Hi again,
Found a 2005 SD16 cruiser that was too good of a deal to pass up--18.9 hours, covered the whole time, like new. Price would make you drop your beer.
So in the past four weeks, I've tripled the hours on the boat, just crabbing and fishing in Puget Sound, and have really been enjoying her. As I'm sure you all know, I get comments on the boat everywhere I go--so easy to use and looks great. In the rainy northwest, she is just perfect.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in about 3' wind waves (head on), and that was pretty uncomfortable, though passable. I started paying closer attention to the marine weather forecast, and pretty much avoid going out if it's beyond 1-2 feet.
Today was forecast to be 1 or 2 feet, subsiding, but after setting crab pots and trolling a bit, I saw a rain line coming from the north, as well as chop building. I quickly grabbed the pots and headed for harbor, but wasn't fast enough to avoid a steep 3' following sea. I broached once, but quickly got back on course. I was experimenting with different things, i.e. going slower than the waves on the big ones, faster than the waves on the small ones, etc. Other than the broach, I felt in control for the most part, but it was not a relaxing ride. As an aside, an hour later, all was calm and again in line with the forecast.
In any case, I know that Chapman basically says to let the waves pass you, but that felt a lot like impending broach as well. I ended up running mostly perpendicular to the waves, but down in a trough, i.e. matching my speed to the speed of the waves with one ahead and one behind. I was also constantly making corrections on the throttle and wheel, to keep headed perp to the waves.
Though I have hundreds (thousands?) of hours behind me on power boats, it left me humbled and feeling like it was time to do some practicing in smaller conditions. The broach really got my attention, as I was well aware of how easy that could have become a capsize. I am hoping some of you old salts will have advice on handling a following sea. I am all ears.
I did a search in the forums, and didn't find much dedicated to this specific topic, but please feel free to point me to a previous topic if it's been covered already.
Glad to have joined the C-Dory family, and look forward to meeting some of you at some point!
Best,
Ben McCafferty
Bainbridge Island, WA
2005 16 cruiser
Found a 2005 SD16 cruiser that was too good of a deal to pass up--18.9 hours, covered the whole time, like new. Price would make you drop your beer.
So in the past four weeks, I've tripled the hours on the boat, just crabbing and fishing in Puget Sound, and have really been enjoying her. As I'm sure you all know, I get comments on the boat everywhere I go--so easy to use and looks great. In the rainy northwest, she is just perfect.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in about 3' wind waves (head on), and that was pretty uncomfortable, though passable. I started paying closer attention to the marine weather forecast, and pretty much avoid going out if it's beyond 1-2 feet.
Today was forecast to be 1 or 2 feet, subsiding, but after setting crab pots and trolling a bit, I saw a rain line coming from the north, as well as chop building. I quickly grabbed the pots and headed for harbor, but wasn't fast enough to avoid a steep 3' following sea. I broached once, but quickly got back on course. I was experimenting with different things, i.e. going slower than the waves on the big ones, faster than the waves on the small ones, etc. Other than the broach, I felt in control for the most part, but it was not a relaxing ride. As an aside, an hour later, all was calm and again in line with the forecast.
In any case, I know that Chapman basically says to let the waves pass you, but that felt a lot like impending broach as well. I ended up running mostly perpendicular to the waves, but down in a trough, i.e. matching my speed to the speed of the waves with one ahead and one behind. I was also constantly making corrections on the throttle and wheel, to keep headed perp to the waves.
Though I have hundreds (thousands?) of hours behind me on power boats, it left me humbled and feeling like it was time to do some practicing in smaller conditions. The broach really got my attention, as I was well aware of how easy that could have become a capsize. I am hoping some of you old salts will have advice on handling a following sea. I am all ears.
I did a search in the forums, and didn't find much dedicated to this specific topic, but please feel free to point me to a previous topic if it's been covered already.
Glad to have joined the C-Dory family, and look forward to meeting some of you at some point!
Best,
Ben McCafferty
Bainbridge Island, WA
2005 16 cruiser
