Roughest conditions you faced in the V ?

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Blue_Runner

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.

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.

[bgreene]

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.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by bgreene

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.

[bgreene]

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.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by bgreene

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.

[inaforty]

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.

[Stinky_Hooker]

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.