Is there a general rule of thumb on what size of seas become inherently
unsafe for a particular size of boat?

I know there's no firm answer to this, water is unsafe period, and you can
be enjoying the trqnquility of 1 foot swells and have Mr. Whale decide to
knock on your keel to say hello

But is there a general traditional guideline or at least in terms of what
size seas vs boat size that starts making YOU uncomfortable and more
concerned beyond the vigilance water should always be respected with?

Thanks,
John


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"John Reimer" wrote in message
...
Is there a general rule of thumb on what size of seas become inherently
unsafe for a particular size of boat?

I know there's no firm answer to this, water is unsafe period, and you can
be enjoying the trqnquility of 1 foot swells and have Mr. Whale decide to
knock on your keel to say hello

But is there a general traditional guideline or at least in terms of what
size seas vs boat size that starts making YOU uncomfortable and more
concerned beyond the vigilance water should always be respected with?

Thanks,
John

If breaking waves are equal in height to the beam of your boat, you are in
danger of capsize. From wave heights at half your beam to full beam, you are
likely to be uncomfortable, and handling your boat will be increasingly
difficult and strenuous. As for vigilance, whatever wave height strikes you
as uncomfortable and unsafe below that point is correct for you. But wave
*shape* and interval has more to do with it, in my opinion, than just
height. Pacific rollers of 6-8 feet can be quite safe and comfortable, while
Green Bay short sharp waves of 5-6 feet are just plain dangerous.

If the conditions seem unsafe to you, they are unsafe for you.

KLC Lewis wrote:
"John Reimer" wrote in message
...
Is there a general rule of thumb on what size of seas become inherently
unsafe for a particular size of boat?

I know there's no firm answer to this, water is unsafe period, and you can
be enjoying the trqnquility of 1 foot swells and have Mr. Whale decide to
knock on your keel to say hello

But is there a general traditional guideline or at least in terms of what
size seas vs boat size that starts making YOU uncomfortable and more
concerned beyond the vigilance water should always be respected with?

Thanks,
John

If breaking waves are equal in height to the beam of your boat, you are in
danger of capsize. From wave heights at half your beam to full beam, you are
likely to be uncomfortable, and handling your boat will be increasingly
difficult and strenuous. As for vigilance, whatever wave height strikes you
as uncomfortable and unsafe below that point is correct for you. But wave
*shape* and interval has more to do with it, in my opinion, than just
height. Pacific rollers of 6-8 feet can be quite safe and comfortable, while
Green Bay short sharp waves of 5-6 feet are just plain dangerous.

I think this is a bit deceptive. "Waves" are almost never encountered in
the open ocean except in shallows. "Swells" are what the sea is filled
with and other than comfort, there is no minimum size of boat making
swells safer. It's the construction and design of the boat that matters,
not size.

Stephen

On Sun, 1 Apr 2007 07:37:46 -0700, "John Reimer"
wrote:

But is there a general traditional guideline or at least in terms of what
size seas vs boat size that starts making YOU uncomfortable and more
concerned beyond the vigilance water should always be respected with?

Since one of the biggest dangers to any boat is rollover/capsize,
there has been some research with hard numbers in that area. The
consensus seems to be that a breaking wave that has a height of 1/2
the beam (width) of the boat is capable of rolling it.

After that everything gets very subjective. Some boats have published
ratings describing their intended usage, ie, protected water only
(small bays and rivers), inshore (typically waves less than 3 feet),
coastal, off shore, etc. A lot depends on construction and type, not
overall size.

Comfort is even more highly subjective, depending on expectations of
the people involved and the boat. For small planing boats, under 25
to 30 feet, operating at speed, anything over 1 or 2 feet is going to
get uncomfortable very quickly except for very gradual ocean swells.

"Stephen Trapani" wrote in message
...
KLC Lewis wrote:
"John Reimer" wrote in message
...
Is there a general rule of thumb on what size of seas become inherently
unsafe for a particular size of boat?

I know there's no firm answer to this, water is unsafe period, and you
can be enjoying the trqnquility of 1 foot swells and have Mr. Whale
decide to knock on your keel to say hello

But is there a general traditional guideline or at least in terms of
what size seas vs boat size that starts making YOU uncomfortable and
more concerned beyond the vigilance water should always be respected
with?

Thanks,
John

If breaking waves are equal in height to the beam of your boat, you are
in danger of capsize. From wave heights at half your beam to full beam,
you are likely to be uncomfortable, and handling your boat will be
increasingly difficult and strenuous. As for vigilance, whatever wave
height strikes you as uncomfortable and unsafe below that point is
correct for you. But wave *shape* and interval has more to do with it, in
my opinion, than just height. Pacific rollers of 6-8 feet can be quite
safe and comfortable, while Green Bay short sharp waves of 5-6 feet are
just plain dangerous.

I think this is a bit deceptive. "Waves" are almost never encountered in
the open ocean except in shallows. "Swells" are what the sea is filled
with and other than comfort, there is no minimum size of boat making
swells safer. It's the construction and design of the boat that matters,
not size.

Stephen

But you are concentrating on the open ocean, while most sailing is done in
coastal waters and lakes. And even on the ocean, you have a combination of
waves and swells. At river mouths, you also have conflicting waves caused by
river current meeting ocean swell and waves. Even in Green Bay, such as is
the case at the Memominee River Channel, the chop caused by the river
flowing out into waves from any eastern-component wind can make for very
messy -- even very dangerous -- conditions.

John Reimer wrote:
Is there a general rule of thumb on what size of seas become inherently
unsafe for a particular size of boat?

I know there's no firm answer to this, water is unsafe period, and you can
be enjoying the trqnquility of 1 foot swells and have Mr. Whale decide to
knock on your keel to say hello

But is there a general traditional guideline or at least in terms of what
size seas vs boat size that starts making YOU uncomfortable and more
concerned beyond the vigilance water should always be respected with?

Thanks,
John


----------

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For a valid email take out the _beer bottles_ before replying but leave the
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If you forget about your dreams you die.
Live for them, & they will live for you.


A 1000+ foot carrier is safe in any ocean

....
I think this is a bit deceptive. "Waves" are almost never encountered in
the open ocean except in shallows. "Swells" are what the sea is filled
with ...

That is not correct. While the oceans, unlike smaller bodies of
water, have swells they are also well populated with seas. Those seas
will be breaking in anything over force 8 and in lesser states when
the currents are running against the wind. And, there is also plenty
of current even far offshore.

-- Tom.

Gogarty wrote:


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A 1000+ foot carrier is safe in any ocean


Not when it encounters the occasional rogue 1,000 foot breaking wave.



I'd be more concerned about a rogue 15 foot Exocet...

On Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:50:02 -0400, krj
wrote:


A 1000+ foot carrier is safe in any ocean

Not in the South China Sea during a typhoon, it's not - also other
seas.

Peter

On Sun, 1 Apr 2007 07:37:46 -0700, "John Reimer"
wrote:

Is there a general rule of thumb on what size of seas become inherently
unsafe for a particular size of boat?

I know there's no firm answer to this, water is unsafe period, and you can
be enjoying the trqnquility of 1 foot swells and have Mr. Whale decide to
knock on your keel to say hello

But is there a general traditional guideline or at least in terms of what
size seas vs boat size that starts making YOU uncomfortable and more
concerned beyond the vigilance water should always be respected with?

I am uncomfortable trying to use a tape measure when surfing sideways.