Boating Weather Advice
I took the 18ft Thunderbird out for the maiden voyage around the sound on Sunday and she handled well but there wasn't a lot of challenging water.
I'm fairly cautious but in my mind what I really want to target is bottom fish 20 - 40m for Dhuies etc
What i'm concerned about is tackling rough water. I've read you need to take the waves at a 45 degree angle and tack if it gets too high for your boat, but reading about that means absolutely nothing compared to experience.
So a few questions just to give me some idea:
If you have to come back in rough weather would you still try planing but at the 45 degree angle to the wave or keep a quick pace while still in the water. I've always feared that planing while doing that could send the boat over while coming down the crest.
Secondly with a heavier glass boat around 18ft if you were looking to head out 10kms - 15kms what is the worst forecast you're consider going out in? 1.5m swell + ~10 knots or is that a bit too reserved?
Thanks for any advice, i'd prefer to be cautious and ask questions while new to skippering than being an asshat who tips his boat due to ignorance endangering lives.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
well i would say
mate if you have an old chivers thunderbird just take the swells straight on they are good old boats built solid coming home just make sure you keep in front any following seas they are ripper old boats
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
As an inexperienced skipper,
As an inexperienced skipper, you should ere on the side of caution. I always used the rule of 15 knot wind and 1.5 m swell as a good guide.......if over both, dont go out, if over one, take care.
Going into the sea/swell, it will be uncomfortable and wet but generally not too dangerous unless you take a greenie over the top. The most dangerous is with a following sea, as you risk broaching your boat, a most unpleasant and dangerous experience. I have slung two guys out of my old boat (5.4 m ali) after broaching, lucky it was not worse and I could go back and scoop them up.
With a following sea, trim yout motor up but avoid cavitating the motor as you will loose steering, put weight to the rear of the boat (deckies and eskies) and run with a reasonable amount of speed to avoid waves catching you and picking you up too often but not too fast to catch and over run waves. Try and run in the same direction as the waves, doing across them increases the risk of broaching.
Experience is the best thing, as each hull is very different. My new tug has not looked like broaching but I am sure there will be conditions where it could happen so always be aware......
I recon plus 15 knot easterlies with a reasonable swell is the most dangerous as the easterlies peak up over the swells and also are very sharp.....lots of boaties see easterlies and think all is well......beware! I had a 34 Kevlacat on its side and almost tipping in a 20 knot easterly........I dont drive cats anymore.......
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sea-kem
Posts: 14984
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Agree with the last comment
Agree with the last comment on the easterlies John. I usually won't bother going out if they are over 15 knots. a;ways looks good onshore till you're 3-4k's off and foul and uncomfortable. Swell up to 2.5 is my limit usually unless there's absolutely no wind. Most boats will ride a swell but not a sea.
Love the West!
dant
Posts: 504
Date Joined: 13/03/13
+1 for the easterly - would
+1 for the easterly - would stay in closer (within 5km) until it dies down, been out at jurien bay when it picked up to about 20 knots (not forecasted) and that was a 6knot trip all the way home and very uncomfy.
Jurien was about the maximum for my boat - so now i have a good gauge of what it can handle
as the boys have said - you need to be comfortable in what conditions you go out in, get experience and test yourself and boat a little more each time.... slow and steady wins the race.
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Agree with the above
Agree with the above comments.
Keep in mind its not so much the size of the swell that's the problem but the distance between swells as well. ie 2 metre swell that's 30 seconds apart is not as bad as a 2m swell that's 10 sec apart. The closer the swells are together generally the steeper they are. Wind in opposite direction to the swell will also push them up steeper whereas with the swell will flatten it. Be mindfull of wind changing direction during the day in this regards. Swell height and wind speed can remain the same but a change in wind direction can make a big change in conditions and catch people out.
If you get caught out best to slow down - make sure you have plenty of fuel to allow for increased consumption on return journeys if this occurs.
I have been out in our old 5m stejcraft in 10m swells in deep water with no problem but they were far apart and very gentle rolling (this is in SA and your conditions may be different. Certainly not recommending you head out in 10m swells - just an example).
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AlwaysFishin
Posts: 644
Date Joined: 13/11/11
Thats some good advice right
Thats some good advice right there. Those SA swells are massive hey! I've fished out of Robe a fair bit and have fished 6-7m swells in perfect weather, the only times I've seen swells that big in Perth is during massive storms!
johnno67
Posts: 408
Date Joined: 12/03/10
If not sure
If not sure always good to go out with another boat the first couple of times if you want to venture out a little bit wider you never know what the seas can change to sometimes.
Have been out many a times when the seas have changed and not even close to what the forecast was said to be.