How much water have you taken on?

[pbguy420]

I've owned two Whalers before purchasing my 2000 2100sv Seapro. With the Whalers I never really had any concern for taking water over the bow as the foam filled hull gave me a sense of security. I definitely push the range on my boats to about as far as they were meant to go, and I've come to some hairy situations with weather rolling in while I was 40 miles out. I've owned this Seapro since 2011 and its seen plenty of 4-6ft days coming home(coastal nc sporadic weather, and now the channel islands in CA). Though I have countless days of putting back in seas a bit too big for my rig I have managed to drive well enough not to take much water over the bow. I think the worst ended up with maybe two inches of water from the CC and back.

The way the V is scooped on this boat really lets it cut waves better than a it should for the depth, but it also really plows low before leveling out and gets my heart pumping. It would make me feel a bit better to know how much water this thing was designed to take. I'm sure I'd probably be fine plowing into a wave and standing in greenwater, but because I havent seen it, I dont trust it. I know the scuppers clear water pretty quick, and Im sure it can take much more than I think it can, but it would be great to hear what you all think. Just to give me some piece of mind, how much water have you guys taken over the bow in your non foam filled hull, and how well did it handle?

[fraydknot]

Well on mine I had the bilge COMPLETELY full which is 14 “ and I was scoop withe bow on my 270 that how I had lost my bilge pump!!

[freezerfiller]

I've never been too concerned about the first wave over the bow... I've always been more concerned with the second one getting there before the first one drains out.

[pbguy420]

Jan 13, 2018 19:36:15 GMT -6 @poerover said:

Did not see this earlier post. I get the question and think its a great thread and I think you should know your boat and your skill level limitations. I myself have thought about it as well, maybe more than a sane man should, but I have a unique perspective. I think the 2100 series boats is one of the best boats out there with regard to sea keeping qualities and pretty sure my boat has flotation foam. That carolina bow flare combined with length and chines its able to take some pretty mean seas. As far as water draining thru scupper system I believe having two independent 1.5 inch lines has ability to shed a lot of water off the deck. I have taken water over the bow a few times in heavy water with the boat being stationary and boat shed it water from deck quickly and efficiently. I have never had water over bow or side when running, yet. But have run in similar seas but not been offshore some 40 miles in a bay boat in those conditions.

Its possible to figure out how many gallons a 1.5 inch drain line can move in an hour or per minute if it had a continuous flow. Went the interweb some time ago and figured with just typical gravity flow a 1.5 inch pipe can handle 35 gallons per minute. If you have 2 scupper independent systems that is about 70 gallons per minute. That is a lot of water. It also depends on how much water is coming in at one time. I mean if your in some really snotty stuff with 4 to 6 seas or higher and a short wave length, that is just flat out tough stuff. I have not heard of two many sea pro bay boats being subjected to that type punishment in reports, I mean at some point there will be a limit to what boat and anyone's skill level can handle and or luck runs out if really pushing it.

Personally I think you've already demonstrated that boat can take some pretty mean stuff, but also personally for me I think you have reached the limits of safe operation for a bay boat as you described and i have similar boat. It could possibly take some more but why risk it and push the limitations too much unless just forced into it. Its sort of like testing shotgun barrels like they do in proofing houses. They see how much pressure or load a barrel is designed for and then surpass it by loading it up to see when it blows up destroying barrel. But that is in a controlled environment. I don't think you will have much of a safety net in your boat if you try it unless you happen to be next to a Coast Guard heavy seas rescue boat, which are just fascinating to see in operation. Besides a call to Coast Guard can be expensive. I mean I have even heard of someone crossing the Atlantic in a dang rigged up flats boat running in 15 to 20 foot seas with a long wave lengths so it can be be done, but should it? 

Not trying to come off as some expert since I have not earned any money as a professional boater, but I do have a unique point of view with years of experience doing some pretty hair raising white water kayaking. We were always pushing the limits off our skill level, boats and equipment on what we could run and running stuff that maybe we should not have in pushing the envelope. Different stories but I almost bit it a hand full of times and have seen and heard things I wish I could unsee or know about from a group of friends that were endorphine/adrenaline junkies. Anyway from what I have learned from that phase of life is that its important to know your limitations and be aware of the surroundings and ability to self rescue and don't be complacent and nonchalant. Complacency kills faster than anything known to mankind in almost all circumstances. Most gun and fatal car accidents are based on complacency and I'm sure it applies to a lot power boating situations as well. Have fun and be safe and just remember what kind of boat you got.

Lots of great points here. And don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to go out and bury the bow, rather to have some piece of mind for some slightly unreasonable concern I have. If any of you have ever had the dream where you attempt to throw a punch or pull the trigger of a firearm to protect yourself - and you simply cannot do it - I have had dreams of burying my bow and my boat never resurfacing haha. This is more of just a thinking out loud post, and trying to get some thoughts from more experienced folks than myself. Understand that I don't TRY to get the boat out in seas too big for it, but in the Carolina's the weather can roll in fast, and out in the Channel islands - after camping for a week you don't have so much say in what the conditions look like when you HAVE to make a 20 mile run to get back home.

For example, last spring I had a total of 4 on the boat, with camping, spearing, and fishing equipment for a week. We packed as lightly as we could, and were well inside our weight capacity but the boat was definitely a lot heavier than it is during normal fishing trips. We took a trip to Catalina island and experienced 2-3 ft long dwell on the way out (clean, dry ride). The day we had to come back, some 200 lbs heavier with lots of fillets on board, we left the island in what started at 2-3 ft with long dwell and were making a comfortable 25 knots. About two miles out the conditions escalated to 4-5ft mostly head sea but a bit confused state (the channel can be similar to the east coast flat river inlets with swell coming from every direction) and slowed me to a trot at 5 knots. I was able to go slow enough to keep the boat mostly dry but the dip into the trough did not feel good with all the weight I had near the bow. I called it in about 5 minutes of these conditions and headed back, paid for another night on the island, and went home the next morning on glass at 40knots. Yes, in retrospect it was a good decision, but I still have this devil on my shoulder saying "dont be a weenie you can make it instead of paying another 600$ for mooring, truck parking overage, and last minute campsite"...

Again just thinking out loud and Im fully aware that this bay boat was not truly meant for 4ft and up conditions with anything other than a long period. Really just posted it to get other folks thinking on the subject and what kind of conditions they have put theirs through because both my father and all my boating buddies out here have only run 27ft and up offshore boats, so they already think Im nuts keeping pace with them in most conditions. It sure pays off when in flat conditions I can make an island run in a third the time it takes them though!

Thanks for all the valuable input

[Juan]

I've never taken on much water over the bow even in very rough seas but I can tell you from experience, don't let a huge wave from a big catamaran hit you broadside when you're fishing and not paying attention! Good thing I was holding on and my scuppers weren't plugged.

[RunninLate]

I have taken a bunch of water over the bow and really have not worried about it that much as long as I can keep the boat going. The problem that I have is water coming abeam and getting into the vent which means the motor cuts off and nowhere for the water to go. Point is, I would head into the seas even if I had to go out of my way. Almost like tacking a sailboat. I am speaking from experience.

[Simple Man]

I've never taken a significant amount of water on in either Sea Pro bay boats I've owned and I've been in some nasty stuff. The couple of times I did take one over the bow it was due to me running too fast in a following sea. It drained quick.