Jet Boat Rough Water Handling - Lets Share Our Thoughts and Tips

[waterboy]

@RobA on the pictures you have there, I believe the skipper was pitched from the upper control deck and killed.

 

[BoaterGuy]

Holy crap, that would have almost been a run-away yacht!

 

[waterboy]

Here is the video of it and the one I was thinking of. Pretty scary...

 

[smthng]

@Murf'n'surf stole my thoughts, but I'd add that angling the boat against waves is kind of important to me... I usually end up playing with the speed and wave angle for a minute or two so I can reduce the "bash" into the next wave as much as possible while still keeping speed up. On rare occaisions that it's rough enough that I get too hammered at any angle while on-plane, I'll let it come off plane and "plow" as fast as possible. That keeps the bow up and evens out the bashes, but it does tend to make it more of a roller coaster ride.

Keeping the bow up is always my main concern in rough weather or giant wakes. I always take lots of time to reduce speed so the bow doesn't plow under, even it means we're going to take a hard wave hit or two before we get off plane. For an ocean crossing, like Bimini next year, I'll probably install or make a bow cover of some kind... I just hate snaps. :S

 

[Jim Robeson]

Table Rock can get pretty rough at times. I do my best to quarter the wave and throttle down...I guess I like to have a little more boat in the water when taking bigger waves. There have been times that I have almost come to a stop just so I wouldn't hit the wave too hard. That may be the wrong approach but I just don't like hitting them all that hard. I am always open to suggestions but I have to say that I thought our boats would take the rough water a little better than they do.

 

[davel501]

#1 bit of advice I have for rough water is slow down. On a busy day we get 2-4' waves...wakes really coming from all directions. You can go 30mph max for the smaller ones but as they get larger you really have to slow it down. Like a few have already said, sometimes its nice to slow down and plow.

 

[Scotth]

@Murf'n'surf stole my thoughts too...lol I live in SoCal and studied for about six months before taking it out on the ocean about a dozen times over the last year. Taking it to Catalina and Channel Islands as well as Harbor hopping from Santa Barbara to Ventura Oxnard Redondo Marina Delray etc. we are blessed with many 1 to 3 foot days. I've been out on 5 to 6 ft days, The boat can handle it (although intimidating) but it's mostly a matter of what is still enjoyable for the passengers and I find over 3 feet it's not so I have several websites and apps I use to make sure it's a 2 to 3 foot day before we set out otherwise we change plans.
Also I make everyone where lifejackets on the ocean just in case and purchased a marine radio. Our family is now completely hooked on ocean trips and hardly go back to the lakes!!

Below is an app I have on iPad and iPhone as well as a book I would definitely recommend and a few websites I use:

YachtWeather app gives you five day forecast wave height, length, wave period And winds and temperature- my fav tool
"The cruising guide to central and southern California" book
Www.ndbc.noaa.com
Www.Swellinfo.com
Www.forcast.chapman.edu
Www.buoyweather.com