Roughest conditions ever experienced in your V ?

[Orlando]

Last summer i was out fishing with the wife and brother in law in the chesapeake bay out of willoughby, waves were about 2-3 ft, storm came in quick and started blowing around 35-40, chop kicked up on top of waves. i learned one thing, im nervous when going slow or drifting, but i will not ever doubt the V when it comes to being able to get back in with rough water. I ran about 25-30mph and the boat was slapping a bit in the chop, and i got a bit wet from spray, but she plowed right through on plane. brother in law got the worst of it, he was hanging over the side puking the whole way back in.

[Redneck]

Had my V21 out on the northwest coast last summer flat seas for most of it. On the last day we were done fishing and pulling the prawn traps I noticed the black line forming on the horizan. I put the hammer down on her as we had 10 miles to shore the last two got very intresting. with the ocean floor rising from the depths and the wind they were giving me around 6' swells and 6-8' chop. A 60' tour boat came out of the harbour and the waves increassed to 10-12' not a fun time at all. things I learned 1-tie your gear down ( the cooler of sea ice was all over the deck making the boat unstable) 2- trim tabs would have helped level the boat 3- Don't F@#$ around if your not sure what the He!! your doing out there it goes south quick.

[Orlando]

It going south quick is the main reason i keep my arse in the bay within a couple miles of places i know that i can shoot into an inlet and ride it out. this is the first boat i've owned other then freshwater john boats and such. and i have every intention of taking my time and making sure i know exactly what to do before i try to push it into rougher water.

P.S. whitewater experience in a kayak is helpful sometimes, just got to get over it and giver some speed and plow through

[Blue_Runner]

I've never stuffed the bow at any speed but have had a wave curl over the nose several times. Only when its steep and tight. Those are the times you either need to troll with the current or go back home and wait til calmer water. Unless of course a storm blows in quick like.

I'm afraid to see what would happen if the self-bailing v's would do if the whole cockpit filled up. I think it would probably turtle from the huge void left in the bilge and all the weight above the waterline (gear/crew/plus water). Having the old V (non-self bailer) probably saved MJ when he and Kenny got swamped! Of course you know MJ had 350 lbs of fluke in the hold as ballast!

Hope to never find out myself!!

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Blue_Runner

I've never stuffed the bow at any speed but have had a wave curl over the nose several times. Only when its steep and tight. Those are the times you either need to troll with the current or go back home and wait til calmer water. Unless of course a storm blows in quick like.

I'm afraid to see what would happen if the self-bailing v's would do if the whole cockpit filled up. I think it would probably turtle from the huge void left in the bilge and all the weight above the waterline (gear/crew/plus water). Having the old V (non-self bailer) probably saved MJ when he and Kenny got swamped! Of course you know MJ had 350 lbs of fluke in the hold as ballast!

Hope to never find out myself!!

All boats since 1973 are "supposed" to have "level floatation" built into them. Basically that means that if it's swamped it will still remain right side up. As for myself, I hope to never be in a position to test it out.

[bradford]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

All boats since 1973 are "supposed" to have "level floatation" built into them. Basically that means that if it's swamped it will still remain right side up. As for myself, I hope to never be in a position to test it out.

All boats under 20 ft. Hence the 20'06" length of the V.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by bradford

All boats under 20 ft. Hence the 20'06" length of the V.

Correct... I should have specified that. My 73' Cruisers, Inc is 21'6" and it clearly has "Level Floatation" stamped on the outside of the hull just under the Cruisers trademark. I guess it was optional for boats over 20'