 knots does not cut it.
 
(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.
 
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 said:
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. :shock:
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. :lol:
Click to expand...
 
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?
 
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 ... etail.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...
 
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