Rough Water Boat Driving Tips

Johnnie Candle shares some tips on driving a boat in bigger waves.

Pro's Pointers courtesy of KFYR TV Bismarck, ND

[Moondog]

I was taught to approach the bigger waves at a 45 degree angle. Works for me

[bigt]

I have been in lots of really rough water and there are a number of factors to consider. He says don’t go at an angle, but that’s only in certain conditions. If the swells are big and moving fast, traversing the waves will be your only option to saving your boat, you can’t outrun big swells. Always keep the boat in control and never let the water control.

[odelldaniel]

I fished my 17 ft deepv on lake Erie for 21 years, battled 5 and 6ft white caps twice, scary deal, I found that quartering the waves (45 degrees)helped me alot, if you get in 4 and 5 footers you'll stuff the bow going straight into them. Also you'll get the guy that just has to go straight to the ramp no matter the conditions but I found sometimes your better off to go a little out of your way if it make the ride safer, maybe getting to some calmer water then heading for the ramp. Lake Erie will teach you how to handle rough seas.

[AhmetOzel-uifs]

What you should do before seaman pray!
1-keep watching/knowing weather forecast report very well...before the action
2-be experienced at sea otherwise there are lots of serials on tv..
3-consider your boat size, power of your engine, how far you will get from the main land, what for?! and put them together in a final single/whole consideration...
4-never forget that huge troubles comes with tiny unconsidered problems ( anchor, ropes, sea anchor, hooks, less fuel, ago, lack of maintenence, too many person on board etc...) and believe it or not, each items has own specific regulations you should know very WELL...
5- don't push yourself too hard, even birds sometimes can not fly despite what they born to...
6- send your location to loved ones whose are waiting for you in main land and keep updating them with every single point you change your location due to fishing, spearfishing, swimming, etc...
7- keep watching on you tube about bad weather conditions at sea and just try to see the furious face of ocean and weather, how serious they are with eachother and there will be no winner of their own fight but only you !
Note : it was Maradonna's own God's

[cjriddle]

Be aware of getting advise on You Tube about piloting any vessel in open waters. Only seek advice from your local coast guard or coast guard safety videos on Boater safety. Surfing a wave is dangerous in Head seas and following seas. This is ill advised by all true professionals. Surfing a wave will lead to broaching or turning your vessel over thus being the reason you do not find anyone aboard an empty vessel floating at sea.

[sawyersolomon]

This system works for this boat in small chop. If you are going to be out in larger waves or deep chop definitely look into other methods. If you use a boat of the design of this video and don’t quarter into a 4foot chop you will stuff the bow the boat doesn’t have a self bailing bow filling the boat with water it will be a problem really quickly. Not that that style of boat is what I would consider safe in 4foot chop.

[theeabster]

You're not always able to travel in the trough . I mean the changes of the Wake setting up the way you want to travel is slim to none. so you say do not drive at a 45 degree angle so you should drive directly into the wave then?

[gmackie]

This is bad advice for a bowrider. 30 - 45 degrees angle to head waves makes sense, along with slowing down, and trim up a bit. This needs to be made clear. Head on will swamp the bow and could cause a nose dive in to next wave.