Running in wind and waves

[Bowhntr6pt]

Went out this past weekend and the wind was up. Realized just how difficult it can be when running against the wind. Also, I realized just how difficult it can be running against the waves.

With the wind to my back I was hauling ass w/o trying to...

This got me to wondering about the advantages and disadvantages of different hull designs... my boat is an airgator hull and the waves, although rough, did not cause any water "take on" problems but I could see quite fast, just how dangerous it can get with a boat with low sides.

 

[stan]

Up on lake George the high sided boats are a favorite.

 

[Ron Miller]

Welcome to the normal type of running we have up here in the north country when the ice is gone. It is not unusual for us to be in 6" to 2 foot chop white capes. with a 10 to 20 MPH wind and on open water. But we too prefer the calm days. This is why all of the boats up here have a min of 24" sides. And like your skinny water trail riding their are a lot of tricks to handling the wind and waves. The worst I've been caught in was on Lake Erie at day light heading back after a 12 hour bowfishing tournament . We come out of the back waters to find 4 foot white water on the lake and only 2 miles to the landing. We made it back using rope on the rudders for steering cables as our cable broke during the night.
4 other boats were not so lucky so we spent most of the rest of the day bringing them back to the surface. 2 airboats and 2 john boats.

 

[cntry141iq]

always keep prayers open as an option it never hurts and they can be heard over the sound of the engine or prop and most times over the screams of the passengers LOL