Rough Seas question

[Phasma2128]

For many years I owned a 36 Sundancer. I learned what it can do and what it can’t do primarily by trial and error. I am preparing for my 600 mile trip to my home port. I very recently bought a 1994 48 Hatteras cpmy. One day of the planned trip will be in 3-4K’ waves. My assumption is that 3-4’ are not a challenge for the Hatteras. I am concerned about my passengers. I bought out Walgreen’s supply of Dramamine non-drowsy. I guess I would like to hear how large of waves you handled with your Hatteras? Any constructive input?

 

[Pascal]

Most hatts cut thru head seas very well. Without stabs they get rolly on the beam or quarter. Sometimes hand steering makes a big difference with seas off the stern

 

[Phasma2128]

Thanks Pascal, it’s looking like I will be handling seas on my starboard quarter. Should be ok. Winds will be out of the northeast. Hatteras is known as a big seas kind of boat. What is the largest you have endured?

 

[Pascal]

I don’t know. 4 to 5’. Being based in Miami most of the time we on the bay or the keys. I ve run other hatts off shore... a 53 to NOLA with 6 footers on the bow in the big bend Fl. A 54 into tampa with 5 footers off the port quarter. It was stabilized but still required hand steering.

The most important skill as a captain is the Go-NoGo decision. The boat will take it... the guests not as good. Problem is when stuff gets loose downstairs. I’d rather wait a day or two than spend two days cleaning the mess

Even on a stabilized boat I try to remember that a stab failure can make things go downhill very fast !

 

[Photolomy]

I rode (53' MY un-stabilized) 5 miles off the coast in 1' to 2' not much off of beam, maybe halfway between quarter and beam, and it was very nice. I manually steered her, we were going 9'knots and I was able to correct easily if I felt we were getting too rolly. I would think 3 to 4 would be ok, but you might have to steer a bit more away from beam than I did. However, on beam, even in 1' to 2', and we were rolling 45 degrees at one point. I know this because we tried to anchor to watch a launch at the cape, and the current puts us beam to the waves. My wife got sick. But that was because I tried to anchor. After that mistake, the rest of the trip on the ocean was smooth, and my passengers slept soundly.

 

[Photolomy]

"Hatteras is known as a big seas kind of boat."

I am not sure I agree with this statement. I mean, if I go ocean, the weather and the ocean need to be small seas. Maybe a cruise ship or navy ship is a big seas kind of boat.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Taking passengers.
Expecting poor weather (or seas).
Recently purchased 1994 48 Hatteras cpmy
600 miles.
And probably wanting to keep a schedule.
This could be fun.

Any constructive input?
Hire a delivery captain & mate.
Great him(her) at the dock when they arrives.

 

[Pascal]

Glad you stated the obvious. The problem is never the 2 to 3 or the 3 to 4 ... it s always the 6 footer that shows up in there


Also... some body of water can beat you up real nice. I’ve once took a beating in the lower Delaware in a 70 footer... it was only 4 footers but steep and short as hell.. or with the wrong tide between woods hole and the vineyard... not all 6 footers are the same

 

[Phasma2128]

Ralph, I actually had that all set. The captain I hired was only available through mid-month June. Unfortunately it became a no-go due to scheduling.

as for waves….. the Great Lakes are unique in that their frequency is brutal. Thank you all for your input

 

[Captain Ralph]

Well, There are more than one captain & crew on the lakes.
That other forum site has a few and comment on the locks often.

Either way
Congrads on your new ship. stay safe & well.

 

[rsmith]

Buy a bunch of buckets.

 

[whoover]

If you went and bought medication for the passengers expecting to use it, leave them behind and put them in a car. I can't really think of a worse situation. The great lakes can turn into a washing machine as I think you know.

Walt Hoover

 

[rourkeh]

I bought my 61' cpmy in the Dominican Republic and ran the boat 450 miles to St Maarten. Crossing the Mona Passage was the roughest part of the trip, the Mona is always a mess and I had no stabilizers and at least 6' seas. I was single handed the whole way and took a beating but the boat didn't care. I ran at 10 - 12 knots and a few things broke like the dingy chalks, and the 14' inflatable got loose on the fly bridge. that was no fun. Lost my steering off of eastern Puerto rico in the middle of the night in rough seas etc. These motor yachts are very heavy and built solid so they can take a real beating but I would imagine anything over 6'-7' and you will wish you had stayed home.

 

[Boatsb]

So all the broken things didn't mean anything? Loosing steering is a big deal.

It's tough to break some things on these old girls.

 

[Freestyle]

These boats can handle more than the most experienced among us. We have all turned around or made a no-go decision.

You can only handle the weather that your least able crew member can handle. Most people are good to 1-3 and over half can handle 2-4. Above that you will have trouble finding usable crew.

I have never regretted a no-go decision.

Bruce

Freestyle
1986 62 CPMY (54my with ext)
Tampa

 

[Freeebird]

If there is ever a time to push up the throttles, running 3-4’s is it. Rather than you and your crew being tossed around, let that big, heavy Hargrave hull knock them down. Sure, you’ll burn more fuel, but it’ll shorten your trip and be MUCH more comfortable than being tossed around at hull speed.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Very true. I cruise at 18.5 kts flat calm and did likewise in 8 footers. Slowed down for a bit and man did she roll.

 

[rsmith]

Very true. I cruise at 18.5 kts flat calm and did likewise in 8 footers. Slowed down for a bit and man did she roll.

Wow that’s amazing. Usually the energy expended to power through those size seas takes a knot or two.but then again I’ve stood in the cockpit when people were saying it was 8-12 and never saw a wave above my line of sight to the horizon. Pictures or it didn’t happen.

 

[bostonhatteras]

A hatteras can take those waves...if properly maintained. the boat is new to you, do you know the condition of the fuel tanks? a quiet ride on a bay with filthy tanks probably wont cause a problem however if you got water, slime and general dirt down in the bottom of the tanks and the boats getting tossed around then that gunk is getting picked up and deposited in the filters until they clog. running an unknown boat in any type of sea is a dicey affair.

 

[tomrealest]

A LOT of Good Advice here.

Order Relief Bands from reliefband.com. I have the basic model for over 15 years on my 58' Yachtfish.
If in doubt, WAIT. I agree you will not regret it. Weak stomach on the boat is the big problem. They should put the relief band on an hour before leaving even if on land. Run from downstairs. Being high on the flybridge makes everything worst. Put 3 200 pound guys up there and you will really roll. If the boat has been sitting, I will guarantee you will have fuel problems. It's not fun to be in a hot, rolling engine room trying to change filters. Ask how I know. Go fast and burn the fuel if it gets rough. It's a bargain. If it's all guys say, " if I could afford it going faster would make it better"! They will pay for the fuel.
Remember, safety is your #1 concern.