Driving A Bass Boat In Rough Water

[Dwight Hottle]

I'm ready, I went out today and ran up to the W.W. bridge and found some Strippers on a Drop-Shot (bottom rig).

Why wait til spring?

BTW, you can make it from Bedford PA to Waldorf in an hour?

Don't let your wife find out you have been fishing a drop-shot for strippers instead of stripers.

[tnriverluver]

Just put the hammer down and see how high she can fly, and then after how deep she can submarine when you stuff it on the next wave!

[Fishn4-5]

LOL no I cant make it that fast (typo) takes a bit longer and my new Motor wont be ready untill spring

[Traveler2586]

Don't let your wife find out you have been fishing a drop-shot for strippers instead of stripers.

Just a Freudant slip (parapraxis), interesting the only difference is a "P".

LOL no I cant make it that fast (typo) takes a bit longer and my new Motor wont be ready untill spring

"Come on down!" as Bob Barker used to say, we can do the Potomac with my boat.

[james 14]

If you have a hydraulic jack plate is it best to drop it all the way down in rough conditions?

[Teal]

Good stuff guys. Most important is dont be in a hurry. Slow is the way to go. My work boat is a 21' Carolina Skiff (flat bottom) i hate it when Gaston or Buggs island is rough.. makes for a long slow ride.

[Al Wolbach]

Has anyone ever seen these tactics covered in print before? With all the years I've been getting Bass Master & Bass times, and other off the shelf bass fishing mag's, I can't recall ever seeing a article on how to attack waves, or boat handling; true I may have missed something, but you just don't see much on boating safety in Bass Mag's; I see more on using E-10 fuel than waves.

BTW, Last Tuesday night I had an occasion of having a CT scan at the local ER; while I was at it I asked if they would check on the progress of my L-1 compression fracture I received in Oct 2010 when I took a wave wrong, they came back with a new diagnoses of "chronic L-1 fracture"; I asked what that meant and was told "sometimes the vertebrae don't refuse". Point is, I would rather see articles on boat handling & safety, and maintenance, than why a square-billed shallow crank bait is so great. But, as everyone knows, I'm strange

 

Traveler, You might want to check out "Bass and Walleye Boats Magazine". They have some great articles on maintenance and boat handling. If they are still in print, not sure.......................Al

 

found a link  http://www.bwbmag.com/

Edited January 26, 2013 by Al Wolbach

[BassnChris]

Got my first taste of the wave action today. I did not like it one little bit. No sir....ree.

Nothing too bad...... 25 mph winds with 2-3 ft swells with white caps and a few bigger.

Just went slow (few miles per hr) trimmed all the way down most of the time.

Trimmed up some of the time to see the differences.

Tried to plane once or twice but quickly.....very quickly abandoned that in favor of slow and steady.

Overall a pretty wet ride.

I had read this thread last fall/winter........so it helped me out. But I did keep thinking....man, I need to read up on this some more.

And I might add I did cluck a little here and there........like any sensible chicken would ;-)

[retiredbosn]

, I some times wish I had air ride seats and a five point harness to keep me in place; that would have saved my back one day.

That's exactly how I broke mine.

I really wish AJ would chime in. we are both retired US Coast Guard more importantly cox'n's, and have seen our share of rough water. There is no direct correct answer to the question, way to many variables. One thing is for sure do not attempt to time wind driven waves, a gust of wind throws the timing and sometimes direction of the waves off. Bass boats are not designed or built for rough water. The main points here are valid slow down, bow up a little, too much and a rogue can flip it, not enough and your swamped. Its a tricky thing that unfortunately only experience teaches. Take a look at my Avatar, that particular boat had a top speed of around 11 knots. The waves threw it around like a toy, be extremely careful on rough water.

[Traveler2586]

That's exactly how I broke mine.

I really wish AJ would chime in. we are both retired US Coast Guard more importantly cox'n's, and have seen our share of rough water. There is no direct correct answer to the question, way to many variables. One thing is for sure do not attempt to time wind driven waves, a gust of wind throws the timing and sometimes direction of the waves off. Bass boats are not designed or built for rough water. The main points here are valid slow down, bow up a little, too much and a rogue can flip it, not enough and your swamped. Its a tricky thing that unfortunately only experience teaches. Take a look at my Avatar, that particular boat had a top speed of around 11 knots. The waves threw it around like a toy, be extremely careful on rough water.

Your correct when you say "unfortunately only experience teaches"; I think I learn something every time out.  Unfortunately, experience lags events and the result is we suffer from our lack of knowledge, sometimes for the rest of our lives.

[scrutch]

If you ever get a chance, ask Ghoti what skipping across five foot swells at 50mph on Kentucky lake in a 21 foot Legend feels like. I'm not sure he's walked right since.

[.ghoti.]

If you ever get a chance, ask Ghoti what skipping across five foot swells at 50mph on Kentucky lake in a 21 foot Legend feels like. I'm not sure he's walked right since.

I remember that ride, indeed. CJ and I were in Barkley when the wind came up. A south wind on Kentucky Lake can be deadly. We came through the canal from Barkley into Kentucky, CJ looked at me and said OH #$%^, hang on, we need to get across here now, before it gets any worse. And off we went. Was pretty sure I would be whizzin blood after that ride. The only part of me that didn't hurt were my ears, and they were numb.

I gotta give CJ a lot of credit for his boat handling skills. I would not have attempted what he pulled off. He was wet, I was soaked, but the front deck was dry when we hit the marina. Had about a half hour wait at the ramp before I could back the truck in. By the time we got the boat out of the water, main lake waves were topping eight feet. We really should have quit much earlier.

[Fishes in trees]

I normally don't take my boat out on to bigger waters when the wind is blowing strong.   The few times I have gone out, my guiding principle is go slow and try not to do anything stupid.

 

I have used my boat for several charity tournaments and the one rough water condition I encounter there every time is the early morning take off.   Being in the middle of a bunch of boats, leaving the marina and driving through a bunch of other guys wakes is one thing.   Having a slower boat and knowing that at any time some guy could come roaring past you from behind is nerve wracking.  Just weirds me out.

 

The last time I fished the Fishing for Freedom event at Truman, I requested to be the last boat out, just so that I wouldn't have to deal with that as much.

[Trailer]

You guys are braver than me. 4', 5', 6' ??? I fish an aluminum v-hull though. Most of my fishing trips are scheduled around decent wind speeds. But I got caught once in some decent swells and I crawled it back safely. I figured a slow ride back was WAY better than drowning. However, I did not like it. I don't play with boats. I'm not buckled down and it's not a constant surface.

[BassnChris]

You guys are braver than me. 4', 5', 6' ???

Me TOO!

5,6,8 ft swells/waves................I would have been done...........could of just stuck a fork in me!

[slonezp]

Me TOO!

5,6,8 ft swells/waves................I would have been done...........could of just stuck a fork in me!

Waves and swells are 2 completely different animals. I would rather drive on top of 3ft waves than be beaten to death in 3ft swells.

[scrutch]

I remember that ride, indeed. CJ and I were in Barkley when the wind came up. A south wind on Kentucky Lake can be deadly. We came through the canal from Barkley into Kentucky, CJ looked at me and said OH #$%^, hang on, we need to get across here now, before it gets any worse. And off we went. Was pretty sure I would be whizzin blood after that ride. The only part of me that didn't hurt were my ears, and they were numb.

I gotta give CJ a lot of credit for his boat handling skills. I would not have attempted what he pulled off. He was wet, I was soaked, but the front deck was dry when we hit the marina. Had about a half hour wait at the ramp before I could back the truck in. By the time we got the boat out of the water, main lake waves were topping eight feet. We really should have quit much earlier.

I was caught in that same wind on Kentucky that day.  I have a 18 ft Cobra and there was NO crest-skipping for me that day!  It was a very slow bow-to-the-sky ride back to Moor's.  That was my first big water test navigating through the kidney busters. Talk about baptism by fire!  If I remember right Ghoti, wasn't your wife with you that day?

[james 14]

My fear isn't so much for my own safety as it is for my boat's safety. I can't help but feel like something is going to break when I'm pounding waves and catching air. Maybe my fears are unfounded...I see those guys on tv skipping waves and flying through the air but never hear about them cracking stringers or transoms or anything like that.

[Traveler2586]

My fear isn't so much for my own safety as it is for my boat's safety. I can't help but feel like something is going to break when I'm pounding waves and catching air. Maybe my fears are unfounded...I see those guys on tv skipping waves and flying through the air but never hear about them cracking stringers or transoms or anything like tha

 

IMHO, most  Pro's don't care about the sponsors boats; but they must care about their bodies.  When I had my Tracker I was very concerned about popping a seam or rivets so I always took it easy; but I had to spend most of my time in back bays and creeks.  Now that I have a glass boat I'm more concerned about scratching it in old wrecks or old wharfs that are just at, or below, the water line at low tide.  One scratch about a foot long set me back $600.00    The Coast Guard Boating Safety class taught me that personal safety meant a PFD and all the things that went with falling overboard; today, when I think of personal safety I think of my back pain.  One day running & gunning can mean three days recovering.

[retiredbosn]

 The Coast Guard Boating Safety class taught me that personal safety meant a PFD and all the things that went with falling overboard; today, when I think of personal safety I think of my back pain.  One day running & gunning can mean three days recovering.

 

 

Amen to that.......

[slonezp]

IMHO, most  Pro's don't care about the sponsors boats; but they must care about their bodies.  When I had my Tracker I was very concerned about popping a seam or rivets so I always took it easy; but I had to spend most of my time in back bays and creeks.  Now that I have a glass boat I'm more concerned about scratching it in old wrecks or old wharfs that are just at, or below, the water line at low tide.  One scratch about a foot long set me back $600.00    The Coast Guard Boating Safety class taught me that personal safety meant a PFD and all the things that went with falling overboard; today, when I think of personal safety I think of my back pain.  One day running & gunning can mean three days recovering.

Not all pros get sponsor boats. Many of them buy their own albeit at dealer cost. You'd be surprised, or maybe not, the amount of fishermen, pros and amateurs, who have undergone back surgery.  

[Traveler2586]

Not all pros get sponsor boats. Many of them buy their own albeit at dealer cost. You'd be surprised, or maybe not, the amount of fishermen, pros and amateurs, who have undergone back surgery.  

Unfortunately, I probably would not be surprised from what I see boaters doing out on the Potomac.

 

When I purchased my boat (used) I asked the gentleman why he was selling it, he replied he could no longer fish his club tournaments, running & gunning on the upper Chesapeake Bay, his back couldn't take it any longer.

 

I'm not up on new boat technology, but what if anything are the boat manufactures doing to cushion the shocks to the spine from bench seats?  I see pic's where they "look" very comfortable, but do they have any shock absorbers or similar technology built in these days?

[A-Jay]

On 4/14/2013 at 8:59 PM, retiredbosn said:

That's exactly how I broke mine.

I really wish AJ would chime in. we are both retired US Coast Guard more importantly cox'n's, and have seen our share of rough water. There is no direct correct answer to the question, way to many variables. One thing is for sure do not attempt to time wind driven waves, a gust of wind throws the timing and sometimes direction of the waves off. Bass boats are not designed or built for rough water. The main points here are valid slow down, bow up a little, too much and a rogue can flip it, not enough and your swamped. Its a tricky thing that unfortunately only experience teaches. Take a look at my Avatar, that particular boat had a top speed of around 11 knots. The waves threw it around like a toy, be extremely careful on rough water.

 

THIS ~ ^^^^^^^^^^^

 

I had purposely stayed off this thread.  My view of this topic may vary quite a bit from many mariners.

But, here it is . . . . .

 

Just like everything in our lives - when you combine the right tool for the job with a person who is experienced with that job or tool, you are much better equipped to have a successful out come.

 

 Despite the claims of any company that advertises to the contray, any boat with a very low freeboard and a planing hull, is just not designed to safely transit what most boaters will call "Rough water".

 

 Can it be done, yes.  Is it safe?  Depends quite a bit on the conditions and the experience and abilities of the individual at the wheel and throttle.  A vessel with a low freeboard and planing hull, is much less forgiving in conditions that come close to or exceed the abilities or experience of the driver.  This means there is very little margin for error which makes this combination less than the ideal "Learning tool".

 

 I would compare it to taking a stock car out onto a wet, muddy and hilly 4-wheel drive trail.  An experienced driver in this situation would be challenged to keep from getting stuck.  A first timer is much more apt to get stuck a few times.  However, give the less experienced driver a vehicle that is made to handle the environment, and the rate of success, even in the beginning, goes way up.  

 So when the conditions are right for the stock car, it's full throttle all the way, once the mud is encountered, the speed goes way down and full care is directed to throttle control and vehicle direction.

ALL of this applies to navigating a vessel in "Rough" weather.

 

Clearly,  spinning your wheels in the mud and sinking a truck to the frame on a two-track is not the same as capsizing your boat several miles from the boat ramp - unless the mud puddle is 36 feet deep . . . . .

 

A good way for a boater, especially a first timer, to evaluate his or her own boat's abilities and suitability for waves is to look at & understand what the freeboard at the bow of the boat is. For our discussion here, freeboard is the distance between the surface of the water and the upper edge of the side of a boat. Freeboard is what determines how well your boat will ride in any size waves. As mentioned in previous posts, using the trim of your engine may bring your bow up so that you do not "spear" into waves.  Please remember that when you do this, you are also forcing the stern on your boat down. This can be as much of a problem as the rough water itself. And since it's behind you, you will not know you have sunk the back of your boat with the big heavy engine on it, until it's too late. Trimming way up is not the secret to handling rough water. It's a tool that must be used judiciously.

 

I would Always Advise boaters to watch the weather both before you go and while you're out on the water.   If the forecast is questionable, wait it out.  While on the water, wind and waves can and do come on very quickly.  Keep an eye out and head home BEFORE that "Bad Looking Sky" gets over you, this can often times make a Big Difference on the "Pucker Factor" - and anyone that's gotten caught out in something that they don't belong in, knows Exactly what that is.

 

You can hammer in a nail with a wrench, several times being successful; but sooner or later you'll smash your thumb.

 

Stay Safe

 

A-Jay

[retiredbosn]

Thanks A-jay, you're much better at explaining things than I.

[USNADrs]

My family took a fishing trip to Dale Hollow,TN. The water there was extremely rough. What worked for my father was;go really slow and hit the waves at a diagonal.