How Big a Boat?

Pete · 11-21-2001, 04:50 AM

Today, Wednesday, the ocean swells on the Oregon coast are expected to hit 29 to 30 feet. I'm reasonably certain my 20 foot boat is too small for this condition. But it raises some interesting thoughts. How big a boat would you feel safe in under this kind of condition? Why would you want to be out in this type of weather? What's the worst weather you've encountered while fishing?

bait boy · 11-21-2001, 05:45 AM

A navy cruiser is about the right size, or maybe a coastguard cutter :smile:

Hottamale1 · 11-21-2001, 05:52 AM

Big Pete,

No question about it.....in THOSE conditions, I would only feel safe on an Evergreen Container Ship! and I would probably be nervous trying to cross the Columbia River Bar in the same boat right now.

Obviously, the "Osprey" is the ideal boat for Most conditions (Windshield & all), but not for this series of storms!

Scott

Pilar · 11-21-2001, 10:01 AM

Q: How can you tell when the boat you're in on the ocean is too small?

A: When you feel a sense of relief on spotting a smaller one.

Dogfish · 11-21-2001, 10:34 AM

Under the topic of too small a boat for the weather:

The worst weather I ever encountered in a small boat was duckhunting out in the Nisqualy Delta back in the late 80's. I launched at 3:00am in my canoe, and there was a little wind, maybe about 15mph. I got a limit of ducks pretty quickly because they wanted to set down in any calm water they could find, and that's where I was.

About 9:00 am I headed back and the wind had gone up to about 35+ and the whitecaps were hitting 3 to 4 feet. After taking a wave over the bow of my 15' canoe I headed back to shore, emptied the canoe and then had to go downwind about a half mile until I got to the opposite shore. I then walked my boat up the shoreline to the boat launch. One fellow out there didn't come back that day. That was my last hunt at Nisqually in BAD weather. And I was wearing a life vest.

Tilla · 11-21-2001, 10:43 AM

I would do it in about any sized boat, doesn't matter, as long as it was in my driveway or garage.

Bait O' Eggs · 11-21-2001, 12:55 PM

The guy that works with me, his dad is currently bringing his 72 foot shrimping boat from Lousianna to Astoria. He left Lousianna several weeks ago and got caught in the hurricane near Cuba. He had not been heard from for almost 3 weeks and was feared lost at sea. I guess he got stuck at sea and weathered the hurricane near Cuba, got to the Panama canal and didnt have his passport and couldnt get off the boat to call. Currently he is due into Astoria in a day or 2 and I am sure he is wishing the water was a little flatter than it is right now.

I dont think 72 feet is enough boat for me to be at sea in right now. Maybe the titantic, oops maybe not. :shocked:

fishbait · 11-21-2001, 01:03 PM

24 foot fiberform on a closed columbia river bar with swells that still give me nightmares. The worst thing was I was too young and stuped to raise an issue until we were committed to the crossing. Broke a rib in the boat and busted out a window. Scared sh(i)tless for a few hours.

C & E has definate words or wisdome on this topic. Skipper/crew skill and boat condition are most important factors.

to answer the question, as far as I am concerned, no boat is big enought for me in that kind of water. Go ahead and call me chicken...

Bait O' Eggs · 11-21-2001, 01:17 PM

CHICKEN

:tongue:

Pete · 11-21-2001, 01:26 PM

... since I posted the first inquiry, the forecast has improved (?) ... combined seas to 34 feet with sustained winds to 50 and gusts to 80 on Thursday. OMG! Combined seas to 25 at the Columbia Bar with breakers! I wouldn't go there for a while!

Roy, I hope your friend's dad is safe and stays that way.

Screaminreelron · 11-21-2001, 01:52 PM

I think in those conditions I would feel safe in a 40 to 50 foot......helicopter :shocked: :grin:

Ramstrong · 11-21-2001, 02:04 PM

My home of 3 1/2 years

We sailed through a hurricane and it was nothing. It was cool heading up to the signal bridge and watching the waves break over the bridge of our small boy escorts. It wasn't even breaking over our bow yet. 1049 feet of ****** off steel. Coming soon to a bad guy near you.

HOGTIDE · 11-21-2001, 03:49 PM

I think I would be more than willing to go out there in just about any sturdy craft.......that was about the size of Greenland! :shocked:

Stz ll · 11-21-2001, 04:01 PM

Many many years ago when I was in the Navy I was onboard the Kitty Hawk for a while. We were in a storm one time where we were taking water over the flight deck. During that storm I'm not sure even that boat was big enough. It wasn't the Perfect Storm but it was close.

JPSFISHY · 11-21-2001, 05:06 PM

I think that kind of weather is ideal for 20ftR.
AS long as it's parked in the shop,with furnace going,the stereo on,your favorite refresment on tap,and a few of you favorite tackle boxes and outfits in the boat with you so you can play with them while your dry and warm. I love my 20ftR.

AllThumz · 11-21-2001, 05:09 PM

Sometimes nothing is big enough! Wish I could take credit for the pic, but I found it on the net somewhere. Glad I was a dry land sailor then :grin:

USS Stennis:

John

CATCH AND EAT · 11-21-2001, 11:50 PM

No boat is ever "Big Enough". It is the skill level of the captain and the abilities of those who are with him/her on the boat.

Mine is 23' Trophy. Sometimes wish it was 50'.

Torchman · 11-23-2001, 08:29 AM

I'll try a Douglas Adams type answer here.....
44.

Pilar · 11-23-2001, 10:58 AM

Wow!

Who are those crazy guys?

Mofish · 11-23-2001, 07:05 PM

The boats that your are asking about are Coast Gaurd in training I think.

Mofish

Desertdog · 11-24-2001, 07:04 PM

STZ II

I was on the Kitty Hawk 72-72. Road a few nice storms. Worst was Feb of 72 in the NOrth Pacific. Everybody was pukin.

PRINCEMASTER · 11-24-2001, 08:46 PM

Being one of the crazier ones on here but had my 20ft boat out in astoria and was looking pretty good til a wave broke over the bow and soaked us while we were still riding up the wave. Thats when it is time to turn back hey Rick.

WaterDog · 11-24-2001, 09:16 PM

I used to work with a Coastie who spent many years as an instructor on the boats in Torchman's pic. Saw some of his own pics and heard a few stories about his days out there. All I can say is WOW! Gotta be a heck of ride. :shocked:

I think I'll settle for the haze grey and flightdeck unless a Coastie has a open seat and a extra survival suit. :smile:

Pilar · 11-25-2001, 10:34 AM

I guess my question 'Who are those crazy guys' was rhetorical. Those are definitely CG rescue boats. What you have to wonder they had for breakfast that day. You feed gunpowder to a dog and make it mean. What do you feed rescue boat drivers to make them charge into water like that?

Water with nasty chunks of granite in it.

invader · 11-25-2001, 12:12 PM

in those conditons, i would change the word from BOAT to SHIP!! like anything over a football field in length!!.......john

Torchman · 11-25-2001, 11:43 PM

Water and Granite???? What, NO DONUTS????? Alright,... Although I am driving the boat in the background...that photo is "special" in other ways!!! And forget those 1000+ footers, I'd rather get home for DINNER!!!! :grin:

Kevin M. Kelly · 11-26-2001, 11:57 PM

Ok Guys, Now that everyone has had their turn talking about your favorite target (surface ship/boat), here's a real one.

In the fall of '85, out of Charleston, SC, the USS Woodrow Wilson (Missile submarine) was sent out of port to avoid a hurricane. And as luck would have it, the hurricane didn't behave as advertised, but turned north are went over the top of us off North Carolina.

We were deeper than 400' under this storm and still rolling 15 degrees to each side. In addition to the sea sickness from the rolling, trying to sleep was very hard as you thought you were falling out of the bunk with each roll.

When we had to go up to check our radio broadcasts, we would roll 30 - 40 degrees and then pitch fore and aft another 30 degrees. It was like riding a mechanical bull, that was throwing around the entire 425' submaine like a toy. Between waves, we could see the forward curve of the bow out of the water and then follow the wave as it swept over the periscope a measured height of over 60'.

The favorite meal during the 4 days we were out was lasagna soup. The cooks couldn't get anything to stay in one place long enough to cook properly.