Roughest conditions you faced in the V ?
 

I don't push it, so fortunate to say never in truly challenging conditions.

I will say that running miles along NJ ocean into a building, tight head sea of 3' - 4' with a few 5's mixed in isn't my idea of fun. Just a few times in these conditions reminds why we cut and run as soon as we know it's time.

I'd rather run 10' non breaking long period swells than this type of chop.

did you forget this one?
Roughest conditions ever experienced in your V ?

Rough water
 

I pulled my boat yesterday out of Shark River. I was not able to go out in any nasty conditions but I have run four trips to the wrecks and Shrewsbury Rocks.

Most of the time, I had two to three foot chop. At twenty knots and the trim tabs down, I have no pounding at all and a very comfortable ride. I did not have to deal with over four foot but I am sure I would have to cut way back on speed.

I owned the following boats:

17 Aquasport
19 Scout
20 Wellcraft
22 Shamrock
29 Phoenix 29

I can say for the amount of money spent, the Wellcraft V20 is the best boat (29 Phoenix is a different class)

Shamrock was too slow and was not fuel efficient. I trust the Wellcraft's sea keeping ability as much as the Shamrock.

I have the Mercruiser 470 that sips fuel and with the trim tabs, this boat is the most cost effective and capable boat I have owned.

Hatteras inlet.....you do not want head out in ANY boat when it looks like this. This is a file photo of the inlet BTW but it stays churned up like this a lot. When you round the corner and see this it is a good time to hit the sound and try to catch a flounder.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/21073427.jpg

This is interesting - my experience being without the tabs, V21 ride with outboard is fair to poor because the hull pounds very easily. With the tabs, the ride is good to very good. I've only had 4 boats myself, but have also been on others. Prior to my V21, I had a 94' Mako model 201 ( 93' - 96' hull model ) It was built like a tank, but really didn't ride any better......maybe not quite as good as the V even though it had built in Bennett Trim Tabs.

Blue Runner........... were you actually out in the inlet during those conditions ?
That looks like strong tide against wind, not suited for any boat.

That's an awesome picture. When I had my 25' John Allmand I was rounding the hook (Sandy Hook Bay) coming in from the ocean up from the Shrewsbury rocks and had to go through conditions very much like that. Another boat and I were side by side about 30 yards apart from each other going in, and we would loose sight of each other when we fell into the troughs. Scared the crap outta me. Made me appreciate how really well made the John Allmands were. As luck would have it, the other boat and I were from the same dock (Leonardo State marina) and when we got to the doc we both just looked at each other and started laughing... mostly from relief that we had made it. I don't think either of us really expected to.

I frequently AVOID Sandy Hook into Raritan Bay - especially when I know a wind against tide will be setting up.

Example - let's say wind is breezy from the west, but I'll be enjoying mostly calm water from Shark River Inlet northward beyond the Shrewsbury Rocks.

At the same time, guys in Raritan Bay out to beyond the hook can wind up running back in to avoid nasty seas especially when the tide goes against wind.

Shark River Inlet is one of the best - waves can start stacking up at the mouth, but only when it's rough and wind vs tide. Mostly it's the easiest inlet I use from New Jersey.

It's one of the reasons I started running down the Hackensack River to the Hudson. Coming back into that area from down south you run can across the mouth of the bay before the rip over to the Coney Island side, then up along the Staten Island side and you miss most of that rip coming out from the bay. Much safer and less stressful.

That area with strong E wind, vs outgoing tide....... good grief charlie brown !

I ran from Shark River to Statue of Liberty and back........
Also ran from Shark River up and in through Jones Inlet, NY with V member Step Up and back.
We hit some waves on the way back.... last 3 miles or so........close, steep, nasty 3' -4' whitecaps.

LOL Yup... it can be real nasty. Another trick is waiting for a tanker or freighter to come along, then follow at a safe distance in their wake as they make their way up the Hudson. They smooth down the chop into swells, and once you're into the river you're home free.

Crappiest conditions I ever came home in with the V was 2' to 3' (mostly 2') tight chop crossing Buzzards Bay.

In my opinion the best riding hull I have ever been on under 25' However I have never been on a 23 Seacraft/Potter, 233 Formula or 20-25 Bertram/Hilner.

The V 20 is a much better riding hull then the 23 Wellcraft we have now.

Those pictures of Hatteras look scary as hell.

I dont have tabs but if I trim the motor all the way (or most of the way) down it seems to bring the nose down enough to take out the pounding in a head sea.

Makes it a little harder to steer but works for me.

So far I have managed to keep myself out of any real snotty stuff with the V20...3-4' at the most.

If you do install tabs, you won't be sorry. I used to rely on the engine trim, but the tabs make a really big difference with this hull. Will also allow you to trim the engine back up for better steering, and fuel efficiency while the tabs press the bow down. When it's really rough, can use both.

My worst day out on my V would have to be the day my wife and I launched in Cape May and ran across to Lewes De. Everything was great on the way there. Seas were calm,sunny,warm etc. We drove around in Lewes ate lunch. Then I noticed it got windy and it started to rain. So we headed back to the inlet. It was nasty. An honest 4-5' steep chop. I asked my wife,who gets sea sick, if she wanted me to get her a ferry ride. She declined. So away we went. The thrashing began immediatly. We were heading right into it at first. Once we cleared the harbor breakwater it got a little more spread out but now it was coming from almost all directions. My wife was sitting at the aft seat with white knuckles holding a line I tied to a cleat for something for her to hold onto. A few waves came over the bow. I believe a few waves were 6-7' and still pretty steep. I remember looking at the depth finder reading over 100' depths thinking wow that's a lot deaper than I can touch. We took the beating all the way back to the west side of the Cape May canal. when we got inside I looked back at my wife. She was soaking wet,miserable,exhausted. She said to me"Don't expect me to go out on the boat with you for a while". Enough said.

Heck no I wasn't out in that slop...thank goodness! :beer: I just thought it was a cool pic of Hatteras. A lot of times on the shoal sides of the inlet look similar to that pic and if you don't pay attention you can be over there in it before you know it. Always go slow, pay attention, wear a life vest, etc. etc. etc. And maybe a little of this:
:pray2:

That's some BIG water across there..........BIG, and especially dangerous if the rips weren't given a wide berth..... Some tragic events have taken place between those two points- Cape May and Delaware. If it's " light and variable" all day........or at the worst 5-10 knots I'd do that trip, assuming calm the day before too !

It was without a doubt the worst conditions I had ever been in with my V. I don't mind so much being out in that stuff when I'm by myself. But having my wife out there made it whole different level of nervousness. Being that far from land and the depths of the water. If something bad happened it would be a long swim and I would probably never be able to recover my boat if it went down.

And the truth of the matter is that tragically, there might have been an entirely different ending to that journey. Glad you both made it back in one piece. Has your wife gone back out with you yet?

Ok the worst day on the daydreamer started out as the best day. It was our honeymoon. We started out in santee going thru the locks,then on to charelston.we were staying at ashley marina. We had some friends with us in there boats. We went down the icw and took a ride to bulls island.started to get dark out on the horizon about 2:30. I told everyone if we left now!!i think we can out run the pending storm.we were trying to get get to patriots point to eat. Everything was well letting a buddy of mine drive so i could sit back and enjoy. All of a sudden after just passing a red marker (in the middle of a slight turn) the boat went full hard right at wot!!!! I looked at him and said what the*#@^****. He replyed we got no steering!!now it is pitch black 3 & 4s lightning, coast guard all over the vhf warning everyone to find shelter!!now two boats coming in the inlet at bulls island, one limping in on one motor.another boat hits him from behind. Now both are taking on water.got the wifes in rain gear and lift jackets. My buddy goes back to the stern and grabes the motor and i am yelling left ,now stright, right while i ran the throttle!!we were able to make it to isle of palms marina. We docked there way down in the back(with no steering)now my wife does not drink but when she got safely on the dock she took a couple of good gulps of crown!!!we went back a few days later with the trailer and picked up the boat. Happy honeymoon honey!!!!!!

Yeah she is a trooper. We were supposed to go to the Tice's get together the following day. But I ended up going solo. She was back out the following weekend. This past Sept. we launched in the Highlands and went up the Hudson to Kingston NY. It was a nice long trip and no waves. So all I have to do is plan inland trips from now on

First trip offshore-got caught offshore and ran as soon as it started picking up--but in 30 minutes it can really build fast..button down the hatchs and hang on...40 knot winds--a sharp 5 to 6' and when I hit the"hole in the wall" to get between the shore and tatoosh island--with the swell, wind chop and swell--I will swear we went through( no shizit) some 10'rs--not pleasant at all--probably ate green water 8 to 10 times--glad I had the enclosure. Be calm and work the throttle.

pretty regular offshore is 4 to 5' with 1' chop--but the inshore is a cake walk at 1 to2'.

The trim tabs made a huge diff in smoothing out the ride, but still use the motor a lot depending on the chop on top of the swell, this is where you are glad the steering cable went in the garbage for hyd steering.

Now that's Hard Core Fishing
Hopefully those days are few or you will need a bigger V. But being a fisherman you will be ready to go :pray2:again.

Imagine if there was a swell the day you and I were coming back.......following the commercial boat knocking the 3'-5's down for us. That would have been fun.

Just how it is off the nw coast--once and awhile we get like a 1' swell @ 14 secs and no chop--those days are cherished dearly. Swells--more about timing and direction than size.

picture below is a cherished day--right on the beach.

Here on the east coast it's not too bad........we tend to draw the line when waves get to about 50 feet, under that's fishable.

Then you are sick and crazy mofo's---sometimes I think I am nutts--Now I know u guys are!:oh:

Last trip to the dentist I was missing a filling. Wonder how that happened?!?!?
:fam:

I just bought a cheap 1986 20' fisherman center console to learn boating. We have a lake house on Sandusky Bay. I've gotten good at sailing and charting etc. So the bay was like glass and my Mom came out with me. She wanted to go by Cedar Point. Lake Erie is a shallow unforgiving death trap of lake. Especially when you follow the channel from the bay out into the main lake. I get into the channel and about a good 2' chop is waiting for me combined with the wake of the other boats near me which about swamps this thing if you catch it sideways. The Jet Express passed in front of me and we were stuck. You can't duck out of the channel left or right because it goes from 26' deep to 2' deep in about 100yds. We slam over that and the swell picks up. We have nasty chop from all directions between 3-5 feet. We made a beeline for the place we dock our other boat but the waves were behind us. My mom was white knuckle holding the rails and cleats crying while I got us in. Once we were there everything was cool. I don't care how well these Vees are built, 20' on the lake gets really sketchy REALLY quick. I wouldn't trust it to go to Put-In-Bay, Kellys, or Peele.

I think you missed the point. The V got you home. There's a LOT of boats out there that wouldn't have. No one likes to get into those situations, but when I do, I thank God that my V is under my feet.

I agree, plus a lot has to do with the experience of the skipper and boat handling skills. The V20s are a GREAT mass production boat.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...jumpingjoe.jpg

Topic always reminds me of this photo (not mine!).

It's a 20-foot boat. Respect what open water can do and be smart.

Awesome picture Pipe Dream!!

Would hate to see the landing though.

the tower on her looks interesting wonder how it holds up to the pounding.

I once ran out of Gentleman Jack and I was hours away from the boat landing. Those were some of the toughest conditions I ever want to encounter.

Seriously, I just went 28 miles out into the Atlantic trolling up dolphin. The weather was perfect for our 20 and 21 footers. However, mine is best used in lakes, streams and rivers. It is a 20' 6" boat that handles great.

"IT IS NOT A MAGIC CARPET" - Sir Reelapeelin

I run mine on Erie in a hell of a lot worse than 2' chop. the boat can take it, you just need to know how to operate it.....

lake Erie is a very unforgiving lake though, it goes from a nice 2' chop to dow right nasty very quickly...

PIB and Kelleys are very short runs from catawba and marblehead less than 5 miles.

we plan on running our v20 from lorain to kelleys this weekend if the weather forecast changes which is roughly 25 miles each way...we usually run to the weather buoy walleye fishing several times a summer which is just shy of 20 miles

myMy point is the boat is plenty to handle Erie... just know what you can handle and know the weather forecasts

I've seen Erie with short, steep 6' waves crashing continually for days.
That is one rough lake !!! Can smash, destroy, sink most any small boat.

Here is a picture of some big erie waves that was shared on ohio game fishing this past weekend . Ive only been out in waves close to that once on erie... dont wannt do it again

its not fun not being able to see over the waves when they are coming every few seconds, from sometimes different directions and constantly breaking.

Worst Ive been in was in the Wellcraft 18, I was very mad at the fish when I was younger and would regularly take it 20-25 miles out as long as it wasnt tropical storm force winds.

Once I got caught in a bad front moving offshore while coming back in. I knew it was coming but had planned the trip accordingly. Mother nature dont follow the radar models all the time though. From about 15 miles out all the way back in to Dauphin Island I was in genuine 8-10'ers. I know lots of folks overestimate waves and will say "oh it was 4-6's out there" and its really close chopped up 2-3's. I checked the offshore buoys later to confirm cause at the time I swore they were 10-12'. It was a stupid move I never made again but when I got to the dock that day I never again complained about how heavy that boat was. She handled like a much larger vessel. It was built like a tank and I miss it sometimes. It was unpleasant and exhausting handling it over that 3 hour period it took me to get home but I never thought we weren't going to make it unless the motor quit.

I grew up on Erie. Haven't been out in the V20 yet, still getting it seaworthy. Made a run from the mouth of the Detroit River to Put-in-Bay in 8 footers in a 28' Trojan hard top. Not fun.
The absolute worst was in November of 1988. Took a ferry back from the island to Port Clinton. This was pre Jet Express. Here's a picture of the ferry
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps57c6d05a.jpg
That boat is 90' long, and the pilot house windows are 20' off the deck. They can transport a tractor trailer on here. We left the dock at 1:00 in the afternoon and made it to Port Clinton at 8:30 pm. It's normally a 45 minute ride. There were waves that hit the pilot house. At one point, we were circled by 3 separate Coast Guard choppers. It's the only time in my life that I really thought we were going to have to ditch. I had a brand new E 350 extended body service van with the entire rear filled with shelving and equipment screwed to the van itself. It was backed into the starboard bow, and would disappear under green water every wave. When we docked, the van was the last off. The rear doors were gone and the interior was as clean as the day we bought it. Two seats and the doghouse, that's it. Never want to be in water like that again.