Dangerous conditions?

[Talon]

What is your threshold for dangerous conditions to go out in? I generally won't go out in anything more than 15 knot winds, minaly because my slip is so tight to get in and out of. In fact, a southerly 10 knot wind can make it a real challenge, especially this time of year with the full camper canvas up.

Once I'm out on the lake, the wind doesn't bother me and waves generally don't get much bigger than 3-4 feet, which will get your attention but not cause great concern for a large boat. I actually enjoy them (the Admiral does not find it amusing however).

I have been out in 25 knot winds (single handed! but that's a different story), and I'm sure with enough practice I could get used to it... the question is... why? It takes the pleasure out of pleasure boating.

This time of year when it is windy here during the day, I generally time my departure from the dock before the gusts pick up in the morning and plan on being out until they die in the evening.

What do you guys think? What's your limit for wind/waves/current?

[merwin10]

Sorry can't agree with that here in Buzzards Bay 15 knot wind out of the SE with 4 footers is a nice day. Worst part is the interval  of the waves could have 3 or 4 on you at the same time. Maybe why us guys out here have so many different problems than you lake lovers.

If we waited for a mill pond we just park the boat in the parking lot and look at it.

Mike -  

[BigSioux232]

One thing we have plenty of in SD is wind.  On our reservoirs, anything over a 20 kt wind gets pretty dicey.  We do a lot of shore hugging on the shoreline the wind is coming from.

[ECWieder]

Talon,

Don't know if I'd call it dangerous, but we found out this past August off the Jersey coast that we don't like 6-8 footers and 30 knots in the 270!  I had to put on a pair of snorkling goggles to make it between Little Egg inlet and Atlantic city inlet. We got stuck in the fringes of one of those summer Atlantic storms and for two hours it was not fun. Wife got tossed around the cockpit like a rag doll a couple of times when she got up for coffee. I did see a Rinker 342 go by and it seemed to be having a much easier time of it than we were. I think the limit for reasonable comfort with the 270 is probably 2-3 feet and 10-15 knot winds. But even that I wouldn't want to put up with for over an hour or so. Also realized we don't like salt water much (normally on the upper hudson) when we got back to port and had to clean up.

Eric

[chesbay]

Talon,

There is a lot of grey area between what is comfortable and what is dangerous.  I've been in 10-12 foot swells off the coast (not in a Rinker) with no problem, but a 4-foot short interval chop on the bay can be brutal.  

I usually gauge it by how badly I need to get where I'm going, and whether my passengers will be happy when we get there.  Pounding for hours on end is no good for the captain, crew, or the boat.

Always have accurate weather knowledge and monitor NOAA onboard, this way you can limit exposure to those nasty weather surprises.

Phil

[merwin10]

I can atest to that give me 12 - 15 rollers anyday over 5 ' close interval chop. That is how it is around here! Buzzards Bay can be choppy as hell and you go to the other side Cape Cod Bay and you get gentle 10' rollers. In either case as long as your not in a hurry you can usually make a safe crossing.

A smart sailor always gets a weather forcast, looking days ahead in case you get stuck somewhere. Couple of my friends got caught in Nantucket Island for a few days while a hurricane took a turn towards us. I was suppose to go but after looking at the weather decided against it. Fortunately Nantucket boat basin is pretty well protected.

Mike -  

[Talon]

I agree as well. On New Years day, I was enjoying myself immensely on a 12 ft Zodiac in 8-9 foot rollers on 2 miles off Key West. Very comfortable and dry. Down there, wind is not a factor until it gets up to 20 or greater. Current can be a concern while docking, but not if you time departure and arrival times.

The lake we boat on kicks up 3-5 ft high frequency whitecaps when the wind picks up above 10 knots. While not especially dangerous, it makes for a wet ride.  

[Talon]

Wow! We won't be going out today. I'm on the boat now and the marina just registered a 43mph gust. It's blowing a steady 25 right now. I'm going to get some pics of the lake to post later.