Can a 1987 aquasport handle waves?

[mike]

Can a 1987 aquasport size 19'6 handle the ocean at 4 to 5 ft waves?  And what could happen if I get in 5 to 6 ft waves?  Right now it can be a wet ride in certain conditions. I have been told that if I put a pair of trim tabs on it and stuff the bow down into the waves that it would smooth the ride and help to defleact the waves outward. Or would I be better off selling this boat and getting a 22ft aquasport?

[RickK]

I don't think any Aquasport center console is gonna do "well" in 4-6 footers.  The 246 and 250 CCP models would weather it best I guess or maybe the 290 Express Fisherman.  8)

Hmmmm, a 60ft scarab would skim across the tops :twisted:

Welcome aboard mike  :!:  :!:

[LilRichard]

Yeah, a 6ft wave is huge, and I doubt there will be anyone else out in those conditions in under a 40' boat.  I think sometimes people think seas are bigger than they are - I would not be caught dead in my 222 in anything over 2-3, and even that would not be real fun.

[GoneFission]

You mean something like this 222 encountered?:    



A 222 with what is supposed to be an 8 footer...  I bet they had to change into clean clothes after that one!  

The Beaufort, NC Search & Rescue used to have a 246 XF they used for emergency calls - it went through some pretty sloppy stuff at times to rescue some less fortunate sailors!  I would consider the semi-V Aquasports (Ospreys, 222, 196, etc.) to be good near-shore boats.  The deep-V models (CCP, CCC, FF, XF - especially the bigger ones) are fine offshore boats, depending on hardware reliability and the experience/skill of the crew.  

I've had my 22-2CCP out in some choppy stuff, like 3 footers, and it did fine.  The wind was up, it was a bit wet and not very pleasant, but the boat handled it well.  It's often not the boat that gets into trouble when waves build, it's the person at the helm not knowing how to handle the boat to avoid getting into trouble.  A broach, a big wave over the transom, or punching the bow into the trough of a wave in a following sea will swamp almost any boat, but is also usually preventable.  

Here's a web site link to some good information on handling boats in rough water:  

http://www.docksidereports.com/rough_wa ... ship_1.htm  

Good luck and see ya on the water!

[slippery73]

Depends on wave frequency, 5-6 storm waves I wouldn't want to be in any small boat. I've been in 5-6 footers in the keys that are just slow rollers that aren't bad, waves are spread really far apart and just move really slow, you just ride the roller coaster on them up and down. So depending on what your circumstances are your 19'6 could be fine in large seas, just not wind seas or storm conditions.

[Capt. Bob]

The deep-V models (CCP, CCC, FF, XF - especially the bigger ones) are fine offshore boats, depending on hardware reliability and the experience/skill of the crew.  
It's often not the boat that gets into trouble when waves build, it's the person at the helm not knowing how to handle the boat to avoid getting into trouble.  A broach, a big wave over the transom, or punching the bow into the trough of a wave in a following sea will swamp almost any boat, but is also usually preventable.  

That says it all.  

[Marcq]

Here's a web site link to some good information on handling boats in rough water:  

http://www.docksidereports.com/rough_wa ... ship_1.htm  

Good luck and see ya on the water!

Some people don't like the Author of this article David H. Pascoe for some reason, but I find him very informative.  I have read many if not all of the stuff he wrote about and learned a lot. That's one of the article that I like the most
Thanks, Marc..

[flkeysaqua]

Depends on wave frequency, 5-6 storm waves I wouldn't want to be in any small boat. I've been in 5-6 footers in the keys that are just slow rollers that aren't bad, waves are spread really far apart and just move really slow, you just ride the roller coaster on them up and down. So depending on what your circumstances are your 19'6 could be fine in large seas, just not wind seas or storm conditions.

I couldn't agree more 3 weeks ago or so my wife and went out for what we thought would be a nice day saw, that they expected to pick up for an hour or so to around 10 knots since we planned to going trolling 10 to 15 miles out we hung around till after it laid back down as soon as we got into blue water it picked back up to around 10 to 15 knots.  Being a stubborn @#%$^ that I am hung around got ready and hit the ledge, got into 4-6 footers and had to speed up so we didn't take a wave over the transom. Needless to say had to turn around and come home but running back in 4-6 footer was f@#$%ing great (but some people say im a little psycho)

[MarshMarlowe196]

A following sea is always fun...  :pirat:

Depends on wave frequency, 5-6 storm waves I wouldn't want to be in any small boat. I've been in 5-6 footers in the keys that are just slow rollers that aren't bad, waves are spread really far apart and just move really slow, you just ride the roller coaster on them up and down. So depending on what your circumstances are your 19'6 could be fine in large seas, just not wind seas or storm conditions.

I couldn't agree more 3 weeks ago or so my wife and went out for what we thought would be a nice day saw, that they expected to pick up for an hour or so to around 10 knots since we planned to going trolling 10 to 15 miles out we hung around till after it laid back down as soon as we got into blue water it picked back up to around 10 to 15 knots. Being a stubborn @#%$^ that I am hung around got ready and hit the ledge, got into 4-6 footers and had to speed up so we didn't take a wave over the transom. Needless to say had to turn around and come home but running back in 4-6 footer was f@#$%ing great (but some people say im a little psycho)

A following sea is always fun...  :pirat:

[CThomps]

The only fishing style boat I've ever been in solid 6+ footers in was a 22' Boston Whaler Guardian.  And it did fine.  Though we were going pretty slow.  That boat is built like a tank.  I've been in 4-6 footers in a 19' Whaler Guardian and been a little nervous.  And it was really slow going.

In my own 20' Osprey I've been in 2-4 footers but got a little nervous with the 4 footers.  And it was really slow going.  

The 20' Osprey is an in shore to near shore boat.  I don't think they even draw more than 10".  I do more flats fishing than anything else.

[Aswaff400]

seems like the only time i can get any of our boats out on the water is when its rough... ive had my 200 osprey in some 4 footers and boy was that a wet ride! i had direct perpendicular 15 knt wind so any spray went right back in my face, although, tampa bay is like a washing machine when its blowing, waves come from every direction. it runs really well in 1 to 2 footers though, just enough to get a little bit of air under it but doesn't slam around.

just keep one hand on the wheel and one on the throttle  lol

i've gotten used to boating in fairly rough weather. the roughest ive ever been in was 8 footers about 20 miles out on the '81 fully restored 24ft cobia we used to own, that boat could handle rough stuff! it had a tall carolina-style flare and was the most dry-riding boat i've ever been on... our 27ft searay on the other hand will run in a 4 ft chop and not even feel it.