longshort247
New member
How does she handle? Is it knee jarring, do you feel the air cushion your landing and what is your cruise speed?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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TomCat 24 Hull in 6ft to 8ft seas
- Thread starter longshort247
- Start date
6-8' SWELLS or 6-8' waves? For swells and any hull, it really depends on the spacing between them. I've been in 10-12' swells in my 22' C-Dory but they were relatively long period -15s or so and not really a problem. 6-8' short period waves, and I'm in serious trouble. So, precisely what do you mean by 6-8' seas?
longshort247
New member
Sorry I was not more precise...I'm talking about 6 to 8 ft swells with 3 to 4 ft confused chop. I'm also thinking about how the tomCat 24 would perform if it was used down in FL to make passages across to the Bahamas. Does it take on water...are the bilges hard at work? I'm trying to bench mark this boat against the Glacier Bays.
longshort,
You should send Molly Brown a PM. I believe they have taken their Tomcat 24 to the Bahamas several times. They should be able to tell you first hand how the boat handles doing that run. You can see some of their pictures from places they've been to in their photo album too.
Jack
You should send Molly Brown a PM. I believe they have taken their Tomcat 24 to the Bahamas several times. They should be able to tell you first hand how the boat handles doing that run. You can see some of their pictures from places they've been to in their photo album too.
Jack
Molly Brown
Member
Longshort:
The TC24 will handle that just fine. The air cushion that you mention doesn't work quite like you would think since the deck is just inches above the waterline at rest. The inclination with first time "cat" users is to slow down when the water gets rough but an increase in speed will actually smooth things out. A lot of it has to do with your profile in the water and your running load. There does come a time when the water is so rough or has peculiar structure where the only option is to slow down. I can tell you that she will cruise much better in open swells in a confused state better than shallow water with smaller but shorter waves. Case in point was our trip to the Bahamas where the water in the Gulfstream was just as rough as in the Sea of Abaco but the ride in the Gulfstream was handled much better due to the underwater structure (Gulfstream being much deeper)
The TC24 will handle that just fine. The air cushion that you mention doesn't work quite like you would think since the deck is just inches above the waterline at rest. The inclination with first time "cat" users is to slow down when the water gets rough but an increase in speed will actually smooth things out. A lot of it has to do with your profile in the water and your running load. There does come a time when the water is so rough or has peculiar structure where the only option is to slow down. I can tell you that she will cruise much better in open swells in a confused state better than shallow water with smaller but shorter waves. Case in point was our trip to the Bahamas where the water in the Gulfstream was just as rough as in the Sea of Abaco but the ride in the Gulfstream was handled much better due to the underwater structure (Gulfstream being much deeper)
Molly Brown
Member
Longshort:
The TC24 will handle that just fine. The air cushion that you mention doesn't work quite like you would think since the deck is just inches above the waterline at rest. The inclination with first time "cat" users is to slow down when the water gets rough but an increase in speed will actually smooth things out. A lot of it has to do with your profile in the water and your running load. There does come a time when the water is so rough or has peculiar structure where the only option is to slow down. I can tell you that she will cruise much better in open swells in a confused state better than shallow water with smaller but shorter waves. Case in point was our trip to the Bahamas where the water in the Gulfstream was just as rough as in the Sea of Abaco but the ride in the Gulfstream was handled much better due to the underwater structure (Gulfstream being much deeper). As for water in the boat, the bilge hardly works at all since any water that enters the cockpit runs out the very generously sized tubes at the rear of the deck. When we first got the boat we would get a wet deck at rest because the flaps at the transom are slanted and the tendency is for them to open when you bob in the water. A stainless bolt at the top will solve that problem.
The TC24 will handle that just fine. The air cushion that you mention doesn't work quite like you would think since the deck is just inches above the waterline at rest. The inclination with first time "cat" users is to slow down when the water gets rough but an increase in speed will actually smooth things out. A lot of it has to do with your profile in the water and your running load. There does come a time when the water is so rough or has peculiar structure where the only option is to slow down. I can tell you that she will cruise much better in open swells in a confused state better than shallow water with smaller but shorter waves. Case in point was our trip to the Bahamas where the water in the Gulfstream was just as rough as in the Sea of Abaco but the ride in the Gulfstream was handled much better due to the underwater structure (Gulfstream being much deeper). As for water in the boat, the bilge hardly works at all since any water that enters the cockpit runs out the very generously sized tubes at the rear of the deck. When we first got the boat we would get a wet deck at rest because the flaps at the transom are slanted and the tendency is for them to open when you bob in the water. A stainless bolt at the top will solve that problem.
Molly Brown
Member
Sorry about the double post, just had an additional comment to make.
Thataway just recently purchased a new 255. He looked at the Glacier Bay, and the Tomcat. He's posted that the GB was a better riding boat. He and his wife like to cruise, and the Tomcat steals the show with the all weather cabin etc.. If you fish more than you cruise, the GB may be more to your liking.
"Molly Brown"s idea for the SS bolt thru the hinge part of the flap to keep the water from creeping in the scuppers works good. :thup
"Molly Brown"s idea for the SS bolt thru the hinge part of the flap to keep the water from creeping in the scuppers works good. :thup
Was just in some of those last Saturday. I don't like 'em but the boat does not seem to mind.longshort247":w199iupg said:How does she handle? Is it knee jarring, do you feel the air cushion your landing and what is your cruise speed?
Thanks.
We were in very short period, very confused, very steep 6 footers, like being inside a washing machine, water over the bow, spray across the windshield, wipers going constantly and it was not raining. We slowed down to about 15 kts which eliminated pounding - but it was quite a ride.
I have slowed down to 7 kts in shorter and closer spaced stuff. I will have to try that speeding up idea next time.
longshort247
New member
Thats exactly what I'm interested in the short paced 6ft type seas...when you say it was quite a ride please elaborate on the experience and the boats behaviour...
The only thing that worries me with the speeding up is that there isn't enough of an air cushion with the TomCat 24 and that could lead to flipping in steep short seas (a Glacier Bay 26 did just that off S. Carolina last month - I'll bet he was going too fast, close to 25 kts instead of topping out at close to 20kts and letting the air cushion do the work).
I'm trying to figure out what the TomCat 24's optimum cruise speed is in the conditions we are discussing, given it does not have much of an air cushion.
Comments?
The only thing that worries me with the speeding up is that there isn't enough of an air cushion with the TomCat 24 and that could lead to flipping in steep short seas (a Glacier Bay 26 did just that off S. Carolina last month - I'll bet he was going too fast, close to 25 kts instead of topping out at close to 20kts and letting the air cushion do the work).
I'm trying to figure out what the TomCat 24's optimum cruise speed is in the conditions we are discussing, given it does not have much of an air cushion.
Comments?
Is the GB accident you speak of the one where the capt. lost his life?
If so, the story that I read, said that a beam sea threw crew and coolers etc. to one side. A second wave right behind it, got under the sponson and flipped the boat, while all the weight was piled against the gunwale. The scenario created a severe high side low side problem in sloppy weather.
This was a tragic incident that can hardley be blamed on a single problem.
I don't think there are many boats with 12 to 1500 lbs. resting against one side that would have faired better. Granted, a mono probably wouldn't have had the same sail effect, that may have also contributed to this disaster.
If so, the story that I read, said that a beam sea threw crew and coolers etc. to one side. A second wave right behind it, got under the sponson and flipped the boat, while all the weight was piled against the gunwale. The scenario created a severe high side low side problem in sloppy weather.
This was a tragic incident that can hardley be blamed on a single problem.
I don't think there are many boats with 12 to 1500 lbs. resting against one side that would have faired better. Granted, a mono probably wouldn't have had the same sail effect, that may have also contributed to this disaster.
Absolutely agree with Kitkat about the Glacier Bay accident--The Glacier Bays have a history of poor handling in beam and following seas, for just the reason that they handle very well in head seas. They are a semidisplacment hull and are not "on top" of the water.
They have an excellent air cushion--better than the Tom Cat going into the seas. However there is no question in my mind that the Tom Cat handles much better in beam and following seas. I found that by angling off and increasing the peroid, it made all of the difference.
I did sea trial one of the Tom Cats in conditions very similar to what you describe. Because of some factors, I was not able to trim the boat. I was not happy with the slam, and the boat had a tendency to become airborne--going into steep large swells. I didn't see any tendancy of the problem which caused the Glacier Bay flip in beam seas. My complaint was both noise and somewhat hard landing--not as soft as the Glacier Bay--but the ride was tolerable.
As mentioned, we were torn between the Glacier Bay 2690 and the Tom Cat. We sea trialed a second Tom Cat, where I was able to trim the boat as I liked; The boat was lighter, had more powerful engines and bigger props. The boat handled much better, and we were neck in neck with a Regulator 26, arguably one of the best Mono hullls for going into chop and seas in some moderate seas, and I suspect could have pulled away from them if we got into a race...but who knows?
The accomidations of the Tom Cat 255 was what made the decision for us.
The dinette is bigger, The mate can easily sit facing foreward, the galley is bigger with a two burner stove, there is room for a microwave, the head/shower is not right next to the bunk. The bunk was easier to get into on the Tom Cat, and there is an opening window foreward--something lacking in the Glacier bay--and necessary for ventiallation in hot weather!
If I was just fishing, I would go for the Glacier Bay-being very careful with the weight distribution.
We are planning trips to the Bahamas, where I have been before in larger boats and I have no question that the Tom Cat 255 will handle it well. However one does have to watch their weather in the Gulf Stream in any boat! I certainly would not attempt a crossing when it was blowing 30 out of the North--even in a 50 footer....
Please contact me if you have any specific questions. We don't have much time in the 255 yet, but as the year progresses, we should have a lot more experience in heavy weather .
They have an excellent air cushion--better than the Tom Cat going into the seas. However there is no question in my mind that the Tom Cat handles much better in beam and following seas. I found that by angling off and increasing the peroid, it made all of the difference.
I did sea trial one of the Tom Cats in conditions very similar to what you describe. Because of some factors, I was not able to trim the boat. I was not happy with the slam, and the boat had a tendency to become airborne--going into steep large swells. I didn't see any tendancy of the problem which caused the Glacier Bay flip in beam seas. My complaint was both noise and somewhat hard landing--not as soft as the Glacier Bay--but the ride was tolerable.
As mentioned, we were torn between the Glacier Bay 2690 and the Tom Cat. We sea trialed a second Tom Cat, where I was able to trim the boat as I liked; The boat was lighter, had more powerful engines and bigger props. The boat handled much better, and we were neck in neck with a Regulator 26, arguably one of the best Mono hullls for going into chop and seas in some moderate seas, and I suspect could have pulled away from them if we got into a race...but who knows?
The accomidations of the Tom Cat 255 was what made the decision for us.
The dinette is bigger, The mate can easily sit facing foreward, the galley is bigger with a two burner stove, there is room for a microwave, the head/shower is not right next to the bunk. The bunk was easier to get into on the Tom Cat, and there is an opening window foreward--something lacking in the Glacier bay--and necessary for ventiallation in hot weather!
If I was just fishing, I would go for the Glacier Bay-being very careful with the weight distribution.
We are planning trips to the Bahamas, where I have been before in larger boats and I have no question that the Tom Cat 255 will handle it well. However one does have to watch their weather in the Gulf Stream in any boat! I certainly would not attempt a crossing when it was blowing 30 out of the North--even in a 50 footer....
Please contact me if you have any specific questions. We don't have much time in the 255 yet, but as the year progresses, we should have a lot more experience in heavy weather .